CVS | How I shop at an expensive store!
I would love to read more about your CVS strategies. I've always found CVS to be really overpriced, so my strategy has simply been to shop elsewhere! However, you definitely surpass me in frugality skills, and I know you shop at CVS regularly, so I would love greater insight as to how you use their systems and promotions to your advantage.-Karen
Get the CVS CarePass
This is a membership program that gives you a number of benefits, but the main one is that you get a $10 store credit every month.
I pay for a year in advance, which brings the price per month down from $5/month to $4, so basically I'm paying $4 and getting $6 for free. That's a pretty good return, and as long as you use your $10 wisely, it can be a smart investment.
You also get 20% off CVS-branded items and free shipping from CVS.com.
Use the CVS app for coupons
CVS used to always give you a million paper coupons, but now pretty much everything can be accessed in the app.
You can scroll through the available coupons, and if you see one you want to use, you can just click "send to card" and then it'll be loaded into your account.
The app sometimes has coupons like "$4/$20 of hair care items" without any particular brand specified, and those are especially helpful because you can usually use those AND an in-app manufacturer coupon.
For instance, you could use a $2 Tresemme shampoo coupon AND the $4/20 coupon.
Use the app to search for sales/ExtraBucks offers
If there's something I need, I always search the weekly add in the app to see if I can find a sale on it. CVS does have little sale tags on the shelves, but sometimes those aren't accurate; the app is more trustworthy!
ExtraBucks are basically CVS credits that can be used on a future purchase. For example, a brand of shampoo might be on sale, and if you buy $12 worth, you can get $4 of ExtraBucks loaded into your account for a future purchase.
After a purchase, check the app and also your e-receipt
Inside the app, you can find your ExtraBucks, and you can click, "Send to card".
Also, your emailed receipt will often have some coupons/credits, and you can click, "Send to card" on those as well.
In conclusion
The best way to get something cheap at CVS is to do all of the following simultaneously:
- buy something that's on sale
- use a store coupon
- use a manufacturer's coupon
- buy something that offers ExtraBucks
- use your Carepass
I don't always hit all of those at the same time, but I do try to do at least several of the things on that list when I buy something at CVS.
Don't forget your frugal basics
Other basic savings tactics I employ at CVS:
- I buy store-brand items
- I look for "50% more free" packaging
- I look at the clearance racks
- I'm flexible about brands so that I can get the best deals
Sounds like too much work? That's fine!
If doing all this sounds about as fun as removing a splinter from your finger then that is No. Big. Deal.
SERIOUSLY.
There are a million ways to be frugal, and you do not have to engage in money-saving activities that make you miserable.*
But if this feels sort of like putting a puzzle together, and you get some joy out of the process, then hey, I hope this post helps you a bit.
Got any CVS tips? Share them in the comments, please!
* I wrote a post titled, "I'll be me. And you can be you.", which addresses the fact that we all approach frugality a little differently.
P.S. I have a CVS super near my house, which means it's no biggie to stop in once a month to use my Carepass. If I had to drive a long way to get to a CVS, that would change things!
Yes! I get my TP and paper towels there using some of these strategies and can usually come out way better (spending less) than at Walmart. I agree that the app makes things much easier now than dealing with all those receipt coupons of the past.
I shop at CVS all of the time, and do all of those strategies. I love the e-receipts, no more super long paper receipts. I batch checking my ad emails once a week, so on my email day, I click on the coupons available and it only takes about a minute. Their pharmacy also awards extra care bucks, so they are my pharmacy as well. My biggest tip is whenever I want to buy something, I check to see if CVS has it in their brand, then its cheaper plus 20% off, and often there are general coupons for them as well. I get pistachios crazy cheap there with the coupons, as there's always some kind of snack/nut coupon.
If you tap the little bar code icon in the top right of your CVS app screen, it will turn your phone into a scanner! If you scan an item’s barcode in the store, the app will then tell you what coupons and sales apply to that item, if any. It’s a great way to catch any deals missed while browsing the app.
This tip is thanks to one of the employees at my regular CVS! The employees and pharmacy are so stellar that I make a point of shopping there even though our move made that location the least convenient one. The pharmacist has been with us since before my husband’s medical adventures began, and I’ve overheard enough to know he’s that careful and thoughtful with everyone’s prescriptions.
(If Kristen mentioned this already and I missed it, my apologies! Insomnia hit hard last night, so I’m working on four hours’ sleep and am completely derpy. :P)
@N, this is a game changer!
I generally don't bother shopping at CVS but if they send me free Extra Bucks (it has happened several times this year) I'll stop while passing the store and see if there are any snack items on sale that make my out of pocket cost very low. If I buy something we won't eat I'll pass it along. It's kind of a quick cheap thrill when I have the time.
I am app light, still under the delusion that stores know less about me if I don't have their apps.
@K D, Like you, I don't shop there often and only usually stop in if I have free Extra Bucks (like $4 off any purchase).
My experience has also been that Ibotta matches up pretty well with a lot of things at CVS, so I'll also check there before I head in.
@K D,
I just commented about using my extra bucks for chocolate. "Quick cheap thrill" is a great way to word this!
Yep. Just like I view my birthday freebies.
@K D, "app light" is an excellent term. I have zero retail apps, because I too don't want those big stores to stalk me.
Thanks, Kristen! I think I might try installing the app and signing up for their Care Pass for a year. I can try it as an experiment to see if it's worthwhile for our household. Thanks again for being so responsive to the requests of your readers!
Although I do not have a Care Pass, I have to have my prescriptions filled through CVS. My CVS card is linked to my prescriptions, so I receive Extra Bucks every time I have one filled.
I picked up one a few weeks ago and received $5 in Extra Bucks. There was also a coupon for 40% off L’Oréal products. I needed mascara and use the L’Oréal brand. It was originally about $14. However, with the 40% off and $5 in Extra Bucks, it came to $3.40. Better yet, Ibotta was offering $2 back on this product. Net price:$1.40.
I don’t shop often, but when I can I stack deals there for big savings.
@Bee,
Nice! I lover when I can stack deals like that. I'm also Team L'Oreal when it comes to mascara.
Great ideas! I live near two CVS stores and have never even walked in. Thx!
I very rarely shop CVS anymore. I used to go in often when I could walk partway home from work. I would employ all of the strategies Kristen mentioned and usually got better deals that way. Even so I was spending too much and often buying incidentals I really didn't need. But the pandemic and an injury led to me no longer walking past them on a regular basis.
Now I shop Walgreens online due to limited mobility, (also my prescriptions are with them). Their prices are somewhat better and I try to wait until they have sales/coupons on what I need. I find I can usually get good enough deals and shopping online often has me spending less as I am not tempted by displays. Also, since I can check my cart total easily online I can quickly see when I am nearing my dollar limit.
I had no idea CVS was considered expensive. Where I live, where your other choices are things called apothecaries which are as expensive as you'd think, CVS is the cheap choice. That said, I usually patronize the local apothecary as the pharmacist is a friend, there is no 20 minute drive, and I think it's important sometimes to sigh and patronize local stores even if their prices are bananas.
@Rose, I think CVS is competitive in medications. It is the other stuff that is at least a third if not half again as expensive as at Walmart or the grocery store-- food, vitamins, toiletries, etc.
@Heidi Louise, Could be. CVS owns Aetna, my insurance co, so they want me to go there. Re the other stuff, I don't know anything about Walmart--I have only been in one once. I do order a lot of that stuff from Amazon.
Come to think of it, I have been in a Walmart twice. Once in Tijuana, which had dirt floors for that extra classy touch
@Rose
I also think it’s important to support small business when you can. I do not think we have any small, independent pharmacies or general merchandise stores nearby.
I always factor in the cost of gas and try to shop once or twice a month at stores that are less expensive like Costco or Walmart. That being said CVS is less than a mile from home, and WalMart is 20 miles round trip. If I need just one or two items, any savings that I might experience by shopping a Big Box store is negated by the cost of gas, wear and tear to my vehicle, and loss of precious time. Kristen’s CVS strategies could really pay off for me.
@Rose, Over 15 years ago, I worked as a counselor at a summer camp in East Hampton. They would drive us into town on our day off, and CVS and the grocery store there (Waldbaums I think it was) were literally the only 2 places the counselors could afford to shop haha
@Rose,
CVS nonpharmacy items are crazy expensive. Last time I went when I needed 2 batteries. CVS was charging $10 for the smallest package. I left the batteries and went to my local Target (Walmart is too far away for us!)
CVS has just worn me down over the years with poor inventory, slow, long lines, inadequate stock of sales items and lack of response to concerns. I used to enjoy stacking deals there but it just feels too complicated for too little payoff for me anymore.
I've been impressed with your successes there, but it just doesn't work for me. I will say their pharmacy was a lifesaver two years ago on Thanksgiving when we had an emergency and needed medication and all the other pharmacies were closed so I'm happy others keep them in business even if I don't.
@Bobi, I agree when I was playing the coupon game CVS got worse and worse over the years, poor stock, if their was stock a bunch of hidden rules. I got to the point I would steel myself to go in and buy the deal which rarely worked out.
When I quit the coupon game I quit CVS first.
Ok so about a month ago they sent me a bucks off coupon. I was near a CVS and went in steeling myself for a rotten experience. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Had stock very pleasant experience and no goofy rules. Then they sent me another dollars off. Was close to a different store and had they same wonderful experience.
I am wondering if they are having trouble. But I will not get sucked in again.
@Bobi,
I have to admit to similar issues at my local CVS, especially inadequate stock of sale items. Two of a sale item on the shelf, which is then quickly bought up when the store opens (I assume) is not acceptable to me. If you can find a staff person, they are generally uninterested in helping you (I'm not talking about the pharmacists).
@Liz B.,
This was true pre-pandemic, as well as now.
@Bobi, Not to say it isn't a relief to find a pharmacy on a major holiday, but in Ohio every community needs one pharmacy open by law. It is an essential service, not a decision by a chain.
(1) As usual, it's Ollie's for the win for me on most health and beauty products. I particularly appreciate the frequent finds on Old Spice Sweat Defense (remember that discussion we had a while back about deodorants?).
(2) I don't color my hair or wear makeup--but that's just me. As our fearless leader so wisely says, "I'll be me, and you can be you."
(3) I've also had fair luck finding some unused H&B products (particularly new-in-the-shrink-wrap gift packages of lotions, etc.) at thrift stores. And I even once found a warehouse-club-size, still-in-shrink-wrap Tresemme shampoo and conditioner pair on the curb.
(4) I used to buy H&B stuff (and groceries generally) at Wegmans much more often than I do now, but rising prices and decreasing selection have almost put an end to this. Does anyone else in the US Northeast/Mid-Atlantic have this complaint about Wegmans? I promise to mention it to Danny Wegman the next time we're lounging around the country club pool together. 🙂
@A. Marie, I buy big bottles combo shampoo and body wash for my son at Ollie's. It's one less bottle to clutter up the shower and he loves it. I am still loving that rare find of Neutrogena shampoo from there.
Our Ollis's had a shipment of Pampers diapers and I was stunned at how inexpensive they were there. I see the everyday price of these in the supermarket while buying baby food for the dogs when they have upset tummies, and the price is just crazy!
@A. Marie, love me some Ollie's, but I'm super careful of what I buy there; I've gotten some funky food items and even a few h&b items that were past their prime (clumpy, gunky, dried out. 🙁
@A. Marie, I'm on Team Ollie's too. Cheap glasses and kitchen stuff, and a variety of bed linens and towels. Cautious with foods. But great bargains on books!
I used to pass a CVS daily when I worked near home, but now that I have a long commute, the only one I pass routinely requires a left turn across six lanes, and the one time I did go there, it was woefully understocked and tiny (this was before the pandemic, even). The one in my hometown was always out of the sale items when I used to go there. My prescription insurance plan uses CVS Caremark for my mail order prescriptions but I never get any coupons or offers from them.
All that to say, I just don't bother with them anymore. I buy most of my health and beauty stuff online or from "natural" or "health food" stores. Since I shop almost exclusively cruelty-free, I can't find that much H&B items to buy at CVS anyway but I don't have any problem with anyone else shopping there. I admire people who have found how to make the elaborate CVS system work to their advantage!
Call me curmudgeon. I just want stores to give everyone a fair price with no jumping through hoops. They have to charge such high prices to be able to nearly give away products to “members”. I might as well be dancing through fields of wildflowers. It’s like the beautiful brand spanking new washer and dryer in my new place. It plays pretty tunes and does a great job on laundry but it wants me to download an app and link up with my phone to operate it. I’m standing right in front of you tinker bell appliance. Why can’t I just push a button and make you go.
want want want
@Tiana, Fellow curmudgeon here.
@Tiana, but you're a humorous curmudgeon! 😉
@Tiana,
I'm with you. Stores should just give everyone a fair price, period. The H-E-B supermarket chain here in Texas has recently come up with a debit/credit card deal. If you get their card (which can be used at other stores), they will give you 5% off any H-E-B store-brand product you buy at their store. But aren't they admitting "our stuff is really 5% too expensive" ?? I used to love H-E-B but now I mostly shop at Aldi, Drug Emporium, Walmart and Ollie's Outlet. And I have yet to sign up for their card.
I wonder if there's something about credit card fees going on here; perhaps they pay a lower transaction cost if you use their card?
@Tiana, Amen to all that! All those dang unnecessary apps make me want to scream! They just do that so they can gather data at the expense of our time and attention instead of just building a high quality product. I miss my mom's old Maytag washer...what a workhorse it was, ran problem free for over 20 years.
@Tiana,
Tinkerbell appliance is my new favorite phrase.
@Fru-gal Lisa, debit card fees go to the bank and not the retailer while the reverse is true for credit cards.
@Tiana,
“…but it wants me to download an app and link up with my phone to operate it. I’m standing right in front of you tinker bell appliance. Why can’t I just push a button and make you go.”
This is one of the best comments I’ve ever read!
@Tiana, I feel the same way about our TV, sigh. Tinkerbell appliance indeed.
I'm joining in partly because someone at CVS might read and pay attention to what we write!
Doubt it. My local store is poorly staffed and understocked, especially on sale items, and not cheap. We get the ExtraCare bucks because my husband's prescriptions have to go through CVS and a pharmacy clerk signed him up. I HATE when staff does that. After ten prescriptions, five dollars back.
As I don't carry a cell phone and haven't ever created an online account, I find out if we have coupons or ExtraCare bucks by typing my number into the little machine in the store and having it spit out a long paper.
I will admit to occasionally finding a good deal with sale stuff, but the other irritations of the store outweigh my interest in going there regularly. I loved my Walgreens and knew how to play their sale cycles and get points, but they switched to a pharmacy only store in my town.
@Heidi Louise, You echoed much of what I said above. I agree CVS has more downsides than upsides (at least in my area) and their customer service is pretty much nonexistent. Also, they neglect the exterior of their stores here, the overgrown landscaping and heavily littered properties are eyesores.
Oh, that's interesting! The CVS's here are always well-maintained outside.
Such a loss when a chain isn't consistent across all its stores!
@Bobi, That's probably the fault of the landlord, not the tenant (CVS). It's possible to find out who owns the property and complain to them. You can contact your city's offices or the county tax assessor.
Thank you for the breakdown. I do not have the care pass. I mainly use CVS for prescription meds only, and then when I earn the $5 extra bucks I indulge in something I wouldn't normally buy, like a Lindt chocolate bar. I joke with my kids that is my reward for doing their errands (two of these "kids" drive.)
@kristen thank you for the suggestion of the app! I should have known about this and it will help avoid my getting coupons and rewards I knew nothing about. I like to strategically use my savings 🙂
I have a couple more tips. I also have a CVS by my home and by my job. I frequent these quite a bit. I have the clearance areas memorized. Yes I do notice when things have sat in the area for a long time. I have relationship with the employees and at both places have shared things I am looking for. I have gone into the one multiple times and "my cashier" says "Hi, check the clearance." Recently I bought shampoo for the clearance price with a special CVS coupon and got an ibotta deal. The final price was 1.48 . I picked up 3.
I agree with all of Kristen's strategies. I will add I have gotten SO much Colgate toothpaste over the past year with great deals being offered. I share it with my grown children. For a while, maybe 6 months or so, CVS was randomly sending me a few dollars every week. I would combine that with sales, app coupons and rarely spent even a dollar there while buying cereal, toothpaste, detergent. I actually got a little embarrassed one day when the clerk there made a comment that she'd never seen me spend over a dollar, and I had on that particular day.
I try when I have EBR's to trade those in on something else that is giving EBR's so that I always have some to spend.
So! Much! Work! I go to CVS for my free vaccines and any prescription medication (so far, none) that can't be dispensed by my online pharmacy that just mails them to me for free, because CVS links with my primary care provider so all my info is automatically updated there. My problem (and I'm sure it's just mine) with coupons and similar come ons is picking up "other stuff" just because I happen to be there. Not frugal!
We just recently signed up for the CarePass so I was so interested in this post and I always love the comments by others too.
I will say that when I was sick a couple of years ago, CVS had a telehealth appointment that was a lifesaver. Maybe all stores do this now, but when you're sick, the last thing you feel like doing is going somewhere. So this always left us with a good feeling for CVS.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I use similar techniques at my local Walgreens. If we're already going there for a prescription (which adds more bonus points to our card), we scan the aisles for those items we use frequently. Store brand sales often include buy one-get one or buy one - get one 50% off.
If there's a BOGO deal, but there's only one on the shelf, ask at the checkout. They'll either find you a second package or give you 25% off on the one you bought.
Much too complicated for me, I was exhausted just reading your process. After shopping here and there for years, I find that Walmart is almost always less expensive, so I plan a once-monthly trip to stock up. I also carefully evaluated the things I was buying on a regular basis, worked toward the largest (and most economical) sizes, AND realized there were some things I could live without!
I agree, CVS prices are higher. But I also think their rewards, extra bucks, and coupons are way better than other places. I get all of my prescriptions, my "from the pharmacist" allergy pills (which are pricey no matter how you slice it), and health/beauty items from CVS. There have been many times that I had an original total brought down from over $60 to under $15 with all of the rewards, extra bucks, selecting store brands, etc. I typically never pay full price there. I challenge myself each visit to top my highest savings!
I just finished reading some of yesterday's post and comments. I love you guys. You made me laugh and gave me some great frugal ideas. Every time I read something that I do that I didn't realize was frugal. I just do it. Also, always learn some new frugal way. Love y'all. Thank you.
Our tiny city, which is attached to a larger, much more famous one, had one CVS and two Walgreens stores. The CVS was closest, so we went there. I used to make out like a bandit on household goods and snacks. But it closed down after struggling through the pandemic. Rather than drive into to the big city to another CVS, I switched to Walgreens, where I use shopper's points, sales and digital coupons mostly to buy paper towels and toilet paper. The buy one, get one deals on vitamins and OTC meds are good too.
I find CVS isn't as good as Walgreens for me. I use the Walgreens website to order things that are on sale and are a good deal. Then I pick them up. Mostly I buy diapers for my friend's granddaughter or I get health and beauty aids for my family or for the local food closet. People who are low on money don't need to be paying $7 for a tube of toothpaste! Especially if I can get it for free.
I agree the care and Coupons help
The logic of paying $4/month to get a $10/off coupon, so you get $6 for "free" would not work for me. I look at it as locking yourself into committing to spend money at a place that doesn't have good prices. So if you pay $4 to join the club and end up with a net $6 to spend after that, you are still picking from things that are probably a better deal somewhere else, or for my family, we'd end up buying things we wouldn't normally get just to use the "deal." Because they get you into the store that way and your are swayed by all the "discounts" and coupons making it seem like things are are a "deal." Of course, for people who do live close to a CVS and far away from other cheaper options and would spend a lot on gas driving, then it might be a good solution as long as you only buy necessities and aren't tempted by things you wouldn't have otherwise purchased.
@Nancy, I feel the same way about the Target Red Card. I don't want something red in my wallet screaming, "Go to Target!", nor do I want endless streams of emails and texts. I save more than 5% by shopping there as little as possible.
As for toiletries and pharmaceuticals, Costco and Grocery Outlet are my go-to stores. And food, of course.
Side note: we don't have a convenient Wally World, but we do have a Sam's reasonably close. DH and I take turns getting a membership deal. It was DH's turn, so he did the deed about six weeks ago. When we went yesterday, he realized he'd never received a card. We asked at the desk and were told, "Everything's in the app." "No thank you, we don't want the app" said we, and like magic, we were given an actual card.
One of the advantages of the Care Pass is free shipping. I order a lot online as the stock at out local CVS is pretty bad in terms of depth and number of items.
I've been able to save money with the free shipping because I don't have to amass a certain amount before it's free. That way I'm not tempted to "fill" an order to meet a "free with X$ purchase"
FYI: if your cvs is not close to you, you can go on the app and you can see what products are or are not available locally so you can save a trip. If you don't need something immediately, and with free shipping on the care pass, plus better online product availability, you may never have to set foot in the store again and get more of what you want by ordering online.
I don’t have one close to me and at my age it just sounds like too much work. I used to do the rebate program years ago at Walgreens and stocked my bathroom shelves with tons of freebies. They ended that I think and haven’t been in their stores in years. I find these drugstores overpriced compared to Walmart so I avoid them. But kudos to Kristen for using this money saving technique! I remember the thrill when I did my rebates at Walgreens!
@Linda, I haven’t shopped at Walmart. Do you think that is the best for household items?
Thanks so much for the CVS spending tips. Our insurance suggests we get our prescriptions filled there but I'm just beginning to learn how to take advantage of their discounts and coupons and the care pass. My CVS wasn't as helpful when I requested help. So, this is a great help to me, Kristin. Thank you!
Now I'll have to re-read your post and takes notes!
Very timely as I just used my CVS Carepass to get FOUR 33 ounce jugs of Laundry Detergent and a small pack of mini Oreos for $1.38 total with tax out of pocket!!!!!
I only added the Oreos because my total came to &9.20, so rather than lose 80 cents -- i added something small to bring it up to the $10 -- or a little over - that I knew would get eaten/used - so that I got my full $10 value!
I combined sales, coupons (CVS allows stacking!) to get this deal - and that's how I use my carepass every month. I normally only spend the $10, sometimes a dollar or 2 over , always use it on something I need -- that is on sale and there are coupons for to get the most bang for my buck!
Ahem...removing splinters from fingers are a big deal...I take umbrage at that sentence!!! 😉
I almost bought a small Scotch packing tape dispenser for $13. Decided it was too overpriced and put it back. Target had the exact same product for $3.50! The CVS near me is ridiculous!