Shopping Guide: CVS

Welcome to my new series of store shopping guides, created just for you.  I will be compiling shopping guides for all of my favorite stores to help you get more for your money on all of your shopping trips.  Some of the stores I will be covering include: Target, Big Lots, Kroger, Dollar Tree, T.J. Maxx, Ikea, and many more!

I decided to produce my  CVS Shopping Guide first because CVS is the store that has saved me the most money.  Since I share with you my drugstore deals and steals, I also want to show you how to get the same deals (or better ones) yourself.  So, let’s get started!

Shopping at CVS: Earn Free Products with the Extra Care Program

Do you shop at CVS?  Would you like to get your favorite products from CVS for a LOT less than you are already paying?  What about free or better?  Well, listen up because I am about to show you how shopping the right way at CVS can help your bottom line.

Believe it or not, I wasn’t always as frugal and smart with money as I am today. Before I learned the true value of money, I used to buy things without looking for sales or using coupons.  I used to stop at CVS six or seven times a week to pick up random things as I needed them.  I shopped at CVS so much simply because it was so convenient.  There was a CVS within a mile from my job and home.  But, the convenience was costing me big time.  Then, I met someone who told me that she got free stuff from CVS and Walgreens every week.  She told me how she did and I was hooked!  Now, getting my drugstore deals is the highlight of my week.

For the entire year of 2009, I saved a whopping $570.50!  Look below and see for yourself!  Sorry, the picture is a bit blurry.

Here are a few things I have learned along the way during my CVS adventures:

1. An Extra Care Card is a must.  No Extra Care Card = No Extra Bucks

If you don’t have one already, get your hot little hands on a CVS Extra Care card and make sure you take it with you every time you shop at CVS.  You can obtain an Extra Care card from any CVS store (just ask the cashier) or click here to sign up online.  You will earn 2% (in the form of extra bucks) on almost every purchase (things like stamps, alcohol, and gift cards excluded).

2. Learn the layout of your local CVS store.

Scoring stellar deals takes time and work.  If you are anything like me, you want to get in and out as fast as you can.  So, it helps to know where everything is located inside of the store.  Familiarize yourself with the aisles and layout of your local CVS.  Pay attention to where the clearance items are.  You will also want to look for the Coupon Center/Price Scanner.  I never even noticed this thing before but it is a great way to score some money saving CVS coupons. From now on, every time you go into CVS, scan your Extra Care card at the machine and see what coupons you get.

3. Go Green: Get a bag tag!

Attach it to your favorite reusable tote and use it each time you shop at CVS.  Make sure the cashier scans it and you will earn $1 EB on every fourth visit.

4.  Get Organized.

Develop a system that works for you.  I keep my Extra Care card on my key chain with all of my other ones.  Whenever I earn Extra Bucks, I immediately separate them from the bottom of my receipt.  I put the receipt in my receipt basket and my Extra Bucks in my Drugstore Deal Book/Wallet thingy that I also use to carry my coupons, list, and sales ads.

5. Be Prepared.

I recommend that you always remember to bring a copy of the sales circular with you.  They usually have copies in the store for your taking but there have been times when they were out.  Sometimes products are marked very well so having the sales ad with you makes it easy to make sure you are choosing the right products that offer extra bucks.

6. Choose your EB purchases wisely.

If your purchase total is less than your Extra bucks, CVS will not give you change.  Extra Bucks are good for for weeks so you don’t have to use them right away.

7. Learn the art of couponing.

While it does require some work, couponing can save your family big bucks!  Did you know that you can use both a manufacturer’s coupon (like those in the Sunday paper) and a CVS coupon together to increase your savings even more?  If you don’t already, start purchasing your local paper.  Paired with sales and EB deals, the coupons in your Sunday paper can score you some free products.  Follow blogs that do weekly coupon match-ups such as Money Saving Mom or Bargain Briana.

8.  Register your email address at CVS.com.

You will receive money saving store coupons from time to time such as $5 off $15.

9. Earn free CVS gift cards to lower your out of pocket expenses even more.

To make your savings at CVS even more worthwhile, why don’t you earn free CVS gift cards?

• You can earn free CVS gift cards in no time through My Points.  It is so easy to learn points with My Points by reading emails, searching the Net, completing surveys, playing games, and making purchases.
• Try winning CVS gift cards from blog giveaways.  The odds are exceptional, they are usually very easy to find and enter, and you might come across a new favorite blog.  Google “CVS gift card giveaway” and you might be surprised at the results.  Many bloggers (including myself) use gift cards as giveaway prizes.

10.  Remember the early bird gets the worm.

More and more people are starting to utilize the Extra Care program so it is a good idea to do your weekly CVS shopping early Sunday morning.  CVS sales run Sunday through Saturday.  If you wait too long, you will likely miss out on the great deals.  Trust me, I know from experience.

• Click here to read more about the Extra Care program directly from the CVS website.

• Click here to see pics and details of many of the great deals I got at CVS!

• Click here to see the products that I will never pay for again thanks to CVS (and Walgreens).

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