If you grab a cartful of items while you’re waiting for a prescription refill at Walgreens or CVS, sure you’re gonna overpay.
But when you shop smart at drugstores, you’ll walk out having paid up to 70% less than the next person for brands like Tide and Huggies.
Here’s why you should grocery shop at drugstores:
1. Items like shampoo are 75% off when you shop clearance.
At Walgreens, clearance items have an orange tag, at CVS, they have a yellow tag, and at Rite Aid, clearance is anything over 75% off.
You can find common grocery-list items like shampoo, paper towels, and snacks on clearance at drugstores, like:
Buy 2 Suave Moisturizing Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo, 12.6 ounces (reg. $2.99) $1.26 each, clearance price at CVS
Buy 2 Suave Essentials Ocean Breeze Conditioner, 30 ounces $2.50 each, when you buy two, regular price
Buy 4, receive 4,000 Balance Rewards Points
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $7.52, receive 4,000 Balance Rewards Points ($4)
Final Price: $0.88 each, when you buy 4
Buy 1 MAM Pacifier Orthodontic, 3 count (reg. $6.99) $1.75, clearance price at Rite Aid
Free shipping on orders of $34.99+
Final Price: $1.75
Buy 1 Ziploc Storage Bags, 19 count (reg. $3.49) $1.25, clearance price at Walgreens
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Final Price: $1.25
2. You can use Walgreens Balance Rewards like cash.
As a Walgreens Balance Rewards member, you can earn points for every purchase you make at Walgreens.
You’ll get 10 points per $1 you spend, or 1% cash back. This means you have to spend $100 to get $1 back.
The more points you earn, the better value you’ll receive. For example, 18,000 points will get you a $20 reward and 40,000 points equal a $50 reward. So if you frequent Walgreens, this is a nice opportunity to get some cash back for your purchases.
Related: How to Coupon at Walgreens
3. Get clearance items for even less with coupons and rewards.
You can apply in-ad store coupons or manufacturer coupons to clearance items, presenting you with a perfect opportunity to score freebies at drugstores.
In order to get dirt cheap (below stock-up prices!) you can combine coupons with a promotion (Balance Rewards for example).
Buy 2 Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish (reg. $7.69) $5.69, clearance price
Buy 1 Revlon CND Vinylux (reg. $10.50) $5.04, clearance price
Buy 1 Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish French Manicure (reg. $10.09) $9.98, clearance price
Buy 1 Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish (reg. $10.09) $8.57, clearance price
Spend $20, receive 10X Everyday Points with digital coupon
Free shipping on orders of $35
Pay $34.97, receive 3,400 Balance Rewards Points ($3.40)
Final Price: $6.99 each, when you buy 5, plus free Beauty Enthusiast sample bag
Buy 2 Suave Moisturizing Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo, 12.6 ounces (reg. $2.99) $1.26, clearance price
Buy 2 Suave Professionals Sleek Conditioner, 12.6 ounces $2.99, regular price
Buy 4, receive 4,000 Balance Rewards Points
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $8.50, receive 4,000 Balance Rewards Points ($4)
Final Price: $4.50, or $1.13 each when you buy 4
4. Find stock up prices on cereal once a week.
You can find stock-up prices while grocery shopping at drugstores on cereal, toothpaste, and so much more. Between Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS, about once a week you can find General Mills or Kellogg’s cereals averaging about $1.50 after a sale and a cereal coupon. The best deal will be found in stores.
Cereal at Rite Aid:
Use $3/5 – Kellogg’s Cereals 8.4 ounces or larger, limit 4 (kelloggsfamilyrewards.com)
Or $2/4 – Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Toaster Pastries 6 count or larger, limit 4 (kelloggsfamilyrewards.com)
Free shipping on orders of $34.99+
Final Price: $1.39 each, when you buy 5
Cereal at Walgreens:
Buy 1 Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Cereal, 11.2 ounces $1.99, sale price
Use one $0.50/1 – Kellogg’s Cereal 10 – 15.5 ounce, Walgreens L2C Coupon (walgreens.com)
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Final Price: $1.49
5. Get toothpaste and other hygiene products for close to nothing.
Don’t pay too much for toothpaste ever AGAIN.
I can’t emphasize this enough. Drugstores love to give toothpaste, floss, disposable razors, and more to couponers for close to nothing. And the stock-up price? You guessed it, free!
Dental care at Walgreens:
Buy 4 Crest Toothpaste $2.99, sale price
Buy 2, receive 4,000 Balance Rewards Points
Use one $7/3 – Crest and/or Oral-B Select Varieties, Walgreens L2C Coupon (walgreens.com)
And use one $1/1 – Crest Toothpaste 3 ounce or more, Walgreens L2C Coupon (walgreens.com)
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $3.96, receive 8,000 Balance Rewards Points ($8)
Final Price: $4.04 Moneymaker, when you buy 4
Buy two, receive $2 Register Reward
Use $3/2 – Crest Adult Toothpaste 3 ounce or more, Mouthwash 16 ounce or larger, Oral-B Manual Toothbrush, Glide Floss or Fixodent Adhesive, Walgreens L2C Coupon (exp May 31) (walgreens.com)
Or $1/1 – Crest Toothpaste 3 ounce or more, Walgreens L2C Coupon (exp May 31) (walgreens.com)
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $2.98, receive $2 Register Reward
Final Price: $0.49 each, when you buy 2
Razers at Rite Aid:
Or BIC Silky Touch Disposable Razors, 10 count $2.99, regular price
Use one $2/1 – BIC Disposable Razors digital coupon (riteaid.com)
Free shipping on orders of $34.99+
Final Price: $0.99
Check out KCL’s stock-up price list.
6. Get 25 points per prescription with the Rite Aid loyalty program.
If you join wellness+ rewards, Rite Aid’s loyalty program, you’ll earn 25 points per prescription, no matter what you spent on the prescription.
Now wellness+ has tiers of free memberships based on how much you spend.
Bronze is entry-level and doesn’t offer many perks, but you’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend, plus any additional points per prescription.
When you reach 250 points (spend $250) you’ll get Silver status and 10% off almost every purchase for the next six months.
You’ll hit Gold status when you earn 500 points (spend $500) — and your reward? 20% off almost everything for at least six months.
Related: How to Coupon at Rite Aid
7. Buy milk when you see a yellow tag indicating an ExtraBucks promotion at CVS.
You can often get money back on purchases you make in the form of ExtraBucks Rewards. ExtraBucks are like cash you earn and can spend on future purchases.
You’ll pay a final price of $1.99 for a gallon of milk — less than that if you also have a coupon! (Keep in mind, milk prices vary a ton across the country; the national average is $3.82 per gallon).
The best way to snatch a stock-up price on milk is by combining milk coupons and Ibotta “any brand of milk” offers. I also often see $1 back in ExtraBucks on milk priced at $2.99.
At CVS you can get savings with ExtraBucks when you spend $30, you’ll receive $10 ExtraBucks — that’s 33% savings. This offer has a limit of one, but these offers come out every couple of weeks. Use the KCL app to be alerted to CVS deals like this one.
Related: THIS is How to Coupon at CVS
8. Find screamin’ diaper deals at least once a week.
Between Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS, you should be able to find diaper deals almost every week of the month. To get the lowest prices, use the drugstore’s loyalty program to earn or spend while also using diaper coupons.
Plan to buy Huggies when they reach $5 or less per Jumbo Pack. Buy Pampers when they reach $7 or less per Jumbo Pack.
Diaper deals at Walgreens:
Buy 2 Pampers Easy Ups $9 each, when you buy two, sale price
Buy 3, receive 3,000 Balance Rewards Points
Use one $3/2 – Pampers Swaddlers, Cruisers or Baby Dry Diapers Bags, Walgreens L2C Coupon (walgreens.com)
And use one $3/2 – Pampers Easy Ups Training Underwear or UnderJams Absorbent Night Wear Bags, Walgreens L2C Coupon (walgreens.com)
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $30, receive 3,000 Balance Rewards Points ($3)
Final Price: $6.75 each, when you buy 4
Diaper deals at CVS:
Spend $20, receive $5 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use two $2/1 – Huggies Pull-Ups Training Pants Bag or Box from SS Or $2/1 – Huggies Pull-Ups Training Pants, CVS L2C Manufacturer Coupon (cvs.com)
And submit two $2.50/1 – Huggies Pull-Ups 18 count or larger, Ibotta Rebate (ibotta.com)
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $16, receive $5 ExtraBucks and submit for $5 in Ibotta credits
Final Price: $3 each, when you buy 2
We will tell you how to stack coupons with a sale, step-by-step when you download the KCL app!
9. Stock up on laundry detergent and get cash back.
Walgreens often runs high-point promotions where you can get 10,000 Balance Rewards Points when you spend $30 on a product. This is like getting a free $10 back.
You can get deals like this at Walgreens:
Buy 1 Tide Pods, 12 or 16 count $4.99, sale price
Buy 1 Downy Liquid Fabric Enhancer, 25 or 51 ounces $4.99, sale price
Or Downy Unstopables Fresh Protect, 5.7 ounces $4.99, sale price
Buy 1 Bounce Dryer Sheets, 120 count $4.99, sale price
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Buy 3 get 1 free
Final Price: $3.74 each, when you buy 4
At CVS:
Spend $15, receive $3 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use one $2/1 – Tide Pods or Power Pods, limit one (pgeveryday.com)
And use one $2/1 – Tide Pods or Power Pods from PG – limit 1
Free shipping on orders of $35+
Pay $11, receive $3 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $2.67 each, when you buy 3
At Rite Aid:
Buy 1 Tide Pods,12 – 16 count $4.94, sale price
Buy 2, receive $1 BonusCash, limit 2
Use one $2/1 – Tide or Purclean Laundry Detergent OR Antibacterial Spray, limit 1 (pgeveryday.com)
And use one $2/1 – Tide Pods or Power Pods, limit 1 (pgeveryday.com)
Free shipping on orders of $34.99+
Pay $5.88, receive $1 BonusCash
Final Price: $2.44 each, when you buy 2
Related: Online Grocery Shopping With Cash Back Websites: Worth It or No?
10. Catalinas are dishing out manufacturer coupons as well as drugstore coupons you can use like cash.
A Catalina is a coupon the register spits out after you complete your transaction, and now they are offering manufacturer coupons as well as store coupons. You can use those to buy things at drug stores without having to pull out your wallet.
If you receive a Catalina like “$4 off a $20 purchase,” be sure to use it before the expiration date to buy items you don’t have a coupon for but you really need it.
Rite Aid also accepts printable manufacturer coupons that you can get for free from KCL’s coupon database. Note that when you see a coupon you need, you’re allowed two prints per device, and you can only use one manufacturer coupon (printable or newspaper) per item.
11. Baking products like cake mixes and chocolate chips are super cheap.
At Walgreens, you’ll find frequent in-ad coupons for savings on baking goods like cake mixes, frosting, chocolate chips, and canned pumpkin puree.
Watch for these especially around the holidays and then stock-up!
12. There’s almost always wine on sale at Rite Aid.
You can usually find a good price on wine because it’s almost always on sale.
Even better, if you have a coordinating Ibotta offer that you can redeem after your purchase.
Don’t Scroll Up! Here’s all the articles I mentioned:
How to Coupon at Walgreens
How to Coupon at Rite Aid
THIS is How to Coupon at CVS
Online Grocery Shopping With Cash Back Websites: Worth It or No?
UP NEXT: Ways to Get Free Sunday Newspaper Coupons
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