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Many of us have clipped a coupon at one point, whether you tore it out of a newspaper insert or grabbed it from an app. However, savvy couponers understand that one coupon is just the beginning; real savings come from stacking multiple coupons. By combining manufacturer, store, and other deals like rebates, you could boost your savings from minimal to almost getting products for free.
However, stacking coupons is no longer the go-to strategy for saving big at CVS. According to some store employees, cashiers used to be able to override the system easily to accept extra coupons, which would significantly increase your savings. But now, it seems the company is tightening its policies and cracking down on these practices.
A Look Back at How Couponing Worked at CVS
If you're a regular CVS shopper, you're probably unfazed by the absurdly long receipts—because they’re a goldmine for savings. Ask any CVS enthusiast how much they save just from the store coupons printed at the bottom of their receipts, and they'll tell you: it can range from $10 to $20, sometimes even more.
Imagine you walk up to the register with two coupons in hand.
Coupon 1: $10 off a $35 purchase of a certain product category (usually something pricey, like vitamins)Coupon 2: $6 off your next purchase of $30 or more.
Under the old system, you could typically use both coupons as long as, in this example, your total was $35 or higher. That’s coupon stacking.
However, that tactic no longer works, as the register now enforces the fine print that has always been at the bottom of those dollar-off coupons: 'Limit of one purchase-based coupon per transaction,' such as $4 off a $20 purchase.
On Reddit, users in the r/CVS subreddit recently discussed how dollar-off coupons are applied and whether the process had changed. A store manager chimed in, saying, 'The system just got smarter, and coupon stacking is no longer possible.'
'One day, coupons just stopped stacking,' a shift supervisor from Maryland shared with me. They explained that the company had not announced any changes to the coupon policy or the register system, but over the summer, 'They removed the option for us to manually override coupons'—so the system would no longer accept them if they didn’t scan automatically.
A CVS spokesperson confirmed to Mytour that the store’s policy regarding which coupons can be used together has not changed recently. However, they did not address whether there had been any updates to the point-of-sale system that might affect how coupons are redeemed.
Frequent CVS shoppers might not be as troubled by the changes to coupon redemption if the store wasn’t so notoriously overpriced. CVS is known for its steep prices. A report from Profitero, an e-commerce analytics platform, recently compared prices from major retailers to Amazon and found that CVS was 52.3% more expensive than Amazon on 130 beauty items, 60.6% pricier on 16 household products, and a whopping 64.5% more costly on 183 vitamins and supplements.
How to Save Money at CVS Now
If you're a true CVS enthusiast, you can still save money at the store by combining strategic couponing with some practical thinking.
Understand that drugstores are generally more expensive.
The first piece of advice is based on that classic rule about not shopping when you're hungry, tired, or in a rush—especially when it comes to drugstores, where you may be tempted to grab that bottle of cold medicine or box of diapers. Pharmacies typically charge higher prices than big-box retailers or grocery stores, so spontaneous purchases for items beyond prescriptions can quickly lead to overspending. If you’re unsure about the item you need, its expected price, or whether you can save with a sale, coupon, cash-back app, or rewards program, it’s best to avoid entering the store altogether.
Always read the fine print on every coupon.
If you’re already inside the store—whether driven by need or impulse—take a moment to carefully check the restrictions on your ExtraCare coupons. (ExtraCare is CVS’s free loyalty program, and if you've shopped there before, you’re probably already a member. If you're unsure, ask the cashier to check using your phone number.) Make sure you meet the spending minimum for every coupon offering a discount on a certain purchase amount (e.g., $6 off a $30 purchase). These coupons won’t stack, but you can still combine percentage-off offers, CarePass rewards, and ExtraCare Bucks with dollar-off coupons.
Understand the rules for redeeming CarePass rewards.
If you're a CarePass member, CVS’s paid loyalty program, be sure to keep in mind the restrictions that come with using your member benefits.
CarePass members receive a $10 discount coupon every month on the day your membership renews. However, if you don't use that coupon on a purchase of at least $10, you'll forfeit the remaining balance of the coupon. There are several things you can't use that coupon (or most CVS coupons) for, so be sure to take note of these limitations:
Coupons cannot be used for alcohol, lottery tickets, money orders, prescriptions and co-pays, pseudoephedrine/ephedrine products, postage stamps, prepaid cards, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, milk (where restricted by law), bottle deposits, bus passes, hunting and fishing licenses, government-imposed fees, or items covered by a government health plan.
Also, remember that the CarePass standard offer of 20% off CVS Health items (which includes their line of over-the-counter medications and other products) applies only to health-related items. This discount doesn't apply to Beauty 360 items or other store brands, and it won't work on sale items. If the CVS Health product is already discounted, you won’t get an additional 20% off through CarePass.
Stop by the coupon kiosk
Here's one last tip that could improve your CVS experience: visit the kiosk at the front of the store and scan your ExtraCare card. It will print out a long list of coupons that will make your regular coupon-filled store receipts look tiny by comparison. Once the coupons print, scan your card again to check for additional coupons based on your purchase history. The kiosk will let you know when you’ve run out of coupons for the day. And if you can’t use any of the coupons you get, you can always repurpose them as a scarf.
