How do CVS Bonus Bucks work?

[pearlieq]

Initially you have to pay something out of pocket, but once you do, you can use your "free" amount, say $8.99 to buy more "free" items.

Exactly. The "deal" lies in rolling your Extra Care Bucks. They are good for a month after they are issued, and there's usually something for "free" every week. Once you get your first set of ECBs, you just use them to purchase next week's "free" item and so on and so on.

If, for whatever reason, there isn't anything available for free before my ECBs expire, there is always something I can use at a decent enough price to use them up. There are often good sales on cleaning supplies, paper products, and food items, especially combined with coupons.

One great way to get started is with a prescription coupon. At least around here, they are constantly offering a $25 gift card for any transferred prescription, and they will honor any other store's coupon as well.

It works best if you're not particularly brand loyal and have at least one CVS close to you. The one I frequent is right by my mother's house, so I'm up there a couple times a week anyway.

It only takes a few minutes of my times and I haven't paid for toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, feminine protection, soap, shampoo, or razors in over a year.

I would never pay CVS prices out of pocket, but I'm happy to take their products for free. What I can't use I give to my friends, family, and the local food pantry. It all goes to use somehow.

[disneysteve]

One great way to get started is with a prescription coupon. At least around here, they are constantly offering a $25 gift card for any transferred prescription, and they will honor any other store's coupon as well.

FYI: Be sure to read the fine print. Here in NJ, there is some strange law and those prescription coupons can only be used by folks age 62 and older.

[pearlieq]

FYI: Be sure to read the fine print. Here in NJ, there is some strange law and those prescription coupons can only be used by folks age 62 and older.

Well isn't that a kick in the pants!

Luckily, no such law here in IL. DH and I fill most of our medicines through the mail order to save money, but when we have a one-off that needs to be filled locally we are always able to use a gift card coupon. We have several grocery and big-box stores that compete for pharmacy business so there is always a coupon floating around from someone.

Between filling prescriptions for us and my mother, we've managed to get at least $300 in gift cards this year. I've given some away for gifts, but used most to either collect ECBs or to stockpile items when they are good deals. My last script for a $6 skin cream bought me a year's worth of paper towels and dish soap!

[cicy33]

Ok, I think the add personaly is misleading ! But now that I was told that its basicly "store credit", and you have to buy the first item, then you get store credt, then use the store credit on another item, to me its just a long drugged out way and waist of time, ( just call it buy one get one free ) but using the reward bucks is cool because you can use it on just about anything.

Heres my problem, :: This weeks ad, shows Maybelline Mineral Power for $8.99 , then the extra bucks reward says, $8.99, then the add says, "Its like getting it for free" To me free means nothing out of pocket except tax. and thats ok for me. So, I read some ones blog about their add was all ths stuff for free, toothpaste, toothbrushes, then you can use coupons on top of that, then be giving money back......dont get it,,,,,tried the free make up today, and they wanted close to $10 out of pocket, but I do understand you get "store credit", so tell me am I doing this right ? Or is the checker not doing her job ? Would like to shop more often if free means free, not store credit later...
Thanks for reading, Shelly from Las Vegas

I know what you mean by misleading. but it is really simple. last week I bought $20 worth of batteries and got $10 ECB I used them this week to buy some stuff that gave me more ECB. The first initial time you always have to put some money out. But if the deal is worth it then go for it. The batteries were 16 pack for $10. that is a good price anywhere! name brand too. and I always need batteries. So for me it was worth spending the $20 to start my ecb pattern going again. I have $17.50 in my wallet just burning to be spent but there was nothing I wanted this week. or that was worth anything, sad ad this week. hopefully next week will be better!

[cicy33]

I sometimes get enjoyable little surprises too. (Like once I bought $40 worth of baby stuff thinking I'd get $20 back and I got $41!) The deals forum at CVS - Families.com has the big time low down. (Wow. There are some mixed metaphors for ya!)

I went to the board but it seems that nobody has posted in quite a while?

[CindyLu322]

I don't do a ton of CVSing but I've found that they can have pretty darn good deals sometimes.

I'm too lazy to keep track of my extra care bucks, so I usually spend them right away. For example, a few weeks ago, they had pampers on sale for $10 per jumbo pack and if you spent $20 on pampers, you got $5 in extra care bucks. And you can use coupons too.

So, I bought 2 packs of diapers for $20 (and then used coupons to bring it down even more), got $5 in extra care bucks back and then I rang up a second transaction with some other random things that were on sale (baby food, after halloween clearance, etc) that added up to about $5 and paid with my extra care bucks. So basically I got a good price on diapers and also got some extra stuff for free.

I don't "roll" my extra care bucks like the serious couponers do, but for deals like this, it's worth it. They had a similar deal for kimberly clark products a few months ago. They had good sale prices on Cottonelle TP and Kotex and if you spent $20 you got $10 in extra care bucks. I used the extra care bucks right away on some ziplocks that were on a good sale (and I had coupons for them).

[minnie1928]

A better website is Hot Coupon World. They have forums for tons of stores, including CVS (look under drug stores) and they are VERY active there.

[minnie1928]

Heres my problem, :: This weeks ad, shows Maybelline Mineral Power for $8.99 , then the extra bucks reward says, $8.99, then the add says, "Its like getting it for free" To me free means nothing out of pocket except tax. and thats ok for me. So, I read some ones blog about their add was all ths stuff for free, toothpaste, toothbrushes, then you can use coupons on top of that, then be giving money back......dont get it,,,,,tried the free make up today, and they wanted close to $10 out of pocket, but I do understand you get "store credit", so tell me am I doing this right ? Or is the checker not doing her job ? Would like to shop more often if free means free, not store credit later...
Thanks for reading, Shelly from Las Vegas

I did this particular offer, but I also had a $3 manufacturer coupon. So, I paid $5.99 and received an ECB (store credit) for $8.99. They, in effect, paid me $3 to take makeup off their shelves. They paid me to take some other things too!

[Goldy1]

I love them. More instant than walgreen's rebates which I do as well as rite aid. I have not paid for shampoo, body wash, or much make up for years due to these programs b/c I try to remember to stop. The cvs bucks are easy to use. I put mine on the fridge so I don't forget to use them before they expire. do they really not expire?? that would be cool.

[SnoopyCool]

What I like...

If something is going to be free after ECBs and it is not on the shelf, I get a raincheck for the item. Then, at a later date, I get the thing free without ever having to put any money up front. So I don't get too upset if the item isn't on the shelves anymore.

[cicy33]

I heard a cashier tell someone the other day that he could not give them a raincheck for an item that gave them ecbs. that it was a special deal?

[moneybags]

I heard a cashier tell someone the other day that he could not give them a raincheck for an item that gave them ecbs. that it was a special deal?

I get rainchecks on ECB items all the time. I often find the shoppers know more than the cashiers .

[mom-from-missouri]

I am going to try this. There is now a CVS by our church, and another new one (it used to be an Osco) about 17 miles away now.
I just noticed I have a CVS card (I think I got it a year ago when DD4 was in the hospital). Is this card all I need to get started??
Do you have to keep track of paper receipts or is that was this card does??

[minnie1928]

I heard a cashier tell someone the other day that he could not give them a raincheck for an item that gave them ecbs. that it was a special deal?

The manager at my store told me the same thing a few weeks ago. I said that I had gotten them at other CVS stores and he said that he couldn't help it if they were doing something wrong. He was a bit arrogant about it....

I haven't pushed it yet because they ended up getting more of the item I was looking for that day (it was a monthly deal item).

[SnoopyCool]

You most certainly can get rainchecks for ECBs. They now have event numbers on the ECB deals for that purpose. Go to the CVS website, print off their policy, and show it to the guy who says he can't give them to you. Dig a little, save a lot!

I got rainchecks for about 10 deals this past week when they had the fabulous 2 day sale last Sunday & Monday. No problems. And since rainchecks don't expire, you can wait until you get coupons for that product and make some money!!!!