Understanding Extra Care Bucks (ECB)

Here's a few FAQ about ECB. If you have any questions not answered here feel free to email me: patsy@consumerqueen.com.

 What are Extra Care Bucks (ECB)?
ECB are coupons that print attached to your receipt when you make qualifying purchases.  Think of them as instant rebates for products you buy at CVS.  ECB can be used like cash towards your next purchases excluding postage stamps, alcohol, tobacco products, gift cards, prescriptions and lottery tickets.

How do I know what items will give ECB?
Each week CVS will advertise products that will give you ECB in their ad.  Occasionally you will see unadvertised ECB deals in your local store indicated by signs placed on the product shelf.

Can I use ECB with coupons?
Yes, since ECB are considered as cash you can use them with manufacturer's coupons, store coupons, and gift cards.

Is there a limit as to how many ECB I can use on an item?
No limit

What if my ECB are more than my purchase, will I get change?
No change is given if the amount of ECB used is more than the item. For example: you buy body lotion for $4.00 and you use a $5.00 ECB to pay for it.  You'll not get $1.00 back so you'll need to ad something to your purchase so the ECB doesn't go to waste.

Will I still have to pay tax even if the ECB used comes to more than my purchase?
Yes, if your states collects sales tax you'll have to pay that even if your purchase total is $0 after ECB and/or coupons.

Do ECB have an expiration date?
Yes, every ECB will have an expiration date  printed on them. They usually expire about 2-3 weeks after print.

Are ECB the same thing as the cpns that print when you scan your card at the big machine at CVS?
Although ECB can print from the machine, most of the time it's store cpns that will pop out.  ECB will always state a $$ amount reward (like the picture at the top of the post).  Store cpns will state a specific price off of a specific item.

What is rolling ECB and how can I do it?
Rolling ECB refers to using the ECB you earn one week to pay for the products you buy the next week.  If you've never shopped at CVS or don't have any ECB right this moment then you need to start out with what I call a little "seed" money. That's money you'll spend for products in the ad to get your first ECB.

For Example:

Week One: You buy several products from the ad that offer ECB when you buy them and use any coupons you can find to use on the items to get your out of pocket expense as low as possible.

Buy Schick Razor for $9.99 - get $4.00 ECB when you buy 1
Use $4.00/1 Schick Razor cpn
Pay $5.99 after coupon and get $4.00 ECB

Buy Dove Shampoo $3.99 - get $2.00 ECB when you buy 1
Use $2.00/1 Dove Shampoo cpn
Pay $1.99 after cpn and get $2.00 ECB

Buy Suave Lotion $4.99 - get $2.00 ECB when you buy 1
Use $1.00/1 Suave Lotion cpn
Pay $3.99 after cpn and get $2.00 ECB

You bought 3 items totaling $18.97 and used $7.00 in coupons for a total of $11.97 out of pocket. The $11.97 is your "seed" money.  You also got $8.00 in ECB for buying the 3 items.

Week Two: You have $8.00 in ECB to spend this week so you look over the ad and see what you'd like to buy that also offers ECB when you buy it.

Buy Dove Deodorant $2.99 - get $1.00 ECB when you buy 1
Use $1.00/1 Dove Deodorant cpn
You pay $1.99 and get $1.00 ECB

Buy Crest Toothpaste $2.99 - get $2.00 ECB wyb 1
Use $1.00/1 Crest Toothpaste cpn
You pay $1.99 and get $2.00 ECB

Buy Nature Made Vitamin D $6.00 - get $6.00 ECB wyb 1
Use $2.00/1 any Nature Made Vitamin cpn
Pay $4.00 and get $6.00 ECB

You bought 3 items totaling $11.98 and used $4.00 in cpns for a total of $7.98.  You use the $8.00 in ECB you earned the first week to pay the remaining balance and get all 3 items for just the tax!  You also earned $9.00 more ECB to use next week!

If you have any questions just give me an email: patsy@consumerqueen.com

Happy Shopping!