How to Coupon at CVS

As you might have noticed, CVS is one of my favorite stores to shop at. Since I have started couponing, this is where I have saved the most money. Below I will give you an overview of how CVS works and how to maximize your savings here.

• Sign up for an ExtraCare Card

• This is their loyalty card and it is essential to savings the most money at CVS.
• Available online or in-store.
• Make sure you register your card online (ASAP) if you decide to get it in-store.
• You may be eligible for a $4 off $20 purchase when you sign up online and register your e-mail!
• Be sure to add an e-mail address and subscribe to e-mails because this is where you get many of your percent off coupons and dollar off coupons.
• Consider adding your mailing address and agreeing to receive snail mail - I have gotten some pretty good CVS coupons this way!
• Use your card EVERY TIME you visit CVS, you make 2% back in extrabucks rewards on every purchase!
• Card Perks:
• Keeps track of your spending and savings - you get back 2% of what you spent back every quarter!

• Extrabucks rewards are the reason I love CVS so much!
• Every week, there are several items that you can purchase that will EARN you coupons worth certain dollar amounts.
• Be sure to look in the ad or on the tag next to the item on the shelf because there are limits set on each item for how many rewards you many get in any giving time period.
• These rewards are printed at the bottom of your receipt and can be used on your next transaction.
• They can be used until they expire (which is usually 1 month from the day it is printed).
• The rewards are split up by promotion on your receipt.
• If you buy 2 different items from different promotions that generate extrabucks, you will get different coupons for separate dollar amounts.
• If there is a limit of 2 for a promotion, the extrabucks will be combined into one. For example, if the limit on the example ad below was 2 and you purchased 2 participating products, you would get 1 extrabucks reward worth $10 instead of 2 extrabucks rewards worth $5 each.

• Example: This advertisement is showing that when you buy any one of the four products listed, you will receive $5 in extrabucks rewards. If you look closer, it says "extrabucks rewards offer limit of 1 per household with card." This means that each card can do this offer 1 time throughout the entire promotion period (usually a week). Keep in mind that you CAN use coupons to lower your out of pocket expense. This particular deal is often very good because the Gillette Proglide razors are usually priced around $9.99-$10.99, and there are often coupons for $4/1 Gillette Fusion Proglide Razor available, making your OOP expense only $5.99. After receiving the $5 extrabucks coupon on your receipt, it is like paying only $0.99 for the razor!

• Example: This advertisement is showing that when you spend $10 on certain products, you will receive a $5 extrabuck reward, with a limit of 2. The $10 must be met BEFORE you use any coupons, which definately lowers your OOP cost. Also you only have to meet 97% of this amount, meaning that you will still get the reward if you spend over $9.70 BEFORE coupons. You can do both of the "limits" in a single transaction as well, just spend over $19.40 on the participating products and you will receive a $10 extrabucks reward.
• When you first start utilizing extrabucks, you will have to pay OOP in order to obtain a good amount of them (I try to keep $20 or more in extrabucks on my card).
• Once you become more accustomed the the way CVS operates, you can being to "roll" your extrabucks rewards.
• I do this to minimize my OOP cost and maximize my savings and extrabucks earnings.
• Example: If I have $5 in extrabucks to use and wanted to buy the selected Crest products above to get another $5 in extrabucks, I would purchase over $9.70 worth of products, use any coupons I have on those products and use the $5 extrabucks I have currently. On my receipt there will be another $5 extrabucks, meaning I just "rolled" them. I used extrabucks to get more extrabucks. Take a look at my transactions here if you are still confused.
• There is no limit to the number of extrabucks rewards you can use in a single transaction. You could use (5) $1 extrabucks to cover a $5 item, getting it for free.
• However, you cannot use (5) $1 extrabucks to cover a $4.99 item because it is over the amount of the subtotal (before tax). You would have to use 4 of them and pay the other $0.99 OOP. Although it doesn't hurt to ask the cashier if she could lower your $1 extrabucks to $0.99 (they can, it depends on the cashier if they will though). You would not want to lower extrabucks significantly - that is like throwing away money.

• Take advantage of the ExtraCare Coupon Center

• These coupon centers are available when you walk in most stores across the nation, offering coupons when you scan your ExtraCare Card.
• They print CVS Coupons.

• "Stack" coupons to maximize savings
• CVS has their own coupons and the most common ways to obtain CVS coupons are either from the ExtraCare Center on their website, publications sent out in e-mail or snail mail, or directly from the coupon center in-store.
• A CVS coupon does not have "manufacturer's coupon" printed on it.
• It usually reads "CVS/pharmacy" or "CVS/pharmacy coupon"
• CVS coupons can be used in conjunction with manufacturer's coupons, this is called "stacking" and is allowed at all CVS stores, per their coupon policy.

• Join the CVS Beauty Club
• Whether you are male or female, the CVS beauty club is just another way to get the most out of shopping at CVS. You must already have a card to sign up for the beauty club. Once you join and link your card with the club, you can start making money without even thinking about it!
• Just for signing up you get a 10% off beauty purchase coupon.
• You will receive $3 extrabucks on your birthday!
• For every $50 you spend, you receive $5 extrabucks.
• These will print the next time you scan your card at the coupon center or they can be printed online from the ExtraCare Center.
• They do not print from the coupon center automatically - usually they are available the next day.
• A record of your spendings in beauty departments will be tracked on every receipt you get, keeping track of how much more you need to spend to earn a reward as well.
• This total is BEFORE coupons, so make sure you use those coupons wisely!
• Purchases from these departments earn money towards your beauty total: cosmetics, fragrance, hair care, skin care, beauty tools, hair appliances, hair accessories and nail care.

This page is a work in progress... I will keep adding additional ways to save at CVS!