The CVS rewards card, the CVS Extra Care Card, can really help you save money if you use it right. This card allows customers to receive coupons and “Extra Care Bucks” to use on later purchases.
An Extra Care Buck is an award you earn. They are basically coupons and each buck is equivalent to a dollar. The coupons will print out on the bottom of your receipts when you purchase qualifying items. These Extra Care Bucks can be used to purchase goods in-store or online.
The first step is to sign up for the card. The Extra Care Card will allow you to get sale prices and earn rewards. You can sign up for a card at any CVS store, or online at cvs.com, though you will have to wait for your card to be mailed to you if you sign up online.
When you shop at CVS, be sure to give the cashier your card so that you can earn rewards for your purchases. If you forget your card, the cashier can look up your account information using your phone number.
There are three ways to earn Extra Care Bucks. The first is that you get 2 percent back for all your purchases. This excludes tobacco, alcohol, gift cards, money orders, lottery tickets, postage stamps, and special order health care items. The second way is that you get one buck for every two prescriptions you buy. For both of these methods, your Extra Care Bucks are awarded every three months. At the end of quarter, you will get your Extra bucks printed out on the bottom of your receipt.
The third way to earn Extra Care Bucks is by using the store ad. Each week there will different products you can earn Extra Care Bucks with if you purchase them. You will need to make the necessary requirements for the purchases. For example, if one of the deals is for Pepsi, it may say for every 2 bottles you buy you earn $1 in Extra Care Bucks, with a limit of $5 bucks. This means that if you want to earn all $5 in Extra Care Bucks, you will need to purchase 10 bottles of Pepsi.
In order for this to save you money, you need to turn to your coupons. Go through your coupon stash, search for them online, or even purchase them online if you plan on using them. If your CVS store allows stacking or doubling, use as many coupons as you can. This way, you will save as much as possible on the products you are buying, and you are still earning Extra Care Bucks. Always check with your local CVS about the specifics on their coupon policy.
Extra Care Bucks earned this way will print on your receipt as soon as you have earned them. Once you have them, you can use them on anything except for prescriptions, alcohol, and tobacco. You can also use them as soon as you earn them, so if you want to purchase your qualifying products in one transaction, and use your Extra Care Bucks for the rest of your items in a second transaction you may do so.
Be sure to pay attention to expiration dates. Extra Care Bucks do expire, normally within 30 days. There will be an expiration date printed on the receipt so you will know the exact date. You can also roll over your bucks to get the best bang for your Extra Care Buck. To roll them over, just use your Extra Care Bucks on something that will earn you Extra Care Bucks. For example, if the ad has a product for $9.99 and you can earn $9.99 in Extra Care Bucks, use the Extra Care Bucks you have on the product to they will not expire. You now have $9.99 in Extra Care Bucks that will be good for another 30 days.
Keep in mind that if you have coupon for $5 Extra Care Bucks, you will need to use the whole amount. If you purchase something that is less than $5, you will not be refunded the difference. If you can find something in the store worth a dollar, it would be best to add it to your purchase. But, unless it is completely free, do not get anything that you will never use. It may have been very cheap and only cost you pennies, but that is still wasted money. If you can use the item, or at least use it as a gift for someone else, then go ahead and use your Extra Care Bucks on it.
Also, if you sign up on cvs.com and link your email address to your card, they will send you specials, deals, and coupons through email. Some can only be used online, but some can be printed out and used in store as well.
Getting a CVS Extra Care Card can help you save money at CVS. To get the most out of it, you will need to check the weekly ads, and use coupons; but if you do it correctly, you can start getting some free products by using putting your earned Extra Care Bucks to good use.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
i shop at cvs every week and pick up all my prescriptions.
I just came from a cvs store in Boynton Beach,Fla. I have a cvs card for many years. My husband printed out a 25% off coupon for me and iI went to the store and picked several items that were not on sale. I brought them up to the counter and the sales girl could not use it because it did not have the bar code on it and also did not have any dates on it. There was nothing on the page that said there was another page that had the bar code or any dates it could be used. Therefore, I just took that page and they would not honor it. From now on, you should indicate that there is another page you have to take with you. I spent a lot of time picking out several items and was very upset that I could not use the coupon.
from a very upset customer-Helaine Levitt