- Lower prices in store: Just like most stores with loyalty card programs, you pay a higher price for products in their store if you don't have their card. Look at their weekly sales flyer. The prices in the ad state with card.
- Extra Bucks: My favorite thing about CVS! There's generally quite a few Extra Bucks (formerly called ExtraCare Bucks--they'll always be ECBs to me) offers listed in the weekly ads. You pay a certain price up front (less any coupons), and then get Extra Bucks to use for your next purchase. Your next purchase doesn't have to be on a different day. You may want to turn around and do another transaction right then. Here's an example of something I've done:
Transaction # 1
Razor $9.99
Use -$4.00 coupon
Pay $5.99 + tax, earn $4 ECBs
Transaction # 2
2 big bags candy 2/$5.00
Use -$1.00 off 2 coupon
Use -$4.00 ECBs from Transaction # 1
Pay only tax!
Most Extra Bucks offers have a limit on them. Be sure to see the ad and store signage for details. If you buy 2 of an item that has a limit 1 ECB, you won't get anything back for the second product.
- Quarterly Extra Bucks: Once every 3 months or so, you'll get ECBs for all the shopping you did the previous quarter. You get back 2% of what you spent. You can also earn ECBs from getting qualifying prescriptions filled at CVS if you present your ExtraCare Card at time of purchase. Some restrictions apply, so be sure to see ExtraCare for details.
- Coupons: My CVS has always been very coupon friendly. They'll accept manufacturer coupons, including Internet printables with a valid barcode. Click here for the official CVS Coupon Policy.
CVS allows you to stack their store coupons with manufacturer coupons for additional savings (unless either coupon prohibits it). Where can you find CVS coupons? There's a little red machine near the front of every CVS store. You simply scan your ExtraCare card and coupons print out for you. I've seen free product coupons, money off specific products coupons, and money off total purchase coupons. It's really a mixed bag and part of the fun is seeing what you'll get! You can scan your card more than once per day until you get the message "No coupons available. Please check again tomorrow."
CVS also has some printable coupons on their website. Click on the In-Store Coupons link on the right-hand side of the CVS homepage. Be careful, though. Sometimes they're CVS coupons that CAN be combined with manufacturer coupons. Other times they're just manufacturer coupons. When in doubt, ask your cashier.
- Beauty Club: I love, love, love Beauty Club! It's a free program that ties in with your ExtraCare account. It tracks your "beauty" purchases--items like cosmetics, hair care, fragrances, and skin care. When you spend $50.00 on qualifying beauty items, you'll get rewarded with $5 ECBs! This is in addition to any ECBs you earn on individual items each week. Your Beauty Club spending is listed at the bottom of your receipt so it's easy to see how close you are to your $5 reward.
You can enroll in-store or by filling out this online form. Make sure you enter in your ExtraCare card number correctly so you'll get credit for your purchases. After you enroll, you'll get a 10% off beauty shopping pass to use on your next purchase. You'll also get an email from Beauty Club on your birthday with $3 ECBs.
- Green Bag Tag: This is another great way to earn ECBs and help the environment at the same time! Click here to see what it looks like. It's a tag that you can loop around any reusable bag. Bring your reusable bag each time you shop. The cashier will scan your tag along with your purchase, and after every 4 uses, you'll get $1 ECB. You can only use/scan your Green Bag Tag once per day. You can find the Green Bag Tag for purchase near the register. It costs $0.99, but you'll make that back after your 4th visit.
- Easy account access: You can sign up for a CVS ExtraCare account online. Enter in your name, email address, and ExtraCare card number for access to your account. You can view your quarterly spending so you'll have an idea of how many ECBs you'll receive at the end of each earning period. You can also see your Beauty Club balance. Be sure to sign up for ExtraCare emails! You can do that here. CVS will often email you valuable coupons, such as $5 off a $25 purchase or $4 off a $20 purchase. Sometimes you'll even get coupons for FREE products.
Here's an example of one of my CVS shopping trips.
September 4, 2011
CVS Total before coupons: $37.85 + tax = $40.54
My Out-of-Pocket: $10.19 + tax = $12.88, with $4 ECBs remaining
Savings: $27.66, 68%
I started with $4 ECBs from a previous purchase and $5 ECBs Beauty Club Reward.
Transaction # 1:
Kudos 10-pk granola bars $2.50
Used -$0.50 internet printable coupon
Cost: $2.00 (not the best deal, but I love these!)
Carefree $1.00
Earned $1.00 ECBs
Revlon Age Defying foundation $10.00
Earned $4.00 ECBs
Hershey Air Delight Bar $0.99
Earned $0.99 ECBs
Dove milk chocolate w/ almonds candy bar $0.79
Used FREE coupon from scanning CVS card -$0.79
Cost: FREE
2 Skintimate Cream Shave @ $1.99 = $3.98
Used (2) -$1.00 manufacturer internet printable
Used (2) -$1.00 CVS internet printables
Cost: -$0.02 moneymaker
CoverGirl blush clearance $2.85
Used -$1.00 mfr Q
Cost: $1.85
Transaction # 1 total before coupons: $22.11 + tax = $23.36
-$4.00/$20.00 email coupon, -$5.00 Beauty Club ECBs, -$6.29 coupons
OOP: $6.82 + tax = $8.07, earned $6.99 ECBs ($1.00 for green tag 4th visit)
Transaction # 2:
3 Suave body wash $5.38 (one of them rang up $1.38 instead of $2.00 as advertised)
Used B2G1 free mfr Q -$1.38
Used -$1.00/2 mfr Q
Cost: $3.00 or $1.00 each
Schick Quattro for Women razor cartridges 4-pk $8.99
Used -$2.00 mfr Q
Cost: $6.99, earned $4.00 ECBs ($2.99)
2 packs Orbit Gum BOGO $1.37
Used -$1.00 coupon printed from CVS coupon machine
Cost: $0.37 or $0.19 each
Transaction # 2 total before coupons: $15.74 + tax = $17.18
-$5.38 coupons, -$6.99 ECBs from Transaction # 1
OOP: $3.37 + tax = $4.81
CVS
CVS is one of my favorite places to coupon! If you don't have an ExtraCare card, get one immediately. Here's why:
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