CVS Mystery Solved!

As you can see from the "Shop with Me" link I do a lot of shopping at CVS.  The main reason is because I live out of town and that is the closest drugstore for me to go to.

Since this is the place I am most familiar with I thought I would give you a mini course on how to save the most money at CVS. 

CVS has a rebate/rewards program called Extra Bucks.  These can be earned several ways, one of which is by qualifying purchases.  For example, this week Dove Visible Care Body Wash is on sale for $5.99 and you get an Extra Bucks Reward of $2.00 (limit 2).  So it would work like this, you go to the register with two bottles of body wash, the total would be $11.98 and you pay that amount, when you get your receipt there will be 2 Extra Bucks at the bottom of your receipt.  If you make more than one purchase in the same transaction for items that offer Extra Bucks, you will receive all the Extra Bucks you are entitled to at the end of your receipt.
Another ongoing promotion is that you can earn $5 in Extra Bucks for every $50 you spend in beauty care purchases.  This is a rolling total, so you don't have to buy $50 all in one purchase, it accumulates and you get the $5 Extra Bucks when your total reaches $50.  You can look at the bottom of your receipt to see where you are in your total.
You can also earn Extra Bucks by signing up for their email newsletter at www.cvs.com. 

You will sometimes get random Extra Bucks at the bottom of your receipt as well, such as $5 off a $15 purchase.  This is based on your PRE COUPON total.  So make sure you give the cashier this coupon first!

Always remember to check out the Magic Coupon Machine each time you go into CVS.  The machine randomly gives out coupons for various amounts off of various items as well as Extra Bucks. 

Extra Bucks and coupons from the Magic Coupon Machine can be used along with manufacturers coupons to help you save even more.
The trick to saving major money at CVS is to combine your Extra Bucks, Manufacturers coupons, and CVS coupons together with sale items, this is where the freebies come in!

You can, and should, do multiple transactions when you get to the register.  The idea is to use Extra bucks earned from your first transaction to pay for the items you are purchasing in your subsequent transactions, and so on and so forth.

I hope this helps to clear up the mystery that is CVS! 

Feel free to ask questions here or on my facebook page!

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!