5 Tips for Saving Money at CVS

At the beginning of the year  I got an email from CVS saying that I was in the Top 6% of Savers at CVS because I saved over $300 last year using my rewards card.  While that is awesome, I looked at that amount and set a goal for myself to be in the top 1% of savers for 2015 (I’ll keep you posted on that!).

 

Saving money at CVS is easy and I have decided to share with you my Top 5 Tips for Saving Money at CVS!

Tips for Saving Money at CVS

1. Sign up for Rewards Card and then remember to use it each time you check out. With the CVS rewards card I get money back on certain purchases (called Extra Care Buck–ECB), get coupons in my email and also get coupons when I scan my card at either the scanner in the store or from the cash register after a transaction.

You can also use it to get ECB’s back on certain purchases you make and you can find them by either checking the sales ticket on the shelf or by looking in the weekly sales flier.

2. Use the Extra Care Machine to print coupons: The first thing I do when I walk into the store is visit the Extra Care Machine at the front of the store, scan my card and check out any coupons that print.  Don’t feel like you have to use those coupon on that visit, you can save them until the item goes on sale.

3. Use Manufacturers Coupons: When talking to people about ways to save money one of the thing I often hear people say is that they don’t use coupons because coupons aren’t available for “real” food.  Well, to be honest with you I don’t often use coupons for food either but I do use coupons when shopping at CVS for toiletry and household items.  You can use a manufacturers coupon and get an ECB back on the same purchase, so you get double the savings.

4.  Stack your ECB’s together: When you get ECB’s save them and use them all at one time, in one visit to get your items free (just make sure to keep track of the expiration date!).  To truly maximize your savings you can plan your shopping trips using the sale flyers, scanning your Rewards card, using manufacturers coupons and then paying with your accumulated ECB’s.  I have done this is the past and gotten multiple shopping trips worth of items for free.  I also occasionally get emails with % off deals in them so it pays off to check your email before heading to the store.

5. Buy on sale and stock up:  When certain items go on sale at CVS that is when I really stock up items such as dish detergent, toothpaste, laundry detergent and other household items. I VERY rarely ever pay for toothpaste (and brand names too!) since I make sure to purchase when they are on sale and I use both my manufacturers coupons and any CVS coupons or rewards points.

Bonus tip: Buy the CVS brand instead of name brand:  I used to be a brand snob, I admit it, and I still am when it comes to certain items BUT last year I tried a bunch of the Gold Emblem line from CVS and was shocked to find out just how tasty the items really were and at a fraction of the price of their brand name counterparts.  I especially LOVE the Sea Salt Caramels…YUM!  Make sure to try  out the Gold Emblem brand the next time you are at the store.

It truly is easy to save money when using your rewards card at CVS and it isn’t just a CVS deal. You can get similar deals from other drugstore chains and grocery chains, I just happen to like to use CVS as my pharmacy.

Hope you get lots of great deals!