How to save on groceries at CVS

By following these easy steps you will be able to save $$$ on your groceries by shopping at CVS.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Easy Care Card (CVS customer loyalty card)
• Sunday newspaper
• an internet connection
• printer

1. Sign up for an Easy Care Card at your local CVS (it's free).

2. Get a hold of your Sunday's local newspaper with coupon inserts. Every week there are SmartSource and RedPlum (formerly Valassis) manufacturer's coupon inserts, once a month there's also a Procter&Gamble coupon insert.

3. Save your inserts by issue date (I like to use manila folders with the date written on it).

4. Save the CVS weekly sales circular (either from the newspaper or from the store).

5. Match the weekly sales with your coupons. Pay particular attention to ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are basically store credit that print out at the end of your receipt when you buy an advertised ECB deal, and you can use it as cash on your next transaction. They expire 1 month after being issued.
   Each week there are one or more items that come for free after ECBs.
   Also, there are monthly deals (monthly sales booklet available in stores only).

6. Plan your weekly sales by buying only (or mainly) items that are giving ECBs. Match these with your coupons by locating your coupons on various internet databases (i.e. Hot Coupon World, CouponMom etc.).
   Use online resources to print manufacturers' coupon online, like www.smartsource.com, www.couponmom.com etc.
   
   The first time you will have to pay out of pocket, the following weeks you can pay your groceries with the previously earned EBCs.

Tips & Warnings

• Additional tips: - ALWAYS buy the items that are free after ECB's, they'll help roll your ECBs, extending the expiration date. - register your Extra Care card online to receive emails with discount coupons: every few weeks CVS will send you a mail with a discount like "save $2 on your next $10 purchase" $4/20, $5/10 etc. These print at the end your your receipt, also, after a few weeks of using your Extra Care card. - ALWAYS scan your card at the price check machine in your store, coupons and rebates will print.

[mikespaceman]

on 4/30/2009 great tips for saving at CVS, I shop there all the time.I just bought a telescope for 3.50

[kimSUE]

on 9/27/2008 I can't stress how important it is to find a forum that
can help you understand CVS. My personal favorite is http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/cvs/ because they have the most info and are the easiest for newbies.