CVS’ Extra Care program sets you up to save a bundle on your CVS shopping trips. Many times, savvy shoppers walk out of the store with bags full of free items and money given to them by CVS which they can use towards their next shopping trip. But you need to know how to milk the system for what it’s worth in order to truly maximize your savings.
Below, we’ll discuss just how you can achieve amazing rewards, such as receiving money from the store towards your next purchase and more.
What are Extra Care Bucks?
The CVS Extra Care program is based around Extra Care Bucks. Receiving Extra Care Bucks is pretty much like receiving rewards points in the form of store credit which you can later apply towards your next purchases. At CVS, Extra Care Bucks work just like cash. For example, if you receive five Extra Care Bucks towards your next purchase, you can use these Extra Care Bucks towards any in-store or online CVS purchase from here on out. You can use them to simply deduct $5 from your next purchase. Or, if you’re a savvy shopper – get an order under $5 completely free! So essentially, CVS is paying you to shop. How cool is that?!
How do you Earn Extra Care Bucks?
When you purchase select items, CVS will offer you Extra Care Bucks. Sometimes, there is a specified quantity, such as “buy 2 ______ get back 3 Extra Care Bucks.” But generally, the deals consist of buying just one item and getting back the specified Extra Care Bucks.
You can really milk these deals by purchasing multiples of an item that offers Extra Care Bucks and using coupons on the item. Because CVS has such a consumer-friendly coupon policy, you’re allowed to stack a manufacturer coupon with a CVS store coupon to maximize your savings. When you buy multiples of the items that are eligible for Extra Care Bucks, the amount you’re rewarded doubles. See below for a nifty little example.
Every mamma needs baby wipes. And, now you can snag them at CVS by utilizing the Extra Care Bucks programs and by combining coupons.
Currently CVS has a sale on Huggies baby wipes for $17.98 for a purchase of 2.
This is how the deal works out.
- Purchase 2 boxes of Huggies Baby Wipes (360 ct.) = $17.98
- Use (2) $2 off of 1 Huggies 360 ct. wipes total is now – $14.98
- Get back $3 in Extra Care Bucks – total is now = $10.98
Yes, you’re spending $14.98 out-of-pocket. But at the end of your checkout, your receipt will print a coupon for three Extra Care Bucks towards your next purchase. So all in all, you’re receiving 720 wipes for less than $11!
If you truly want to maximize this deal, use the $4 off of a $20 purchase available to those that subscribe to the Extra Care Email on www.CVS.com to score an even better deal.
Fill up your cart with a little over $2 worth of items (my little ones usually pick up even more than that in candy just at the checkout line alone!) to bring your total up to $20-even. Then do the following at checkout.
- Always swipe your CVS Extra Care card first!
- Swipe your $4 off of $20 coupon to bring your total down to $16.
- Then, hand your cashier the (2) $2/1 coupons for the wipes
- Take your Extra Care Bucks into account when tallying the total
- Total spent = $9 on 720 wipes plus $2 of miscellaneous items!
What’s more is that Extra Care Bucks can roll over and compound until you feel like using them. If you learn how to work the Extra Care system correctly, you can often score free formula, diapers, baby wipes and more. CVS is certainly mom friendly, as they realize that we are some of their most loyal consumers!
In addition to Extra Care Bucks, you earn 2% from every order that you make. So, if your shopping trips to CVS throughout the month amount to $100, you’ll be able to earn $2 back. Sure, it’s a small drop in the bucket, but every dollar you receive is a dollar you can put towards purchasing necessities for your family!
