Saving $$$ - Shopping at CVS

If you have not been shopping at CVS and taking advantage of CVS ExtraCare Rewards Program, you are losing a lot of money that you could be spending somewhere else on something else, or repaying your student loans, or saving, or investing, etc.

Let me give you an example – last year, as a project, I kept a record of all of my purchases at CVS. I then totaled the amounts (1) I would have spent on the items if I did not participate in the ExtraCare Program, and (2) the actual amount I spent out of pocket. I was shocked to see the difference – I would have spent $2,962.96 but I only spent $869.06 out of pocket. And, this is for the entire year! Intrigued? Then, let me tell you how...

First, sign up for the ExtraCare. You can either do it online here and the card will be mailed to you, or you can stop by any store, ask for an application and get the card right there. Second, pick up a copy of the CVS weekly circular and take a look. Almost every week, CVS offers items that are “FREE AFTER EXTRA BUCKS.” Make sure you read all of the small print – the description of the item, brand, size, and offer limit. For example, the circular will have this item:

If you can't see the small print, it says:

Paper Mate 1.2 pens 10 ct.
You Pay With Card 99c
Extra Buck Reward 99c
It’s like getting it for… FREE after extra bucks.
Extra Buck offer limit
of 2 per household with card.
After Tuesday: 99c with card & no extra bucks

What it means that you have to get the exact item as described, you can only get the maximum of 2 to get the rewards, and the offer ends on Tuesday. In other words, you will get NO extra bucks if (1) you buy Paper Mate 1.0 pens 24 ct (because it’s not 1.2 10 ct), or (2) you buy 3 packages (you will still get the extra bucks for the first 2, but not for the 3^rd because the limit is 2), or (3) if you buy the items on Wednesday (since the deal expired on Tuesday).

At the register, provide your ExtraCare card to the cashier to be scanned and then pay for the items. In the example above, you will pay $1.98 for 2 packages of pens plus tax, but when you get your receipt, it will have $1.98 attached at the end as your extra bucks. Treat them as cash. And they do expire, so pay attention to the expiration dates.

Next time you go to the store, just give the cashier your card and pay with your extra bucks as cash. For example, if your purchase is $2.00 and you give the cashier $1.98 in extra bucks, you will only pay 2 cents plus tax.

That’s all, that’s the magic!

This week, CVS offered the following items FREE after extra bucks:
Memo book (limit 2)
No. 2 pencils (limit 2)
1’ Vinyl binder (limit 2)
Paper Mate pens (limit 2)
Filler paper (limit 2)
CVS Pantiliners (limit 1)

Couple of notes:

• For some reason, the deals in Brooklyn are always different from the deals in Manhattan. Based on my experiences, the CVS stores in Brooklyn offer more “FREE after extra bucks” items than the stores in Manhattan. Just be aware of that and always check the location’s circular before purchasing.
• For more information in helping you to plan your shopping trips, check out this website (I also posted a link to Iheartcvs on the left under Blogs to Visit). The site also posts future CVS circulars which will help you to plan future trips in the weeks ahead.
• In addition, you can also check the weekly CVS circular on the CVS website by entering your zip code and planning your trips out before you head for the store.
• For more information about the program, including enrollment, visit CVS website.
• I personally get the items even if we have no use for it in our house – so that I can donate them, give them away, etc.
• If you have any questions or comments, please leave me a note in the comments and I will respond.