Whether you need to grab a quick snack, stock up on school supplies, try the latest beauty products or fill a prescription, there’s a good chance a CVS in your neighborhood can help. And while it might seem difficult to coupon at CVS at first, it’s actually one of the best drugstores to visit if you want to save big.
That said, you can’t just walk into a CVS and start saving without doing a little research first. In addition to doing your homework, you also need to start shopping at this drugstore regularly to get the biggest bang for your buck. Think of it as spending a little money in the short term to save big in the long term.
We know what you’re thinking: “This all sounds like a lot of work.” Don’t worry, though. Saving at CVS is easier than you may think, and we’re here to explain everything you need to know. From how to score CVS rewards and CVS prescription savings to how to find CVS coupons (and free-shipping codes), this guide will help you become an expert at finding CVS savings.
1. Get a CVS ExtraCare Card (and Sign up for ExtraCare Pharmacy & Health Rewards)
Would you like to be a member of an exclusive club? Well, you can when you join the CVS rewards program. This free program gives you access to tons of great perks like in-store discounts, $3 ExtraBucks Rewards for your birthday, and other exclusive members-only CVS coupons every time you use your CVS ExtraCare card.
That’s not all, though. You’ll also score 2% back in ExtraBucks Rewards on each eligible purchase when you use your CVS ExtraCare card. Keeping track of your CVS Rewards balance couldn’t be easier — you just visit your online member portal to check your balance. It’s also where you can load additional deals onto your ExtraCare card.
Once you have your ExtraCare card, you’ll also want to sign up for the free CVS ExtraCare Pharmacy & Health Rewards program. It’s a great way to earn CVS prescription savings. Other than having an ExtraCare card, the only requirement to get started is to have filled at least one prescription at a CVS pharmacy.
When you sign up for the program, you can start earning rewards on your prescription purchases. These CVS prescription savings can really add up. For example, you can earn up to $50 Pharmacy & Health ExtraBucks Rewards each year. You can then use your CVS pharmacy rewards to purchase almost anything in store or online. The only exceptions are items like lottery tickets, prescriptions, alcohol and postage stamps.
There is one more thing you need to keep in mind with both ExtraBucks Rewards and Pharmacy & Health ExtraBucks Rewards: The rewards balances typically expire within 30 days, and you’ll need to be strategic about how you spend them. That’s because you must redeem your ExtraBucks all at once.
For example, if you have $5 ExtraBucks, but only want to spend $3, you’ll end up forfeiting the remaining $2 in ExtraBucks. And let’s be real: No one wants to miss out on free money.
2. Check the CVS Weekly Ad to Find All the Deals
Now that you know how to become a member of all the CVS savings programs, it’s time to dive a little deeper into how to find out what’s on sale at this popular pharmacy.
CVS puts out a weekly ad that’s filled with the discounts for the week as well as limited-time offers and coupons. The sales at CVS run from Sunday to Saturday. However, rumor has it that the retailer will still honor the deals in the ad on the following Sunday. It pays to have some insider information!
In order to take advantage of the deals in the weekly ad, you need to have a CVS ExtraCare card. That’s why we started this article by talking about signing up for this important little card.
Wondering where you can find the CVS ad? The flyer is available online and on the CVS pharmacy app. You can also find the old-school paper version both in stores and in your Sunday newspaper.
3. Sign up for CVS Emails and Follow CVS on Social Media
You’ve probably heard us mention the value of signing up for retailer emails, but we think it’s worth repeating when it comes to this pharmacy. When you sign up to start receiving CVS emails, you’ll enter a world of savings. This includes receiving access to subscriber-only offers on everything from snacks to haircare products.
If you want to start getting rewards that are personalized for your interests and shopping needs, CVS makes it easy. All you need to do is provide an ExtraCare number when you sign up for the emails. It’s just that simple!
Social media is another great way to connect with your favorite pharmacy. CVS has a presence on social media sites that include Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. There, you’ll discover everything from deal alerts, upcoming sales and new products.
4. Get the CVS App to Make Sure You Get All the Savings
We’re living in a world that’s full of apps, so why not take advantage of it when you shop at CVS? The CVS app is your one-stop shop for savings and simplicity. The CVS app will let you know when there are new ExtraCare offers and see the weekly CVS ad deals directly from your smartphone. But wait, there’s more!
The CVS app allows you to scan your digital ExtraCare card and coupons at checkout, which allows you to snag savings on your purchases even faster. Plus, CVS sometimes offers ExtraBucks to users just for downloading the app.
5. Stop by the CVS ExtraCare Coupon Center Before You Start Shopping
When it comes to coupons, more is always better. That’s why you’ll want to start each CVS shopping trip with a visit to the CVS ExtraCare Coupon Center. These little red kiosks in this pharmacy’s locations are easy to find and can give you tons of savings.
You’ll start by scanning your ExtraCare card, scanning your CVS app or entering your phone number at the red kiosk. Once you scan in, you’ll score coupons, which can usually be bundled with store promotions and manufacturer coupons for additional savings. These coupons are great surprises and are based on your previous shopping trips, so you know that the coupons will be tailored specifically to you.
Before you step away from the kiosk, you’ll want to make sure you got all the CVS coupons that are available for that day. How do you know when this happens? Just keep scanning your card until you see a message telling you that you printed out all the coupons for that day.
6. Know Which Kinds of Coupons CVS Accepts
There are a lot of coupons in the world, and CVS accepts almost all of them. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of coupons that you can use at CVS.
- Paper and digital manufacturer coupons: We’ve all seen those coupons that say, “manufacturer coupon,” or “MFR.” These are the coupons that you can cut out of the Sunday paper, print from different websites, or load to your ExtraCare account.
- CVS app-only store coupons: CVS offers its own digital coupons in the CVS app. You typically have a week to use these coupons, and you can find them in the “See Deals & Rewards” section of the CVS app. To redeem a coupon, you’ll just click “Send to Card.”
- CVS email coupons: Every Thursday CVS sends out email coupons to most email subscribers. These coupons can vary by customer. You can either print out the coupon to use at checkout or digitally send the coupon to your CVS card.
- CVS ExtraCare Coupon Center coupons: The coupons that print out from the ExtraCare Coupon Center are the final type of coupons that you can use when you go shopping at CVS. These coupons are a mix of manufacturer and store coupons.
You may also be able to find some coupons and deals on your CVS receipt, so be sure to check yours after you check out. This applies to both paper receipts and digital ones.
7. Earn CVS Cash Back With RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot frequently offers cash back at CVS. See the current offer and activate it to get a percentage of what you spend back in your pocket.
Cash back shopping is a smart savings move because it lets you buy whatever you want sitewide at CVS (not just what’s on sale or eligible for a particular promo code) and get a percentage back. If you also want to use a promo code, no problem! Cash back stacks with promo codes and online coupons.
Note that cash back offers last for a limited time and frequently change. So, if there isn’t currently one available, check back soon.
The post 7 Ways to Save at CVS Every Time You Shop appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
