CVS is perhaps my favorite place on earth.
Seriously.
The amount of free stuff they have literally given me over the past few years is staggering.
All of the items in this picture were obtained in October 2006…..for free
In fact, in the end, they actually paid me to take it all!
How?
Well, the secret lies in their Extra Care Program. They have you sign up for a little orange card, take demographical information from you, and you are supposed to use the card every time you shop. Their big push is that you get 2% cash back for all your purchases made quarterly, and for most people, this is the extent of the program.
But, if you look closely at their weekly sales ads, you will see that they offer bonus Extra Care Bucks for buying specific products each week. THIS is where it gets good.
These are the deals I took advantage of one week in February:
–Buy one Maybelline Lipstick for $6.99, get $6.99 ECB (extra care bucks)
–Spend $40 on a list of specific products, get $20 ECB
–Buy a Diabetes Testing kit for $9.99, get $9.99 ECB
–Spend $10 or more on Triaminic, get $10 ECB
The ECB print out on your register receipt immediately after purchase. You can use them on more stuff that will earn you ECB, so often you spend pennies out of pocket and take home a few bags of free stuff. Now, in addition to the great ECB offered, you can use store and manufacturers coupons. So let me break down this purchase.
I spent a total of $6.99 on the lipstick. For the spend $40, get $20, I bought (2) Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaners for $20 each. I had coupons for them, $7 each, so I spent $26 for the two. Then I got the diabetes kit for $9.99, and bought (2) Triaminic Softchews boxes at $6.99 each for the $10 ECB. I had $1 off coupons for them.
My total before manufacturer’s coupons: $70.96, after: $54.96.
But wait, it gets better!
CVS also gave me some coupons. They emailed me a coupon for $10 off a $50 or more purchase, and I also had a coupon for $3 off a $15 purchase. I was able to use both coupons. So now my total was $41.96. I used a $40 ECB I had from a previous purchase, so out of pocket I spent $1.96 plus sales tax.
And then? $46.98 in EBC printed out!!
I made back a profit of $5.02! ($46.98 – $41.96)
They have PAID me to shop there!
What did I do with the stuff?
The shower cleaners were sold on eBay for $18.99 each. They sell well for me at this price when I am able to get my hands on them cheap. The makeup was also sold on eBay, for about 60% retail and the diabetes kit was donated (tax write off). I had plenty of medication for my kids when they were sick.
CVS offers tons of deals every month. They often send me FREE CVS coupons via email to print off and use in store.
You’ve probably noticed that I have mentioned Refunding Makes Cents, or Refund Cents several times throughout the couponing section.
Why?
Simply because Refund Cents is the best coupon, refund, deals, and freebies site on the internet.
It is run by Michele Easter, and has been in existence for literally decades.
Refunding Makes Cents is the most distributed coupon and refund newsletter in the world.
There are two portions to Refund Cents, the print magazine, which has 11 issues a year, and the online access.
The online access is a membership based site, but the dues are extremely low, costing less for an entire year than most sites charge a month. (About $1 per month)
If you are new to couponing, or if you are serious about this hobby/income sources, I highly, highly suggest you invest a few dollars into Refund Cents.
If you can afford it (around $25) get the print issues and the online access. Make sure you pick up a copy of the Beginner’s Bonanza. If that is too steep for you, then just get the online access.
Deals are posted by other members, in real time. Check “Michele’s Updates” and “Chit-Chat” daily.
Trust me, you’ll make up the purchase price in a few days. You’ll be emailing me thanking me for introducing you to this wonderful information source.