CVS - How Extra Care Works

CVS is my new favorite place to shop! Below is a quick tutorial to get you started. I will post deals for CVS about once a week. You can also view their weekly ad online, or by mail. Combine current offers with coupons, and sometimes you can make money!


First, you need to sign up for a CVS Card. You can do this online or you can go into the store and do it. Have your cashier scan your card at the beginning of every transaction.

Also be sure and scan your card at the scanning machine each time you go to CVS. This is usually located at the front of the store where the ads are. This is the same machine that you can scan items to do a price check. You usually will receive a coupon every time you scan your card (one per day).

ECBs, or Extra Care Bucks, are coupons that can be used like cash at any CVS store. Most weeks there will be items that are completely free after ECB. This means you will pay for the items with your own cash and then a coupon for you next purchase will print on the bottom of your receipt.
ECBs can not be used on prescriptions, gift cards, stamps, etc. and they can not pay for your tax. ECBs usually expire within about 3-4 weeks.

Also the ECBs roll, meaning if they are offering that you buy an item that will produce ECBs, you can use those ECBs to buy that same item and you will still get ECBs. The thing to look out for here though is limits.

Limits There are limits on the amount of items you can buy. This applies to not only items that produce ECBs, but other items as well. The limits are posted in the ad.

CVS Coupons There are two ways to get these coupons, from the in-store scanner mentioned above or by signing up for email offers. Sometimes you will get $3/$15 or $4/$20 coupons. The great thing about these coupons is you can give them BEFORE all other coupons. So you can make your purchase of $15.00, give your $3/$15 coupon and then give all of your manufacturer’s coupons and pay with ECB’s you have received from previous weeks. Just be sure to give the $x/$xx coupon before you give any other coupons or ECB’s.

You may also get CVS store coupons that can be “stacked” with manufacturer’s coupons, meaning if I have a manufacturer’s coupon for $1.00 off Huggies Diapers and a CVS coupon for $1.00 off Huggies Diapers, I can use both coupons and maximize my savings.


Check your receipt before you leave the store! Make sure that you received all of your ECBs and then keep them in a safe place. Think of them like a gift certificate. They expire and they will not be replaced if you lose them.