Does the thought of wasting money at CVS make you sick?
We hear that and feel it. So, we teamed up with Leah Ingram, a smart spending specialist and the author of several books on saving money, including “Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less,” to find out how to save money at CVS.
Here, Ingram reveals her top tips for keeping your wallet happy when shopping at CVS.
“Of all of the drugstore/pharmacy retailers, I have never been able to match the kinds of savings that you can get at CVS,” Ingram says.
Ingram never misses a chance to explore the ExtraCare Coupon Center. Even when just picking up a prescription, she scans her phone number for personalized coupons tailored to her previous purchases.
“Even if I’m just going in to pick up a prescription, I will stand there and put in my phone number to see what kinds of coupons it spits out,” she says.
One of the newer and more lucrative CVS programs is its CarePass. For $5/month or $48/year, CarePass participants receive $10/month to spend at CVS. Said another way, if you pay $48/year, you can get back $120 in spending money.
Every month, you receive an email notifying you that $10 has been credited to your CVS account, which you can spend on almost anything in the store. In five months, you will have more than made back your annual investment.
In addition to the monthly credit, CarePass subscribers also receive 20% off all CVS brand products, free shipping, and same-day prescription refills.
If you're a CVS shopper, you're likely already part of the ExtraCare loyalty program, earning a 2% rebate on most purchases. On your birthday, CVS gives you $3 in ExtraBucks—a delightful birthday treat.
On top of the ExtraCare Card, which offers savings on virtually everything in the store, CVS’s separate Pharmacy & Health Rewards program offers $5 in ExtraBucks for every 10 prescriptions you fill or refill at CVS—up to $50/year.
Additionally, if you get your flu shot at CVS, you’ll receive a coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase.
Shoppers who buy beauty products regularly at CVS will want to sign up for the ExtraCare Beauty Club. Like the Pharmacy & Health Club, the free Beauty Club rewards beauty-related purchases.
Every month, if you spend at least $30 on beauty products, such as makeup, perfume, or hair or facial care, you’ll receive 10% back in ExtraBucks.
If you or a family member were or are a member of the U.S. armed forces, you qualify to join CVS’s Veterans Advantage program. With Veterans Advantage, you save 20% every time you shop at CVS online. You also receive free shipping.
Ingram says shoppers should be looking for yellow tags in the store, that indicate a product is on sale or an associated promotion. The yellow tags “are a visual marker that makes it easier for you to find what’s on sale or clearance,” she says.
Get paid for your opinions. Join the CVS Advisor Panel and provide feedback on CVS products and operations to earn more ExtraBucks. All you have to do is register at the website and then answer surveys that arrive in your inbox.
Rather than paying for your CVS purchases with cash, credit, or a debit card, stock up on CVS gift cards at a discount. You can find them at websites like Raise, where you can earn credits on each purchase, or eBay or other gift card discounting sites. That way, you save money even before you checkout at the store.
Although CVS is infamous for its lengthy paper receipts, these often contain valuable money-saving coupons. Your receipts also serve as a source of ExtraBucks, which are simultaneously credited to your account, eliminating the need to hoard paper.
Pay attention to emails from CVS, as they often contain coupons and savings alerts related to products you've previously purchased. These emails are typically highly relevant, so don't miss out on potential savings.
CVS allows you to combine their coupons with manufacturer coupons, a practice known as "coupon stacking." For instance, pair a $2 off CVS paper towels coupon with a manufacturer coupon for extra savings.
Also, CVS is one of the few retailers that accept coupons for buy one get one (BOGO) free deals. You can present two manufacturer coupons on your two BOGO items and potentially get them for free or close to it.
When CVS has a terrific sale, the product may sell out quickly. Fortunately, you can request a raincheck at the checkout. This piece of paper guarantees you’re entitled to that week’s sale price on the item once it is back in stock.
Even better, you can wait to redeem that raincheck until you find a coupon good on that item. “Rainchecks do not expire,” according to the CVS website.
Not only can you save money with CVS’s own programs, but you can also combine them with savings from Dealspotr. If you search CVS, you will find savings you can apply to your online order. Just apply the code during your checkout. You can even pick up your order at the store or have it shipped for free if you have a CarePass.
Other apps, such as Ibotta and Fetch, will reward you with money back based on each CVS receipt you scan. Checkout51 gives money back on brand offers each week. Check the apps to see the offers before you shop to maximize your savings.
Dr. Marcia Layton Turner is a bestselling author and ghostwriter and award-winning business writer whose credits include Businessweek, US News & World Report, Entrepreneur, Inc., Woman’s Day, Every Day With Rachael Ray, and Forbes.com, where she has been on the retail team for several years. She has authored, co-authored, or ghostwritten nearly 80 nonfiction books, including several about leading retailers. She contributes frequently to articles regarding finding the best deals on products as well as writing consumer product reviews. You can connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcialaytonturner.
