Today I paid $0.00 out of pocket for $7.99 worth of items. This was my first transaction for the year but I started the year off with $9.00  in ECBs and $11.39 in gift cards. I decided to get some toothpaste to replenish my stash from last year and also got one toothbrush. I remembered to use my Green Tag reusable shopping bag so that I could work towards that extra ECB for bringing your own bag.

I have gotten rid of all the figures from last year except the starting gift card balance and the ECB starting balance and will only be using gifts cards and ECBs to pay for transactions. My goal this year is to only use those two items so that my out of pocket will always be $0.00. I will be getting these gift cards from a credit card rewards program so that is ‘extra’ money that I will be earning. I do not like most of the rewards cards that this particular card gives so CVS is the best bet for me.

Transaction 1

Item: Colgate toothpaste

Price: $5 for two

CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $2 ECB

Item: Colgate 360 toothbrush

Price: $2.99

CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $1 ECB

Total coupons used: $6 ECB plus $1.50 MFR



Total paid today: $0.51 on gift card

Total CVS Extra Care Bucks earned today: $3.50 (includes bonus $0.50 for December spending)

Total out of pocket to date: $0.00

Gift Card balance : $10.88

Total CVS Extra Care Bucks earned to date: $12.50

CVS Extra Care Bucks Used to date: $6.00

CVS Extra Care Bucks Balance: $6.50

Abbreviations used

MFR = manufacturer coupon

ECB = extra care bucks

Join me next time as I look for more ways to save money as I visit CVS.