Here is how to shop at CVS and get most of your toiletries and paper product for FREE or very little money:

1. Go to your local CVS or HERE and apply for an ExtraCare Rewards card.
2. Pick up a weekly store circular or view it HERE and look for the words “It’s Like Getting It For FREE”. (The store also has a monthly booklet with similar offers.)
3. If you have coupons to match the FREE items, you can actually make money on your transaction.
4. Make a shopping list of the “FREE” items that you want to buy. (I started with about $10 in merchandise.)
5. When you scan your card at CVS and purchase the items with the words “It’s Like Getting It For FREE”, you will have to pay the price listed in the ad, BUT at the end of your receipt you will find Extra Bucks equal to the amount you spent (less tax). These coupons are good for about a month and work like cash on most items.
6. Now you can use your Extra Bucks to purchase other “FREE” stuff for FREE and earn more Extra Bucks for next time. (There is usually a limit of one to five of how many of each item you can obtain for FREE.)

BE SURE TO DO YOUR TRANSACTION IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: SCAN YOUR CARD, SCAN YOUR ITEMS, USE ALL CVS COUPONS, THEN USE OTHER COUPONS. USE “EXTRA BUCKS” LAST.

Additional Tips:

• Watch for advertisements that offer you a gift card if you transfer a prescription.
• Some CVS stores will accept competitor’s coupons (even for gift cards).
• If you purchase several of the same items, your Extra Bucks Rewards will be added together as one Extra Buck and sometimes it is hard to spend the larger amounts.
• Sometimes there are coupons available for $3 off of a $15 purchase, $2 off of a $10 CVS brand items, etc.
• If you use coupons, you can make a profit on some of your purchases. For example, sometimes CVS has candy on sale, “Buy $10 worth of candy on this page and get $5 Extra Bucks.” If you have coupons for the candy, you can get it for FREE. If you also have a coupon for $2 off of a $10 purchase, you can get free candy and make money.
• Some stores have scanners that check prices and allow you to scan your card to receive coupons.
• Some stores allow you to use two coupons on a BOGO (Buy one, Get one) sale.
• You can use a CVS coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon.

This is the chart I use to plan my CVS trips:

cvs-planning-sheet