Shopping for drugstore deals can be a super convenient and easy way to avoid the crowds at big box stores like Walmart and Target. But we can all agree that this convenience may come at a price, as drugstores are known for often hiking up regular prices on general merchandise to make it seem like you’re getting a good deal.
And while higher regular prices may lead you to assume you should avoid shopping at drugstores entirely, that’s not always the case. There are actually quite a few drugstore deals that are worth grabbing — as long as you stick to this list and avoid the items you should never buy at drugstores. The drugstore deals get even sweeter when you add in opportunities to earn specific drugstore rewards and stack coupons with weekly sales.
It’s also worth mentioning that drugstores are some of our favorite places to shop during Black Friday sales, as they offer so many freebies and hidden coupon stacking opportunities. Let’s get into the list of the best drugstore deals you should always look for.
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1. Buy laundry detergent at Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid for 50% off.
Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid all have frequent sales for major laundry detergent brands. You can usually count on at least one major brand of laundry detergent to go on sale every week at each drugstore. Plus, the savings will rack up when you stack laundry detergent coupons with these sales. These coupons are fairly easy to find at any given time.
Aim to save at least 50% at CVS on big brands like Tide, Downy, Gain, All, and Snuggle. Walgreens offers Arm & Hammer for as low as $1.99 each without any coupons.
2. Snag your diapers for 60% off at Walgreens or CVS.
Pampers, Huggies, and store-brand diapers are on sale almost every week at drugstores. Combine sale prices, coupons, and rewards offers to save at least 60% on diapers — especially at CVS and Walgreens.
For example, if you have a Pampers coupon and combine it with a Walgreens Register Reward and a current Ibotta rebate, you could pay only $3.50 for a $9 pack of diapers at Walgreens.
Another strategy is to take advantage of a Walgreens Cash Booster promotion like “Spend $30, Receive $5 in Walgreens Cash.” Buy enough to reach the $30 minimum spend, add in a Pampers coupon, and you can easily come in under stock-up prices.
Related: See who comes out on top in the savings battle between CVS vs. Walgreens.
3. Get brand-name paper products at drugstores for pennies per square foot.
Like laundry detergent, paper products tend to go on sale often at drugstores, and you can almost always guarantee that at least one major brand is on sale at a drugstore every week. In fact, about twice a month, CVS will offer $5 – $10 in ExtraBucks rewards on paper products. You can typically find paper towels and toilet paper packs on sale, too.
You can find Scott toilet paper and paper towels for a stock-up price of $0.01 per sq. ft. at Walgreens at least once a month — sometimes more often than that. Walgreens has the most frequent and reliable stock-up deals on Scott Toilet paper if you like that brand.
Related: We break down exactly how to coupon at CVS.
4. Stack multiple offers to get cheap (or free) razors at the drugstore.
If there is one item you should never pay full price for, it’s razors. The key to doing this is to wait for a sale, then pair the sale price with a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon. If you want to get fancy, you can even add on an offer from one of our favorite cash-back apps like Ibotta.
We’ve seen razor brands like Skintimate, BIC, Schick, Gillette, and Venus go for as low as FREE at drugstores with the right stacking. If you can’t get them for free, shoot for $2 or less.
5. Get toothpaste, mouthwash, and toothbrushes for cheap with drugstore deals.
Stop paying for toothpaste, mouthwash, and toothbrushes! I often see freebies and moneymakers at drugstores like Walgreens by combining sale prices, manufacturer coupons, and Register Reward promotions.
We usually guarantee that you can score at least one of these freebies every week when you shop with coupons and sales at drugstores, like we highlight in our Walgreens Deals Under $1 post. Be sure to bookmark the KCL freebie page and check back every week to see the latest deals.
Related: Get a crash course in how to coupon at Walgreens.
6. Refresh your makeup collection for less with drugstore deals.
Look for low-priced items like eye shadow, nail polish, and mascara every week (especially at CVS) that can be paired with ExtraBucks (CVS), Register Rewards (Walgreens), or BonusCash offers (RiteAid). Plus, as always, never forget to stack manufacturers’ makeup coupons with drugstore deals for even deeper savings.
If you’re struggling to find cosmetics on sale, know that Walgreens frequently puts makeup on clearance throughout the year. You can combine clearance prices with BOGO 50% off promotions and coupons and still earn rewards. This advantage is exclusive to Walgreens; no other drugstore lets you stack clearance items with BOGO deals!
7. Haircare drugstore deals are a must to save money.
The best way to get super cheap prices on shampoo and conditioner is by combining sales with store promotions like ExtraBucks or Walgreens Cash offers. Typically, you can find some sort of haircare deal at one of these drugstores each month. Just keep in mind that if it involves a P&G coupon that you have to print, those coupons are only valid for 24 hours. So only print the coupon when you’re ready to use it.
Related: We assembled our best tips for ways to save on hair care products — and cut regular prices in half.
8. Gift cards can actually make you money at CVS and Rite Aid.
Buying gift cards at drugstores like Rite Aid or CVS will also earn you rewards points, and these points can be used to pay for future purchases. I often see drugstore promotions on gift cards for Kohl’s, iTunes, Starbucks, and Visa, just to name a few. I love stocking up when I see these gift card deals; they’re perfect for Christmas and birthday presents!
When you buy CVS gift cards during certain ExtraCare promotions, you can get cash back in the form of ExtraBucks. For example, you might see a promo like “Spend $75 in gift cards, get $15 in ExtraBucks,” or “Spend $50 in gift cards, get $10 in ExtraBucks.”
9. Stock up on cold and allergy medicine at Rite Aid during flu and allergy seasons.
Cold and allergy medicines are expensive, but sales are hot and frequent at drugstores. Plus, you can use manufacturer and in-ad coupons to slash prices even lower. These medicine sales tend to come around even more during peak flu and allergy seasons, so be sure to keep your eye peeled for coupons during these times.
10. Get seasonal products for cheap with drugstore deals.
Depending on your drugstore’s availability, this category can be a little hit or miss. Many times, they have seasonal merchandise that needs to be cleared out quickly to make room for new products that often arrive every 3 – 6 weeks (depending on the next upcoming holiday or season). That usually means you can find sales on seasonal items that make them even cheaper than shopping at Hobby Lobby. Don’t even get me started on the after-holiday clearance prices at drugstores!
11. Immunizations and prescriptions can make you money.
Many insurance providers work with local drugstores to bring you low-cost and free immunizations as a way to get you in the door. Using your store’s rewards program at the pharmacy counter could bring in extra perks for you as the shopper. Be sure to ask your pharmacist if there are any current offers for transferring over a new prescription.
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