GUIDE TO SHOPPING CVS

CVS can be a bit tricky when first starting. As you shop more often, you will begin to put scenarios together and this is something I can not teach you (without shopping with you)!

When shopping CVS, you NEED a CVS Extra Care card. You can apply HERE or at the register at your local store. Also be sure to receive email updates HERE. These often contain $4 off $20, $5 off $25, etc. coupons that can be combined with sales, Extra Bucks and manufacture coupons for additional savings!

1. Rain checks are your friend. Products may be out, so be sure to get a rain check. Rain Checks do not expire. What’s even better is that a rain check WILL be given on Extra Buck deals!!!

2. When a sale is buy x amount of dollars, get x amount of Extra Bucks, this is BEFORE coupons. This is saving you even more money!

For example: Purchase $10 in Dove products, receive $5 Extra Bucks.
Deal Looks like:
3 Dove Shampoo, $3.50 each
Sub Total: $10.50
minus, $1 off 1 coupons
New Total: $7.50 and receive $5 in Extra Bucks!

3. If your store is out of a product and it is needed toward an Extra Buck deal, you can make a purchase and go to the next CVS. On the bottom of your receipt, it will state how much more of that product is needed to obtain your Extra Bucks!

4. Extra Bucks are applied before taxes. You can not pay the tax with your Extra Bucks.

5. The Monthly Clip free coupons (located with weekly ads) can be combined with a manufacture coupon. You do not need to give the CVS Monthly coupon to your cashier. It will be deducted automatically at the register.

6. Extra Bucks expire 4 weeks from the day it was printed and states the expiration on the receipt as well as what the Extra Buck was printed for. This is helpful to know if you were credited for purchasing the correct product(s).

7. CVS accepts internet printable coupons! Visit CVS.com for CVS in store coupons HERE. Most of the time the first 2 pages are coupons that can only be redeemed at CVS only. The rest are manufacture coupons and can be used at ANY store.

8. All coupons are redeemed at face value, coupons DO NOT double.

9. On Buy 1 Get 1 FREE sales, 1 product will ring at full price, other product will ring a $0.00! If you have a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE coupon, this is the time to use a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE coupon because you will receive BOTH products for FREE! You can also you can use 2 $dollar amount off 1 coupons when purchasing 2 products in a Buy 1 Get 1 FREE sale to save even more!

10. You can redeem at CVS coupon with a manufacture coupon!

Rolling Extra Bucks:
This is the language many don’t understand, so stay with me on this one. If you still don’t understand, ASK QUESTIONS!

Best tip of shopping CVS, you need 1 coupon per product. If you are using 10 coupon, you need to have 10 products. Purchase a sucker for $.25 or something small in value to option a low out of pocket, these are known as “fillers”.

When I am going through the CVS ad, I’m looking for ALL items that are FREE after Extra Bucks. I will then apply a coupon (if there is one) to save even more! This is how I roll my Extra Bucks and able to get more for my donation pile each month!

For example: Let’s say I have $5 in Extra Bucks from the previous week. This week’s ad has Colgate toothpaste, $2.99 on sale and receive $2.99 in Extra Bucks, GE Light Bulb priced at $.99, receive $.99 Extra Bucks, Accu-Check meter priced at $10.99, receive $10.99 in Extra Bucks, Aquafina water, $2.49, receive $1.49 in Extra Bucks. I’ll purchase 1 of each to make it easier to understand.

My deal looks like this:

Colgate Toothpaste, $2.99 each
-$1 off 1 Coupon
Total: $1.99 each after coupon
Receive $2.99 in Extra Bucks

GE Light Bulb, $.99 each
-$1 off 1 coupon
Total: FREE after coupon
Receive $.99 in Extra Bucks

Acc-Check Monitor, $10.99
-$10 off 1 Coupon
Total: FREE after coupon
Receive $10 in Extra Bucks

Aquafina Water, $2.49
Total: $2.49
Receive $1 Extra Bucks

Total: $5.45

I’ll pay with $5 Extra Bucks that I already have. Now I’ll receive $14.98 in Extra Bucks and also have $5 left over from last week. With a total of $19.98 in Extra Bucks to be used on another purchase. Next week I have $19.98 to use. If I start getting an accumulation of Extra Bucks, I often purchase diapers when the diapers are on sale and also have Extra Bucks.

Be sure to be organized when going to CVS. This is VERY helpful in putting your deals together. Make a seperate envelope for all the coupons you will use at CVS. Once in the store, stop at the CVS Kiosk that looks like (many stores are now getting these!):

be sure to scan your CVS Extra Buck card, every time you go into the store. This will print out coupons to use at CVS only as well as Extra Bucks!

Be sure to hand coupons to cashier accordingly:

1. Any $dollar amount off $dollar amount from CVS.
2. Any CVS store coupons and/or any manufacture coupons.
4. Any Extra Bucks

ALWAYS keep your eyes out for FREE Gift Cards when on new or transferred prescriptions. I get all giddy when these are out! Also be sure to ask the pharmacist. They often keep these behind the counter and many are unaware this promotion is even running.

Next shop your store for all the deals on your list. Check your ad before heading out on limitations of product. Most Extra Buck deals have a limit of 2 per CVS Extra Buck Card, there are also many with a limit 1. If a product is out, be sure to ask the cashier if there is any in back, if not, ask for a Rain check.

I know this is confusing, so again, please ask questions! I L.O.V.E. shopping at CVS, it’s so much fun. Not to mention there are so many FREE products each month. It’s a great way to add to my donation pile!