CVS is one of the most beginner-friendly places to start couponing. That means you can begin saving money quickly and easily on a wide assortment of products, including personal care and beauty products, groceries and snacks, and cleaning products. But before you dive in, it's important that you understand how the CVS reward system works so you can use coupons effectively and even score some freebies!

So how do you do it? The secret is stacking — combining coupons, CVS sales, and ExtraBucks offers to get the best deals possible. It may sound tricky, but we make it simple.

The Krazy Coupon Lady experts have spent years perfecting how to shop and save at CVS. And in just three easy steps, we’ll teach you how to use CVS coupons, earn ExtraBucks, and take advantage of CVS deals like a pro.

1. Download the CVS app and The Krazy Coupon Lady app.

Download the CVS mobile app. Then start searching or scanning products to find coupons, sales, and promotions; browse the weekly ad; clip digital coupons; see any rewards you've earned; and create pickup and delivery orders. (You can also access the CVS ad and coupons on a web browser if needed.)

You'll also want to download the KCL app. Our free Krazy Coupon Lady app takes the guesswork out of couponing and makes saving at CVS simple. Use it to check out the CVS weekly deal matchup, which publishes each Saturday. We comb through the CVS weekly ad and find the best deals for you, along with matching coupons. And you'll be able to see our CVS deal breakdowns, which tell you exactly what to buy and what coupons to use.

2. Sign up for a free ExtraCare account.

You'll definitely want to sign up for a free CVS ExtraCare account. An ExtraCare account is a must-have because it gives you access to sale prices, digital coupons, pickup and delivery, and 2% ExtraBucks rewards back on your purchases.

CVS ExtraCare membership has two tiers:

• A free CVS ExtraCare membership that gives you access to sale prices, digital coupons, and rewards.

• A paid CVS ExtraCare Plus membership for $5/month with extra benefits:

  • $10 ExtraBucks each month.

  • 20% off CVS-branded items.

  • Free same-day delivery, same-day prescription delivery, and shipping on orders of $10 or more.

Is the paid membership worth it? Pay $5 a month for the CVS ExtraCare Plus program, and you'll receive a $10 promo reward every month, as long as you make at least one purchase at CVS. So if you shop at CVS at least once a month (and spend at least $10), then you need this program in your life. If you’re a casual CVS shopper, then we say skip it.

3. Clip CVS coupons and earn ExtraBucks.

CVS Coupons

Coupons help you save money by reducing the price of products. But in order to take advantage of many coupon deals, you need to add online coupons to your CVS ExtraCare account to use at checkout.

To use an online coupon at CVS, select the blue "Send to Card" in the CVS app (or on the website) to load coupons to your ExtraCare account. A green checkmark will confirm coupons have been added. Then at checkout, enter your phone number or scan your ExtraCare card, and eligible coupons and sales will apply automatically.

ExtraBucks

ExtraBucks (EBs) are like CVS store credit that you earn by taking advantage of certain promotions. They work like both store coupons and cash at checkout, helping you reduce your out-of-pocket cost. You can use as many ExtraBucks in a transaction as you want at checkout. Note that ExtraBucks won't give you any change. If your total is $4.50 and you use $5 ExtraBucks to pay, the remaining $0.50 is forfeited. Like coupons, ExtraBucks expire.

Earning ExtraBucks:

• 2% back on all CVS purchases

• Through Instacart or Shipt when your CVS account is linked to those apps

• Buying items offered as part of weekly ad promotions

• $3 birthday reward

• Pharmacy credits by filling prescriptions or getting vaccinations

ExtraBucks can't be used for these things:

• Alcohol

• COVID-19 at-home test kits

• Gift cards, lottery tickets, postage stamps

• Prescriptions, money orders, taxes, fees

• Prepaid cards

• Milk and other locally restricted items

See the full CVS coupon policy for additional exclusions and terms.