CVS
Since I realize some of you may be new to shopping at CVS and the great deals you can get there, I wanted to create a post for you.
- The first thing you want to do is apply for one of their Extra Care cards, which you can do in the store or online here. If you order it online, it will come in the mail in about a week, so you will need to wait to go shopping until it arrives. When mine came, it had 3 cards (all linked to the same account): one regular sized card and 2 mini cards that fit on key chains.
- While you are online, make sure register your card because CVS will email coupons every once in a while (For example, this weekend, I received a $5 off a $40 purchase coupon)
- Before you head to the store, I recommend you plan out your purchases. If you are new to CVS, then stick to only a few items (one or two) so you don’t get to confused or frustrated. I will try to highlight some good scenarios for newbies each week.
- Each week and month, CVS offers Extra Care Bucks (ECB) on selected items. These ECBs work like an instant rebate, or a gift certificate, on your next purchase. They print at the bottom of your receipt, so you will want to rip off the ECB and save it for your next purchase. For example, this month when you buy Children’s Aspirin for $1.99, you get $1.99, so this item is basically FREE. You can use the ECBs immediately for another transaction or later, however, they do expire, so make sure you use them by the expiration date.
- These ECB deals are even better when you combine them with coupons. Sometimes you can get items FREE or even have overage to apply towards other items in your cart.
- One of my goals is to continually roll my ECBs each week so that I pay hardly anything OOP (out of pocket). This may mean doing more than one transaction a week, but in my experience the CVS employees have been nice and very helpful.
- Once you have a plan and go to the store, you should scan your card at the kiosk in the front. It will print you some coupons and sometimes a $x/$xx purchase.
- Make sure you give the cashier your card before you start ringing up your items to make sure that you get all the deals and always check your receipt after checking out to make sure you received all of the ECBs.
To find the latest CVS deals, go HERE.
Are you already a CVS shopper? Do you have other strategies or tips to share? I’d love to hear them!
And don’t miss all the fun Summer FREEBIES & Discounts available for your kids!
Melissa Hurst, the founder of SavingCentsWithSense.net, is a married mom of three young children, so she understands the importance of stretching a family's budget to maximize savings. After working full-time in higher education for seven years, she pursued a passion of teaching both in the classroom and through her articles to help others. Her money-saving tips have been featured on Arizona Midday, and she is a regular columnist for LifetimeMoms.com and Times Publications in Arizona.
