Drugstore 101

by chrissy on January 12, 2010

in free workshop

Learn how to play the drug store game. You can save a lot of money by using the store promotions offered at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid. Here is a quick overview. However, we suggest taking some time to learn how to use these store promotions. Make sure to check out our Fundamentals of Store Incentives Workshop. You can learn how to take advantage of store incentives. We teach you how to shop at your local grocery store, as well as WalMart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid!

Walgreen’s offers shoppers a wide variety of store coupons in their weekly sales ad and in the Walgreens store coupon book (found in stores). These store coupons can be used with manufacturer’s coupons.

For Example:
Kraft Dressing is on sale for $1.99
Use a $.50 off manufacturer’s coupon
Use with a $.50 off Walgreen’s coupon
Final Price: $.99

Walgreen’s also offers a Register Rewards (RR) Program as an additional store incentive.  The offer is usually “buy X amount (dollars or quantity) and receive $X in Register Rewards”.  Register Rewards (RR) print out at the register at the completion of your transaction and are good on your next purchase.  Make sure to watch the expiration date on these rewards.

For example:
Kellogg’s cereal is on sale 2 for $5
Get $2 in Register Rewards (store credit) when you buy 2
Pay $5
Get $2.00 in Register Rewards (store credit)
Final Price: $3 for 2 boxes or $1.50 each

You can also use coupons with Register Rewards to score some great deals!

For Example:
Kellogg’s cereal is on sale 2 for $5
Get $2 in Register Rewards (store credit) when you buy 2
Use a buy one get one free manufacturer’s coupon
Pay $2.50 for 2 boxes
Get $2 in Register Rewards (store credit)
Final Price: $.50 for 2 boxes or $.25 each

CVS has an excellent incentive program, Extra Care Rewards, where you earn Extra Care Bucks on specific product purchases.  ECB’s can be used like cash at all CVS stores.  This program offers you the opportunity to get many items for next to nothing, free or even with overage. To participate in the Extra Care Reward program all you need is a CVS Extra Care card which you can request in the store or online.

Extra Care Bucks (ECB’s) can be earned in two ways.  First, you will receive 2% of your cumulative spending at the end of each quarter.  Second, ECB’s can be earned when you buy certain advertised items in the weekly sales ad. Extra Care Bucks will be printed at the end of your receipt. Be sure to check for them before tossing the receipt!

For example:
Crest toothpaste is $2.99
Pay $2.99
Get $2.99 in ECB (store credit)
Final Price: FREE

Manufacturer’s coupons can be used on items that also have ECB offers.

For example:
Crest toothpaste $2.99 each
Use a $1.00 off manufacturer’s coupon
Pay $1.99
Get $2.99 (ECB store credit)
Final Price: You profited a dollar in store credit and got free toothpaste!

Rite Aid has store coupons in their weekly sales ad. Rite Aid also has videos you can watch about the latest products and then you get exclusive in-store coupons.

These store coupons can be used with manufacturer’s coupons.

For Example:
Hormel Compleats are on sale for $1.99
Use $.75 off manufacturer’s coupon
Use with $.50 off Rite Aid Video Values coupon
Final Price: $.74

Another great way to save is using the +UP Rewards Program. This program is very similar to the Extra Bucks Programs at CVS and Register Rewards at Walgreens. You can also use coupons with this program to get items at rock bottom prices!

For example:
Hormel Compleats are on sale for $1.99
Get $1 +UP Rewards (store credit)
Use $.75 off manufacturer’s coupon
Use with $.50 off Rite Aid
Video Values coupon
Pay $.74

Get $1 +UP Rewards

Rite Aid has a rebate program called Single Check Rebate or SCR. You can enter your receipts online at Rite Aid throughout the program month so you don’t have to mail anything in.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

kathy April 14, 2011 at 8:45 AM

what are UP rewards from

chrissy April 14, 2011 at 11:40 AM

This is a form of store credit!

charmaine May 14, 2011 at 9:08 PM

i try to use both the walgreens coupon with the manufactures coupon and the one in santa cruz, ca. doesnt allow it. What am i doing wrong.

Jenny Weddle August 23, 2011 at 5:47 PM

Charmaine
With your c0mment from May 14 and Walgreens couponing. It may have been that you had too many coupons to products purchased. The Walgreen’s coupons don’t count in this situation. Let me explain it a little further. If you have a manufacturer’s coupon that gives you money off an item and you use a rewards bucks coupon to take money off that same item, you will need to have two items for this transaction to work. If you have a walgreens coupon and a manufacturers coupon on one item, that should work fine as the walgreens coupons don’t matter in this situation. The register rewards are considered manufacturer coupons so you need the same amount of items to equal the coupons. I usually add something that has a small value. Like a pencil or a bar of candy. I hope that clears it up. I’m sorry I just saw this post so I am sure someone else has explained this to you by now. Happy shopping!

Deb December 30, 2011 at 4:14 PM

I love to stack. I’ve done it at drug stores but can I also do it at grocery stores?

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