This is both a praise and a rant. If you've got a CVS near you, join their free Extra Bucks program (no, you don't get tons of spam - there's no email at all - or junk mail). Every month they put out an Extra Bucks catalog where they have discounts on items (bucks back you spend in the store). So you can get something like a lipstick for $8, with $2 EB back you can then use for other things in the store. Each month, they have a FEW things that end up being free. That lipstick is $8, but you instantly get $8 back to spend in the store. I love looking for these. Sometimes they don't apply, like if it's baby stuff, or diabetes stuff, etc, and then I don't get it (I don't agree with the people who will buy ANYTHING WHATSOEVER, even if it isn't needed or useable!). Anyway, sometimes, they'll have these "freebies" in their weekly circular too.

We got ours yesterday (Tuesday). The circular had some 16.9oz Listerine for $2.99 with $2.99 EB back. So, it'd be free! And you could get up to 5. I definitely use the stuff. Well, the circular said "Good only Sunday and Monday." ARGHHHHHHH! I went into the store to see if I could get the manager to give me the credit anyway, but they were all out (something to also be aware of, especially with the "freebies," they go FAST).

So, I did end up getting the Crest Pro-Health mouthwash, which was $2.99 with $2 EB back. So for the limit of 2, I only paid .99 each. Not bad. I just turned around and used the $4 EB on some expensive canned cat food as a treat for my kitty!

I have to second this one.  I love my CVS ECB's!  I'll usually get a phone call or e-mail from one of my sisters telling me exactly what I can get for free or what I get the ECB back on.  Most of it is things that I'd end up buying sooner or later, so I might as well get in now for free or almost free.  We're stocked up on toothbrushes, toothpaste and body washes for a long time to come!

I love this program, except for the fact that at my CVS, if you don't go on the first day of the sale, sometimes the first morning of the sale, they run out of stock.  They can't tell you exactly when they will get more stock, and if they do get more, they get one little box of it which is also gone in half a day.  This past week I saw the Sunday/Monday sale, and was there on Sunday morning.  I wanted the cleaner that was free after Extra Bucks, and they didn't have any--not just didn't have any, there wasn't even a spot on the shelf for it.  I asked the cashier, who said, oh, we don't carry that brand.  Then why was it in the flyer????  Once I asked for a raincheck on something they were out of, and the clerk told me they were going to get a shipment of it in any minute.  I said, well I can't wait around for the next couple of hours, so give me the raincheck.  She refused to give me the raincheck, saying she was not allowed because they would have the item soon!!  So, the Extra Bucks program is great but the customer service could be a lot better.

At my CVS you have to go on THURSDAY late afternoon / evening or Friday.  They don't get the stuff in planning for the next week's sale, and so they won't have most of the stuff until the new truck comes in.

But I'm in town often enough it's not a big deal.

I wish they would give the discount that day...I rarely shop at CVS so my bucks expire before I can use them

How do the extra bucks work? I have a cvs card and went online just a little while ago and registered it and it says I have 8.39 or so in 2008 rewards but the coupon page doesn't have anything. do I get these bucks next year? think it said january. but are there certain things I can use them on or is it automatically deducted from my purchase?

i think they give it to you susanna after january 1.  not sure though.

thanks Carol.. I remember seeing something about january but how do they give it to you? can you use it on  whatever you want or certain things? so glad to find all this stuff out! I also lucked out and found several books on frugal and thrifty at my library that I'm reserving..hopefully I can pick them up Friday if they get there in time.(they're at a different branch and have to transfer there)

i think print it out.

i sign up and have been getting like 5.00 off 25.00 dollars. i buy medicine too there with flexible spending card.

i sign up and have been getting like 5.00 off 25.00 dollars. i buy medicine too there with flexible spending card.

If your store will let you, you can actually just get rung up several times during one shopping trip.  I did this for the Thanksgiving ECB stuff they had-- there was all sorts of stuff that was free with the ECB, but it would have taken an investment of a lot of money to then get a whole bunch of ECB that I had to use within a few weeks.  They let all of us there ring up our purchases in smaller groups, so I would buy 3 or 4 things, get my ECB from them, then ring up a few more things and pay with the ECB I just got, etc.  Perhaps your store will let you do that as well so you don't end up with a ton of ECB that you then have to use within a few weeks. 

The quarterly money that you get back from your purchases prints out on your receipt just like the ECB do.  I think the last payout was on October 1? 

i went today before movie because i have flexible spending account and stock up lactaid and other stuff. and i got 33 extra bucks was so happy i forgot to bring 5 off 25 dollars of well.so now i can buy stuff i need fo rhouse flexible spending i use for medicine.

I love the CVS near me, I'm in there a few times a week and I always get extra bucks from them. I think it's a great idea.

i went today because i need heat pad for neck and spend 92.00 because need bengay and other medicine also .so i use flexible spending account and had 33 dollar of extra bucks and between extra bucks and lexible spending i only spend 1.92 and got 14.00 in extra bucks. i boughtide detergent which is 10.49 and 2 box of cereal and 2 box fiber one bar and both had extra buck on them so it was stuff i needed.and they had can of cranberry sauce for .17 cents so i got 2.

I go to the stores but also shop online.  ONline when you're checking out there's a way to get to your EB.  Click this, click that and presto there they are!  If you buy enough you get free shipping too.

I saved about $250 last year and I miss a lot of the things because of the expiration dates. 

do they take extra buck on line geri.

I use the CVS EB too.  There's one in my lobby at work and I use that as my main drug store now because of all the coupns and discounts

i think i have 14.00 on eb i have to see if they expired.

Carol.

They have extra bucks online.  Not as many as you get in the store.  Sometime when the weather is bad online is good!

Also, I don't know about all the stores but I had one of those $10 off if you spend $50 coupons.  It had expired but the lady tried it and it worked!  She said that sometime they do and sometime they don't.  Just a suggestion - if an EB coupon expires take it with you because you can always check to see if you can still use it. 

Edited for sp jeez!

My CVS doesn't send out an EB catalog, it is just in the weekly circular.  I agree though, I often don't get to use them because I am not there that often.  I just found (last night) that I have $13, and I need Zicam - so I'm off to CVS after work!

I love CVS and also get a lot of stuff free or cheep.  The link below is a whole site that talks about saving money with ECB. 

http://iheartcvs.com/

Cindy

I have had difficulties with items on sale getting sold out because I didn't go on the Sunday when the sale started.

I believe the EBV are only on certain items and usually I get a long receipt at checkout with my savings coupons for next time and EB if applied

I find that I never have these coupons on me when I go again, or they expire.  There is just too much to keep track of.

I dislike the program since I run into buy sale items but feel disappointed when it's all gone.

There must be a better way to save $2.

If you find things that are out of stock, you can always ask for a raincheck for the item! Then the next time you go, it will likely be in stock and you should still be able to get it for free (or whatever the sale price was.) I've been doing the CVS ecb program for a long time and have had to do this often. :)

I love this program! Even if I don't use item thats free I buy it and add it to my items to donate! They are always items someone can use...