This video in particular is part 1 in a small series on how to start couponing at CVS. If you are a beginner in the couponing world, or just haven't started saving at CVS then I hope that this video helps you or even inspires you to give it a go! In this series I will cover how to firstly acquire your extracare bucks (ECBs) rewards and the best way to go about doing so to spend the smallest sum out of pocket in terms of spending our 'real' cash. In the second video I will go into more detail on the methods of how to roll extracare bucks for the best outcome (which of course to anyone who has taken up this hobby, is the most product for the smallest out of pocket spend). There are many different ways in which couponers can roll their extracare bucks and personally I choose to roll mine on a week to week basis, rather than within the same week. I do this because promotion deals with the best ECB rewards are finite each week (remember we have limits on the number of times we can take part in an offer in a week) and therefore if we continue to roll within the same week we will eventually run out of extracare bucks and we will essentially have to start the process of gaining extracare bucks again from scratch at a larger out of pocket cost to ourselves. Of course, if you are more of a casual couponer and just like to get great savings on your shopping rolling your extracare bucks within the same week may be more suitable for you and the way you like to shop. Shopping this way allows you to grab the things you want and get your basics for free. For example maybe you ran out of shampoo and there is a great deal on Loreal Haircare with an ecb reward if you spend over a certain amount. Fantastic! You can grab the shampoo you need, gain the ecb reward and then roll that money into a household necessity such as toilet tissue or kitchen towel or maybe some laundry detergent. Do you see what I mean? And these different methods are what I will be discussing in my follow up video - so stay tuned for that. This specific video focuses more on the overall concept or starting up couponing at CVS, and how be selective in the very first promotional deals you choose to get the most ECBs in your very first shopping trip so you are covered from the following weeks to come. The key tip is that in your very first trip you need to focus on items that are combined with an ECB deal, and give the best ratio of real cash spend to the ECB payback. Equally you need to bear in mind, in your very first trip you maybe won't have started to receive personalized coupons (or will just receive the instant coupons that all extracare rewards holders receive, but these may not lead to great deals) so you should focus on deals that you can get down to a low enough out of pocket with manufacturer coupons alone (such as those in your Sunday paper circular or printable digital coupons). If you do find a deal that is also a freebie or money maker, that you want to pick up but that isn't included in an ECB deal, then, of course, go ahead and grab it but don't complicate things for yourself if you are just learning! To make things easy, just focus on any ECB promotional deal in the CVS weekly ad and see which ones you can make into great deals with the best return and lowest OOP total when combined. Also remember, the best deals may not necessarily be things you need, nor use, but are great for gaining your first stash of ECBs (remember you can always donate) and I am sure friends and family members wouldn't mind taking them from you! In this video I show you an example first shop where you will spend approx $30 in real cash, but receive $20 back in ECB which is a healthy amount of extracare bucks to use in your very first couponing trip the next week. If you have been following my mother-in-laws couponing hauls since she started this way you will see how successful it can be! The example deal I show you in this video has a 62% return on extracare bucks. You want to aim for something around this amount but don't stress too much over this as long as you don't vastly differ from it. And don't go overboard either! Less is sometimes more - theres no need to spend more out of pocket real cash in your first trip to acquire $40, $50, $60+ ECBs because likely you will never need that many ECBs, especially in the early days to cover your future shopping trips from week to week, so you run the risk of some of them expiring before you even get chance to use them! Of course this deal is specific to this week (as I wanted to show you a real life example) but you can apply the same tips and tricks to any week you feel as if you are ready to take the plunge into couponing at CVS. And, as always, if you have any questions at all or would like clarification on any of the points I make I will be happy to help you in the comments below. If a lot of you have questions I will definitely consider doing a Q&A; video! -------------------- Follow me @SavvyStephCouponing

• published: 21 Jan 2017
• views: 3314