How to shop at CVS to get the most savings

The Cooupon Crate Logo

Most importantly - get a CVS saver card!!! If you only carry one saver card, this would be the one. If you forget your card, the cashier can look it up thru your phone number. Either way, there is NO use shopping CVS without it! The card will lead you to the Emerald City so you can ask the Wizard for Extra Bucks......and I digress.

What are extra bucks you ask? Basically, they are "CVS cash" that are printed on the end of your sales receipts. That's basic. Here's what CVS says:

What Are ExtraCare Rewards? Rewards are called Extra Bucks that you can earn at any CVS/pharmacy store or online when you use your ExtraCare card. How Do I Earn Extra Bucks Rewards? Earn 2% back with every purchase in-store and online at CVS/pharmacy. Earn 1 Extra Buck for every 2 prescriptions purchased in-store and online at CVS/pharmacy.

How Do I Get My Extra Bucks Rewards? Learn more about ExtraCare, and get the extras you deserve. Every 3 months your Extra Bucks will print on your store register receipt, or visit CVS/pharmacy online to print your Extra Bucks. Spend your Extra Bucks at any CVS/pharmacy location or online the next time you shop!

What other ways can I save when I shop in-store with my ExtraCare card? Get instant savings on items featured in our weekly store circular ads. Earn even more Extra Bucks on select brands advertised in our weekly ads. Your Extra Bucks will print on your receipt immediately following your qualifying purchase(s).

What Other ExtraCare Rewards Benefits Can I Get? Additional special offers print on your store receipt frequently throughout the year. Receive special savings exclusively at CVS/pharmacy when you sign up for email offers. The more you use your ExtraCare card, the more rewards you will receive.

Let's summarize that legal mumbo-jumbo into a real life situation!
For example, you can find this Extra Care deal:

"Buy Vaseline Sheer Infusion for $7.99 and receive $7.00 in Extra Bucks reward. It's like getting it for $0.99 after Extra Bucks"

Once you buy the Vaseline Sheer Infusion, the very end of your receipt should have a section that says "Here are your Extra Bucks for having purchased the Vaseline Sheer Infusion". Those Extra Bucks can be used whenever you shop CVS again.

A good thing to know: Extra Bucks expire EXACTLY 4 weeks from the date and time they are printed. For example, if you buy the Vaseline Sheer Infusion on March 1 at noon the Extra Bucks expire on March 28 at noon. However, if you go in at 1:00 PM on March 28th, the manager will override the register for you because the store does not consider the time a factor.

I have never personally done this (I shop just way too much!) but people have told me if your Extra Bucks expire, you can call CVS (1-800-SHOP-CVS) to have them reinstated.

There are restriction however on the Extra Bucks with some items:

Excludes alcohol, tobacco, lottery, gift cards, money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards, prescriptions, and special order Home Health Care items, including footwear.

** Excludes pharmacy items paid for in whole or in part by state and/or federal health care programs and prescriptions purchased in-store in NJ and NY, and controlled substances in Louisiana.

** Offers, products and pricing in the advertised weekly store circular ads are available at CVS/pharmacy store locations, but are not available online.

To redeem your Extra Bucks online, the entire coupon amount must be used at one time (either in-store or online). There is no partial redemption of Extra Bucks, and no credit or cash will be given back for unused Extra Bucks. Coupons for Extra Bucks are distributed at the bottom of store register receipts for use with your next purchase.

CVS/pharmacy reserves the right to modify or terminate the ExtraCare program without notice.

Now to save even more - MANUFACTURER COUPONS! A good source is Sunday's newspaper coupon inserts. Every week has Smart Source and Red Plum, and once a month there's a Procter & Gamble insert. Additionally, you can send for coupon books off of some manufacturer websites and of course, internet coupons.

Now the time-consuming part, match the weekly sales with your coupons. Or take the easy road and use The Coupon Crate to do the matching for you! Either way, your best price (and usually free) are the products giving Extra Bucks. We will stick with our Vaseline Sheer Infusion example from above.

"Buy Vaseline Sheer Infusion for $7.99 and receive $7.00 in Extra Bucks reward. It's like getting it for $0.99 after Extra Bucks. Now apply the $2.00 manufacturer coupon from a Sunday insert and you will not only get the Vaseline Sheer Infusion but you will also make $1.01"

How cool is that?!

One last thing, is CVS has an in-store coupon machine. It looks like a price-scanner in a grocery store. Just scan your CVS card and it will print additional CVS coupons. Usually out of the side of the machine.

Good Profitable Shopping!!