18 ways to save at CVS

Shoppers leave a CVS pharmacy in the Staten Island borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

‘Tis the season for your local CVS to be on your regular errand route. Whether it’s cold meds, under eye cream for those tired peepers or extra toilet paper, CVS is your one-stop-shop for all things home/cold/help related. What makes CVS even better is the number of ways you can save when shopping there. Here are a few.

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1. Check out their weekly deals

Hop online and check out the CVS Weekly Deals section before making any purchases. Lots of buy one, get one and instant savings offers are bound to make you happy.

2. Search through their coupon offers

Even if you’ll be heading into your local CVS to make a purchase, try searching the CVS coupon center online first, where you can print any coupons you’d like to use before shopping.

3. Stack CVS coupons with manufacturer coupons

Search online or through ads in your weekly paper to get coupons directly from manufacturers of your favorite products, then use those coupons in conjunction with CVS ones to score even more savings. (CVS’ coupon policy generally allows one CVS coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per item.)

RELATED: No coupon at checkout? This simple trick will save you money!

4. Find online savings

Don’t need to head into the store? You can save by shopping online at CVS and checking out their online deals, as well. If you do shop online, also be sure to …

5. Ship wisely

CVS offers up to 20% off plus free shipping and automatic delivery with its Ship & Save program. All you need to do is look for the Ship & Save eligible icon and schedule how often you’d like to receive them.

6. Sign up for their ExtraCare program

If you don’t have an ExtraCare account, sign up for one on CVS’ website. Members earn 2% back in ExtraBucks Rewards most times they shop and enjoy extra savings through email and receipt coupons, as well as through the app.

7. Add your email to your account

Once you have an ExtraCare card, create an online account and add your email to ensure you receive additional emails with coupons as well.

8. Visit the ExtraCare Coupon Center in the store

Before you do anything in the store, be sure to scan your ExtraCare card at the red ExtraCare Coupon Center. The machine will automatically print coupons that you can use for your purchases that day or save for later. There’s a price checker option on this machine, too.

9. Earn rewards on trips to the pharmacy

Sign up for the Pharmacy & Health Rewards program and you’ll earn $5 ExtraBucks Rewards every time you fill 10 prescriptions, plus other rewards.

10. Make a little cash off your makeup purchases

Become a member of the ExtraCare BeautyClub and earn a 10% off beauty shopping pass, $5 ExtraBucks Rewards for every $50 spent on beauty products, $3 ExtraBucks Rewards on your birthday, as well as exclusive emails with coupons and new product info. (Just be sure not to overspend to get extra rewards — carrying credit card balances can hurt your wallet and your credit. You can see how your debts are affecting you by viewing two of your free credit scores, updated every 14 days, on Credit.com.)

11. Save deals in your CVS app

CVS now offers the option to get digital receipts at checkout. This way, you can download the CVS app and send your deals directly to your ExtraCare card that way. Plus, you get $5 ExtraBucks Rewards for downloading the app and linking your ExtraCare card to it for the first time.

12. Register your ExtraCare card With Upromise

Although slightly different from regular savings, CVS offers an added incentive for customers with college-bound kids to shop with them. When you register your ExtraCare card with Upromise, a free loyalty program run by Sallie Mae that lets families earn credits for a college savings plan or to pay down student loans, CVS will contribute 3% of your nonprescription purchase price on select items every time you shop into your Upromise account. (Psst … we’ve got more ideas for how you can pay for college without taking on a mountain of debt here.)

13. Roll your ExtraBucks

Customers can roll over their earned ExtraBucks by spending current ExtraBucks on items that give ExtraBucks back. This way you’ll get to purchase an item on “sale” by using an ExtraBuck today, while earning more ExtraBucks to use on future purchases.

14. Ask for a rain check

If a sale item you wish to purchase is out of stock, ask a CVS sales associate to issue a rain check. This way when the item is back in stock you’ll be able to purchase the same item at the sale price, and potentially even use more coupons that you may have received or earned in the meantime.

15. Join its Advisor Panel

Sign up to be a member of the CVS Advisor Panel and you’ll receive links to online surveys a couple times a year. Joining will help you shape what CVS offers in their stores and what their service is like, but even better, you’ll earn ExtraBucks each time you participate.

16. Buy discounted gift cards

Use sites like Gift Card Granny to purchase CVS gift cards at discounted prices.

17. Ask about transferring prescriptions

If it’s convenient, consider transferring your prescriptions from your current pharmacy to CVS. The company often offers free gift cards to those who do this. Look for this deal in the weekly sales circular or ask a pharmacist.

18. Follow CVS on social media

With so many ways to cash in on coupons and savings at CVS, it can be overwhelming. Try following CVS on both Twitter and Facebook to be sure you’re up-to-date on sales before shopping.

Want more brand hacks? We’ve got 13 ways to save at Shutterfly and 15 ways to save at Bed Bath & Beyond.

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This article originally appeared on Credit.com.

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