CVS ECB's confusion

[SBaker0516]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the wonderful world of coupons and have been using them for about 2 weeks now, but I'm already hooked!!! I've been doing tons of research, but I do have 1 question about CVS extra care bucks that I can't seem to find an answer to. I don't understand how people can say that when they receive ECS's on a product, it's like they're are getting that product discounted. For example:

Colgate toothpaste is on sale for 3.99 and you get 2.99 in ECB's wyb 1 tube.
If a person has a coupon for 1.00 off the toothpaste, they will say that the got that for free. However, when they go to use their ECB's on their next purchase of a toothbrush that costs 2.99, they will say that they got that purchase for free too.
I'm confused because in my opinion you aren't getting the first product for free. You're spending 2.99 on toothpaste and then you are getting your toothbrush for free with the ECB's you generated. So for 2.99 you are getting toothpaste and a toothbrush.

So when people report their savings, why do they account their ECB's into their first purchase? If someone could clear this up I would appreciate it!!!

[seedlady]

you are correct, in a sense.

we had to "buy in" to get the original bucks.

however, once we have those. we can 'spend' the same money over and over.

i tend to only count the bucks when i get them. when i spend them, it's a form of payment.

as long as you only count them once, however your brain does it is fine.

i spent a 4 dollar ecb today to get eggs, and it is gone. i didn't replace it in my envelope, so those eggs cost 4 imaginary dollars.

but i need them, and my green dollars stayed in my pocket, where they belong.

[cory11183]

It's "rolling" your ecb's. Spend some, get some back with minimal OOP.

Many times you can get Money Makers (MM). Say you buy something that is $4 and get $4 ecb, but you use $1 coupon, only spending $3 ecb and getting back $4 ecb.

What sweetens the deals even more are purchase based coupons. ($4 off $20 purchase). Which are used once you hit $20 in shelf/sales prices BEFRORE your other coupons. I NEVER buy anything at CVS without one of these coupons.

Once you build up an ECB balance (I like to have at least $20 at all times). Then you start buying things you really "need" and don't wanna spend money out of pocket.

[ccenr]

There are a lot of different ways that people count the ECBs, you have to figure out what works for you.
For me, if I buy something that is $2.99 with $2.99 in ECBs, it's not free, I have to pay taxes, and the $2.99 has to be spent on something that I need or want that is a reasonable price(it is still same as cash). If I am able to use a coupon on the same item, say $1, than I made $1 less the tax. If I made a special trip, I'll even account for gas. I don't account for every penny, but I mentally attach a value to each ECB. same $2.99, I would have to get $2.50 worth(not a price but actual worth) of product to make it it worth using. Best of course would be to roll into another money maker, but doesn't always work out that way.

Hope that made sense.

[$Saving!]

Colgate toothpaste is on sale for 3.99 and you get 2.99 in ECB's wyb 1 tube.
If a person has a coupon for 1.00 off the toothpaste, they will say that the got that for free. However, when they go to use their ECB's on their next purchase of a toothbrush that costs 2.99, they will say that they got that purchase for free too.

That would be counting it twice which is delusional really. Any money out of pocket is 'gone' - rolling the ECB to get more items free reduces the cost of all items tied to that initial expense (OOP). Keep rolling and eventually all the items are reduced to insignificant amounts. That's the only way to really figure the savings.

I keep a spreadsheet and enter each receipt Total spent, total coupons used, total store savings discount (not ECB's or any rebate type return) and that way I can see the overall savings per store, each store having it's own spreadsheet and then it will show me overall ALL store spent/saved/goods value received.

That helps me stay 'real' to what when out of my pocket, what my MQ savings were, what store discounts provided. I do not enter the ECB value individually, because it just shows up when I 'spend' it and reduce my next transaction.

Better to be honest in how much OOP there really is vs double dipping the "free" attached to it.

And what I spend also includes all taxes paid too, it was money spent, gotta count it

[Castingbread]

This is confusing, especially at first. I will look at each deal as "free" like you said (cost less coupons less extra bucks received) to determine if I want to buy it, but I look at each transaction alone--I don't count the extra bucks I get back. If I "spend" $10 in ecbs and only $.50 in cash and get $10 back in ecbs I say it cost me $.50 oop and ignore the $10 in extra bucks received this transaction in the figuring but will count them when I spend them. It is the rolling of them from week to week that keeps the out of pocket cost down and makes virtually everything you buy "free" or tax only.

[belindaj]

What sweetens the deals even more are purchase based coupons. ($4 off $20 purchase). Which are used once you hit $20 in shelf/sales prices BEFRORE your other coupons. I NEVER buy anything at CVS without one of these coupons.

I don't know how in the world you can have enough $4/$20's to use one every time you shop??? A year ago anyway the purchase-based coupons were really plentiful - $3/$15, $4/$20, $5/$30, etc - but until a couple weeks ago I hadn't gotten any in a very, VERY long time!

Do you just keep signing up for new cards continually?

Definately curious - because you're right - these really help!

[rrpate]

I don't know how in the world you can have enough $4/$20's to use one every time you shop??? A year ago anyway the purchase-based coupons were really plentiful - $3/$15, $4/$20, $5/$30, etc - but until a couple weeks ago I hadn't gotten any in a very, VERY long time!

Do you just keep signing up for new cards continually?

Definately curious - because you're right - these really help!

yeah i would love to know this too.. i get them VERY RARELY ....recently got the 5/15 crt... but it had been ages before i got that one...

[isis]

I don't know how in the world you can have enough $4/$20's to use one every time you shop??? A year ago anyway the purchase-based coupons were really plentiful - $3/$15, $4/$20, $5/$30, etc - but until a couple weeks ago I hadn't gotten any in a very, VERY long time!

Do you just keep signing up for new cards continually?

Definately curious - because you're right - these really help!

I only have 1 card and the coupons from the machine as well as emails were far and few between. Then around April, I started getting pretty regular $/$$ cpns. With the exception of a few times, I've been getting $4/20, $5/25, $3/15 in my weekly email as well as from the red machine. While they are helpful, there are some weeks when I just don't see enough in the ad to hit the purchase requirement.

[MzKoni71]

I don't know how in the world you can have enough $4/$20's to use one every time you shop??? A year ago anyway the purchase-based coupons were really plentiful - $3/$15, $4/$20, $5/$30, etc - but until a couple weeks ago I hadn't gotten any in a very, VERY long time!

Do you just keep signing up for new cards continually?

Definately curious - because you're right - these really help!

I think some people are just lucky when they receive this coupon repeatedly..I am like you, it rarely gives it to me...I can shop CVS the same amount as my cousin (we always shop together), yet I will always receive the generic coupon while she always hit the Jackpot with $4/$20 or $3/$15...It seems she gets these on a weekly basis...I only get it when there is a major holiday coming up...So, maybe it's the zipcodes...We live in the same city but different zipcodes...IDK!!!! Maybe the CVS God's only favor some more than others...:shrug7: