Helpful Tips for Rookie CVS Shoppers

I can remember a time when I would listen to people talk about shopping at CVS and I thought they were crazy and wondered how anyone could possibly save money shopping at a drugstore. I discovered how the Extra Care Bucks system at CVS works about two years ago and I am hooked.

If you are just getting started with shopping at CVS, the first thing you need to do is get an Extra Care card, which is similar to the frequent shopper cards that many grocery stores offer. You can sign up for the card online or get one in the store. The Extra Care card has several features. First, it allows you to take advantage of special sale prices and offers. Next, CVS has weekly targeted items and you earn Extra Care bucks when you purchase these items. They also have monthly Extra Care buck earning deals. When you purchase these qualifying items, the Extra Care buck will print instantly on your receipt and you can use it like cash toward future purchases. You can also earn quarterly Extra Care bucks based on your out of pocket spending (you get 2% back) and for filling prescriptions (you earn one Extra Care buck for every two prescriptions you fill).

Now that you have a basic understanding of the Extra Care program, the following tips will help you to be more successful as a new CVS shopper.

Plan ahead

There are a number of websites that post ad scans for upcoming weeks in advance so that you can plan for upcoming deals. Visiting these websites before you have a real handle on CVS shopping can be overwhelming, but it is very helpful because it will help you to know which coupons you need to stock up on prior to upcoming sales. Scenarios are often posted, as well, to help you get started.

Before going on a shopping trip, look at your ad and plan your trip. Your goal should be to spend the least amount out of pocket by matching up sale prices, coupons, and using the Extra Care bucks you have already earned. When you are getting started, sometimes it is helpful to break up transactions so that you can use Extra Care Bucks earned from one transaction to pay for the next transaction.

Some people choose to "roll" Extra Care bucks, which means that they use Extra Care bucks earned from one purchase to pay for another purchase which will also earn Extra Care bucks. Other people choose to use Extra Care bucks to help reduce out of pocket expenses on items they need even if they will not earn additional Extra Care bucks. You will find a system that works best for you.

When I am planning a CVS trip, I write out my scenarios and then attach my needed coupons and Extra Care bucks to my scenario so I can easily access everything I need once I am at the store.

Shop early in the week

Word is getting out, and shopping at CVS is becoming increasingly popular. If you shop early in the week, you will have a better chance of finding sale items in stock. If sale items are out of stock, remember to ask for a rain check. CVS rain checks are not store specific and do not expire.

Have a back-up plan

As CVS shopping becomes more popular, it becomes more difficult to find items in stock. Many new CVS shoppers will spend time at home planning out their scenarios and end up being disappointed when they arrive at the store and find that the items that they were in search of are out of stock. It is always helpful to have a back-up plan. I prefer to "roll" my Extra Care bucks, so when I am creating scenarios, I always try to have one or two back up plans in mind so I can easily substitute other items into my scenario if something I had planned on using is out of stock.

Take your time

One of the biggest mistakes that new CVS shoppers make is rushing when they are in the store. When you start to rush, you will likely make mistakes, which means that you will end up spending more out of pocket than you intended. If your scenario does not work out as planned and you do not have a back up scenario, take your time and think through a new one. Most CVS stores have a waiting area (which usually includes a few comfortable massage chairs) back by the pharmacy where you can take time to regroup. If you are doing multiple transactions, be considerate of other shoppers. After you complete once transaction, let other shoppers complete theirs while you take a minute to regroup and make sure that everything is in order for your next transaction.

Know the store's coupon policies

CVS has some corporate policies (for example, you can use one manufacturer's coupon and one store coupon per item), but they also allow regional and store managers to set policies. Some stores will accept coupons printed from the internet while others will not. Some stores will issue rain checks for items that earn Extra Care bucks and others will not. Some stores will also limit the number of coupons you can use during each transaction. If you know your store's coupon policies, you can save time and embarrassment during the check out process.