CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens

by Debbie Clark (DealDebbie) | More from this Blogger

22 Jul 2009 05:31 AM

One of the best deals you can consistently get is to shop at the three major drug chains: Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. Each have really fantastic reward programs. CVS has Extra Care Bucks, Walgreens has Register Rewards, and Rite Aid has Single Check rebates.

With CVS and Walgreens, you get the rewards right at the register. You need a CVS card to earn Extra Care Bucks, which are credited for special purchases and on a percentage of your spending quarterly. You can spend the Extra Care Bucks on just about anything in the store except gift cards and prescriptions. There are other limitations as well, but they are few.

At Walgreens, you do not need a card. The register rewards are catalina coupons, printed at the register in response to specific sales. Check the weekly flier in the Sunday Newspaper, and you will find the sale prices, register rewards, and store coupons (not manufacturer coupons). The catalinas are manufacturer coupons, even though they specify Walgreens, and some competitors will take them.Check your local stores to see if they accept competitor coupons.

Rite Aid has a rebate program. Instead of sending in multiple rebates on multiple products, you can submit all your in store rebates on one form - and you can do this online. They send you ONE check. You don't need a special card for this offer, either. You can find the form online, or in the Rite Aid circular in the store. As with CVS and Walgreens, you will want to check the flyer that comes in the Sunday paper every week for deals.

The key here is to match your coupons to the sales that generate these rewards. For example, Walgreens has the following deals this week:

Kelloggs Cereal 2/$5 - $1 Register Reward - coupons from coupons.com, newspaper inserts, etc Final price is at least 2/$4, depending on if you have one or two coupons and the value of the coupons. With this deal, don't forget the $10 Kelloggs/Keebler rebate - you have to buy all items on the same trip.

Here are some more Walgreens goodies:

Excedrin B1G1F 2/$6.99 - $5 Register Reward - $1 (SS 7/12) - $1 (SS 6/21) You can also use the coupon from coupons.com this month. Final price FREE

Tylenol 40 or 50 ct or Motrin IB 50 ct $4.99 - $3 Register reward - $2 (SS 6/21) Final price FREE

Pilot G2 Gel Pens 2 pack $1 - $1 Register Reward Final price FREE

Hefty One Zip Storage Bags B1G1F 2/$3.29 - $1 (RP 5/17) Final price 2/$1.29

CVS features these specials:

$2 ECB WYB Speed Stick Pro Deodorant 2.7 oz ($2.99) limit 2 - $1.50 any Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick (coupons.com)

$1 ECB wyb Dean milk 1 gallon ($1.99) limit 1

There are also the school supplies I mentioned here.

Rite aid has some ongoing specials. You can print a $5 off a $25 purchase here. If you purchase $25 worth of Kimberly Clark/Bayer/Schick/Unilever products you can receive a $10 Rite Aid gift card. $50 of participating Johnson and Johnson products will get you a $25 Rite aid card. And if you purchase 5 packages of listed Huggies diapers you will receive a voucher in the mail for a free pack. All these offers are about to expire on 7/25. Match your coupons to these for extra savings.

At Rite Aid, you can get a few freebies this week with coupons.

Citre Shine Shampoo, Conditioner or Stylers is $3.99. There's a $3 single check rebate and if you use the smart source April 26 $1.00 coupon, it's free.

L'oreal nail polish is $2.99. The single check rebate is $2. Use this $1 coupon and it is free. Honey Nut Cheerios Single Cups are 88 cents. Use this $1 printable, and it is free.

You get the idea. After a few trips, you will find that there is very little money out of pocket, but you are stocking up every week.

Learn more about Debbie Clark (DealDebbie)

I'm a veteran deal hunter with two grown sons. I have been clipping coupons and doubling up with rebates and sales and points rewards since they were babies.

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