How to Shop: CVS

First, you’ll need to sign up for an ExtraCare card.  You can sign up for a CVS ExtraCare card either at the store or at CVS.com and is free. With every purchase you make at CVS, your cashier will scan your ExtraCare card, which will qualify you for all the discounted pricing and, most importantly, the ExtraBucks offers! You’ll also earn 2% back on all your purchases at CVS. 

ExtraBucks are checkout coupons which print on the bottom of your receipt when you make a qualifying purchase. ExtraBucks promotions are advertised in the CVS weekly ad (and on my blog!). Utilizing the ExtraBucks program will allow you to save money and earn rewards back just for shopping at CVS.

Here is an example of how a deal using ExtraBucks works:

In this deal you would:
Purchase (1) Starbucks Iced Coffee
Pay: $1.50
Receive: $1.50 ExtraBucks
Like getting the item for free after rewards!

Limits: ExtraBucks deals have limits, which are associated with your ExtraCare card. In the above Starbucks example, the limit is one. This means that we can only do one Starbucks ExtraBucks promotion during the entire week’s sale. Even if you shop at multiple stores, you will not be allowed more than one ExtraBucks Reward for this promotion.

CVS also often runs ExtraBucks promos such as ”Spend $15 on participating products, Receive $5 ExtraBucks.” It’s important to note that the $15 minimum purchase requirement is the subtotal reached before you use any coupons. If you purchase 5 bags of candy at $3.00 each, you may use manufacturer coupons (and even previously received Extra Bucks) to reduce the amount you must pay, and you will still receive your $5.00 ExtraBucks. One cool thing about the ExtraBucks program being tied to your ExtraCare card is that if you purchase $7 of candy on Monday and then $8 of candy on Thursday, you will receive the ExtraBucks at the bottom of Thursday’s receipt. Your card tracks and totals your purchases for you.

Rolling ExtraBucks: You may use ExtraBucks to pay for other items also participating in ExtraBucks promos, and your new ExtraBucks will still print. You can lower your out-of-pocket costs by rolling your ExtraBucks and doing multiple transactions. Or, since the promo limits aren’t “per transaction,” you may simply purchase all of your items in one transaction, and every ExtraBucks will print, one after the other, at the bottom of your receipt. 

When redeeming ExtraBucks, be aware that if you redeem a $2.00 ExtraBucks on a $0.99 order, you will forfeit the additional $1.01 value. (Other drugstores’ registers will reject the reward coupon if its value exceeds the subtotal. CVS computers will accept the coupon and adjust it down, so be careful that you don’t waste those hard-earned bucks!)