Several people have asked me how I am able to save money at CVS.  While I am no expert, I will share a few things I have learned to help you get started.
The first thing to do is visit a CVS store and register for an "Extra Care" card.  You can also register for a card online at www.CVS.com .  When you receive your card, register online at www.cvs.com  for the "extra care email offers." They will immediately send you an email with c oupon for  $4.00 off $20.00 purchase.  Print out the email to take to the store with you.
While you are at the store pick up a copy of the "CVS extra value book" for the month.  This book will tell you offers that will print "Extra care bucks" which can be spent like cash in CVS stores.

The second thing to do is collect coupons to take to the store with you.  You can get these coupons online or in your Sunday paper.

The "trick" to successful CVS shopping is to collect "extra care bucks" to help pay for your purchases and to combine coupons with sales.  Look for products that you can use in the monthly and weekly ad. 

An example of a scenerio you could use this week.

I found the following products on sale this week:

Pert Shampoo  2/$5.00
Honey Bunches of Oats (buy one get one free) $4.29
2 Pledge Dusting Sprays  $9.18    ---  will earn two extra care bucks
15 count CVS make up remover  $2.99 --- will earn one extra care buck

The total of this transaction is $22.46 (plus tax)

Now, I will use coupons to lower my total:
CVS $4 off of $20.00 coupon   Important note: ALWAYS give this coupon first. If you try to give these coupons at the end of the purchase when the total is lower than $20.00, the store will not accept them.   (-$4.00)
2 $2.00 off any Pert Shampoo   (- $4.00)   Coupons found in the Sunday paper on 7/6/08
2  $2.00 off Honey Bunches of Oats  (-$4.00)  Coupons found online  here  and here.
1 buy one get one free coupon for Pledge  (-$4.59)  from recent Sunday paper
1 $2.00 off any two pledge products         (-$2.00)      from recent Sunday paper
1 $2.00 off any CVS skincare product   (-$2.00) Coupon found online here.

Your total is now $1.87 (plus tax.)  You will have gotten all these products and earned 3 extra care bucks!

Use the extra care bucks to buy other good deals that you need or use.  Usually, you must make several smaller purchases than one large one to get "good deals."

  Try this transaction  (which is good the entire month of July.)

Buy two Sure deodorant for $2.69 each. 
Total should be $5.38. 
Use two Sure deodorant coupons for $1.00 off from your Sunday paper or from online  (here.) 
Total is now $3.38. 
Spend your three extra care bucks and pay only 38 cents (plus tax) for two Sure deodorants.  Plus, this deal will give you three more extra care bucks. 

You could (this week only) take the 3 extra care bucks and  buy a pack of Playtex tampons for $4.49. 
If you use a $1.00 coupon-- from a recent Sunday paper (6/21/08)  and the 3 Extra Care bucks, you will purchase the  tampons for 49 cents (plus tax.) 
You will also earn three more extra care bucks.

You have bought all this for 88 cents (plus tax) and still have three extra care bucks.

Save the reward bucks until next week and find more deals that work for you!  Extra Care Bucks will expire within a month of being issued, so be sure you use them before the month is over!


If you do not have a CVS near you, you can find some good deals at Walgreens using their "Register Rewards" program.  The "Register Rewards" can be used the same way as "Extra Care bucks."
You do not have to apply for a special card from Walgreens.  Walgreens also has their own coupon book (which you can find near the sales ads). You can combine these with your own coupons from the Sunday paper to save even more.

A recent example from a previous trip:

2 bags Hersheys's Bliss candy-- $5.98
1 Walgreens Super Saver Coupon --$1.00
1 Buy one get one free coupon from Sunday paper-- $2.99
Total : $1.98 for two bags candy

Walgreen's Register reward bucks also expire quickly, so keep an eye on the dates. 
Let me know if this helped you or if you need any more information!