If you're looking to save big on your next CVS haul, mastering how to stack coupons at CVS is a game-changer. In fact, this is one of the key components you need to master when you're learning how to coupon at CVS. Before you can stack coupons, though, we need to teach you about the types of coupons CVS accepts and the CVS coupon policy.
And to make your couponing life that much easier, you’re going to want to download the CVS coupons app while you’re at it. From there, you’ll be able to effortlessly clip all of the digital coupons and get ready to start stacking.
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1. To save the most, plan to use all these discounts at once.
At CVS, you can use stack manufacturer coupons — from a newspaper or printed at home — and CVS-issued coupons. The key to saving the most is stacking as many of these as you can while still respecting coupon fine print.
Here's a quick refresher on each type of coupon that CVS accepts:
Manufacturer Coupons:
You can get manufacturer coupons through the newspaper or by printing them at home. Three different inserts come out regularly: Smart Source (SS), Save, and Unilever Super Saver (which as of now isn’t a weekly regular).
There are many sources for printable coupons, too.
CVS Issued Coupons:
You can get CVS coupons from the magic coupon kiosk in stores and by clipping them in the CVS app or on CVS.com.
ExtraBucks Promotions:
The CVS Weekly ad offers ExtraBucks promotions each week. You can find these offers listed in the weekly ad, on promotional signs within the store, and in the CVS app.
Rebate Apps:
There are multiple rebate apps to help you save money, like Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Fetch Rewards. We’ve made the Ultimate Guide to Rebate Apps to help you become a master at rebates.
2. Start by stacking manufacturer coupons with ExtraBucks promotions.
The easiest way to stack coupons at CVS is by using a manufacturer coupon with an ExtraBucks promotion. The manufacturer coupons lower your out-of-pocket total — all while you’re still earning your ExtraBucks.
3. Stack manufacturer coupons with CVS coupons.
The CVS coupon policy allows one manufacturer coupon per item. There’s no limit to manufacturer coupons per transaction other than what is stated on the coupon itself. So you can use one manufacturer coupon and one CVS coupon per item.
Unlike Walgreens Register Rewards, CVS ExtraBucks coupons are not manufacturer coupons. So using one on top of a manufacturer coupon on the same item is perfectly fine.
Along with earning ExtraBucks on promotions, you can get CVS coupons from the magic coupon kiosk and by clipping them in the CVS app or on CVS.com.
4. Use up to three CVS store coupons per item.
This is where the fancy CVS coupon dance starts. CVS offers dollar-off single-item coupons, spend threshold coupons, and percent-off coupons. The CVS coupon policy says you can use as many store coupons as you want as long as none of those coupons explicitly states otherwise.
For example, you could use a CVS hair care threshold coupon like, “$3 off when you spend $12 on haircare,” with a $2 off Garnier hair care CVS coupon, with a 15% off hair care item CVS coupon.
But just know the percent-off coupons will be calculated after all other CVS coupons and ExtraBucks have been deducted from your subtotal. (More about that in tip #6).
5. Double-dip on rebates from Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Fetch Rewards.
Rebate apps get you cash back or other reimbursements for receipts showing proof of purchase on specific items. So instead of getting money taken off your total before you cash out, like with a coupon, you’ll get money back after purchase.
When you’re using a rebate, the savings don’t stop there. You can pair them with coupons, ExtraBucks rewards, and sales.
One deal that I claimed was for Differin Cleanser. Differin Cleanser had a printable manufacturer coupon for $1.75/1, a $5 off CVS store coupon, and $2 Ibotta Rebate. The cleanser is regularly priced at $10.49, so I paid $3.74 out of pocket after all three savings methods were applied. The final price came out to $1.74 — that’s 83% in savings!
Just make sure that none of the rebate fine print mentions not being able to stack. You’ll occasionally see this rule.
6. The goal is to stack manufacturer coupons, CVS coupons, ExtraBucks promos, and rebates.
When the couponing stars align, you may see an ExtraBucks promo, a manufacturer coupon, store coupons, and a qualifying rebate all available to stack on a single item. During these transactions, you can often get products completely free! Or at least score some CVS deals under $1.
For example, Crest mouthwash was on sale for $3.99 (regularly $5.49), and there was a promotion where if you bought three, you received $5 ExtraBucks. I had a $2 off $12 any mouthwash CVS store coupon and a $5 off three Crest Mouthwash CVS digital coupon. After using both coupons, I paid $4.97 for three bottles of mouthwash and received the $5 ExtraBucks … making this deal completely free!
P.S.: CVS has a 98% rule, which means you can use a $2 off $12 coupon even if your subtotal is only $11.97.
7. But CVS percent-off coupons are notoriously problematic.
All of our CVS veteran shoppers here at KCL can attest to the fact that CVS percent-off coupons love to give us a headache. Often we’ll see them attaching to the lowest value product in the transaction, even if it’s not a qualifying item.
To be safe, I’ll often redeem my percent-off coupons in a separate transaction to make sure the discount works correctly. I make sure to not use my percentage-off coupons with other coupons so I can get the full discount. If that’s more hassle than you’re interested in, just be sure to double-check your receipt.
Additionally, be aware that percent-off coupons will be calculated after all other CVS coupons and ExtraBucks have been deducted from your subtotal. Manufacturer coupons do not impact the value of a CVS percent-off coupon.
8. Roll your previously earned ExtraBucks to earn new ExtraBucks.
Rolling rolling rolling … keep the CVS ExtraBucks rolling. When you earn ExtraBucks from a transaction, you can use them right away to earn more! This takes some time and concentration. I only do this when there isn’t a line behind me at my store.
To roll your ExtraBucks, you’ll end up doing multiple transactions using your ExtraBucks from the first transaction to pay for the next and so on.
9. The order in which you present your coupons doesn’t matter.
It used to be that the order in which a cashier scanned your coupons made a difference in what you’d pay. But the CVS computers are smarter now. They can calculate the discounts in the right order, and it doesn't matter which order the discounts are scanned.
10. You can’t double-dip on threshold coupons.
Don’t get too excited if you get multiple threshold coupons for the same category. You can’t use those together and not meet the threshold for each. For example, if you have two $10 off $40 coupons, you’ll need to spend $80 to be able to use both.
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