This CVS Hack Has Saved Me Almost $6,000—Here's How

Amy Mitchell
·2 min read
blue sky and a brick building with a red sign
This CVS Hack Has Saved Me Almost $6,000 Amy Mitchell for Country Living

I go to my local CVS at least once a week (ok, twice). A big part of my frequent trips has much to do with it being conveniently located only three blocks from my house. Our family of four gets our prescriptions filled there; we get our flu shots there, too. When they were old enough, my kids and their friends would walk there for candy. Now as teenagers they go for cosmetics, sports drinks, shampoo, deodorant, and well, candy. I go for it all—everything from over-the-counter medications to typical toiletries, birthday gifts, holiday items, you name it. And boy, has it paid off.

a plastic bag that says cvs in red
Sometimes I’ll save a 40% off coupon for a higher-priced item, like my daughter’s face wash that’s almost $20. Amy Mitchell for Country Living

See, the real motivation for shopping at CVS so often is for the coupons and Extrabucks Rewards I earn. For example, these are the savings in my app right now:

  • $10 ExtraCare Plus reward (a monthly bonus for being an ExtraCare Plus member)

  • 20% off your full-price purchase

  • 20% off your full-price purchase (another one with a later expiration date)

  • 10% off your full-price purchase

  • $4.34 Extrabucks Rewards

And I just used $8 off your $40 purchase and 15% off your full-price purchase on a trip this past weekend 🙌. In addition to the general percentage-off CVS coupons, it's easy to send product-specific discounts to your CVS ExtraCare card right from the app.

a screen at a store that shows how much you need to pay
All the coupons and savings live in the app. I honestly don’t try very hard at all and have still saved almost $6,000 over the past decade. Amy Mitchell for Country Living

Over the past 10 years, my CVSHealth app tracks that I've saved $5,860—almost $6,000!—just by buying the things I want and need and scanning my app at the register. Although I wouldn't say I'm super obsessed (don't get me wrong: If I accidentally let a really good coupon expire, I don't love it), I do sometimes strategically buy higher-priced items, like my daughter's face wash that is almost $20 or laundry detergent, when I have a 40% off coupon. But in general, I redeem whatever coupons are in my queue at check-out. What a thrill it is to pay, say $25, for a $38 haul.

Now this is #NotAnAd, but I have been known to influence (or try anyway!) friends and family to take advantage of CVS's savings and rewards. They can thank me $6,000 later😉!

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