Couponing at Rite Aid

I was always very intimidated by couponing at all of the drugstores, especially Rite Aid. With multiple different types of store coupons, limits to the number of items that you can purchase, and percent off all regularly priced items, Rite Aid is no small feat. It is, however, one of the BEST places  to purchase free items for all of your household needs. The first thing to understand about Rite Aid is their member rewards program (sign up for free with your cashier); +UP Rewards (I refer to these as UPs).

+UP Rewards

This is an example of a +UP Reward

+UP  Rewards are dollar off coupons specific to Rite Aid, good on your next purchase, beginning the day after you receive them. They will automatically print at the bottom of your receipt based on purchasing specific sale items for the week's (or month) promotion. The number of UPs that you can receive will vary based on the promotion, but it is usually 4 per household (card). These rewards can be used for up to two weeks on just about anything in the store, and you can use as many as you would like as payment for your purchases up to the cost of your transaction (less tax). UP Rewards do "roll", meaning that you can earn one for a specific promotion, and then (the next day) use that UP reward to pay for another purchase of the same promotional item. NOTE: UPs are automatically set up to L2C (Load 2 Card), meaning that when you earn them, they will load to your card instead of printing on your receipt. While this may be convenient, it is a nightmare for couponers. First, when the cashier totals the transaction, the UP rewards will be redeemed FIRST, before any coupons have been applied. Secondly, if I don't have it in my hand, it doesn't exist...I always forget about things like this, and they will expire on you! As soon as you sign up, or on your next trip to Rite Aid, before you begin to checkout just let your cashier know that you would like to dis-enroll from the Load2Card program. Simple as that!

Wellness+ Points
Rite Aid also has a point system of 1 point per dollar spent (excluding the normal items, plus UP rewards and Rite Aid coupons used; not manufacturer coupons). After earning 250 points (Bronze level) for the year, you will receive 10% off all Rite Aid brand products, and a 10% off any shopping trip pass. This level will apply to all purchases for the next calender year (while you are still accumulating points). Silver level is 500 points accumulated during the year, and entitles you to a wellness reward (I always get a free magazine subscription to Cosmo, but there are plenty of goodies there!), and 10% off of any items in the store. Finally, a gold membership is at 1000 points, and applies a 20% discount on all purchases. At all three levels, the respective discounts will only apply to regularly priced items; sale items are excluded. This is important to keep in mind when you are planning your transactions.

Wellness points that print on your receipt

Types of Rite Aid Coupons
Rite Aid has several different coupons available that can be stacked, which can be a bit confusing. The first type of coupon that Rite Aid has is an in-ad coupon.

In-ad Rite Aid RC49 (i.e. Rite Aid Coupon)

These coupons say manufacturer, but CAN be used in conjunction with a manufacturer coupon. If you look at the coupon's barcode, you will notice that it begins with a "RC49", or occasionally "RC48", meaning that it is a Rite Aid coupon. UP Rewards are also coded RC49, but are considered dollar off coupons, and can be used with regular RC49 coupons. (NOTE: Rite Aid will sometimes have actual manufacturer's coupons in their ads, so it is worth taking a moment to check for the RC49 barcode)

Example of an actual manufacturer coupon in a Rite Aid ad. Notice the different look to the barcodes, and this will not have RC49 in the coding. Also, this coupon can be used anywhere, not just at Rite Aid.

The second type of Rite Aid coupon is a Video Value coupon (also sometimes referred to as an Ad Perk coupon). These coupons are printable from Rite Aid's website for watching a commercial on the product. These coupons CAN be stacked with a Rite Aid coupon, as well as a manufacturer coupon. The VV coupons refresh monthly, and are good for 4-6 weeks. The coupons refresh a couple of days before the end of the month. Once you watch the video, you can chose to print then, or wait. That means that you could watch all of the video value ads, and then only print what you will use if there is a sale that comes up.

Video Value rewards     Note that I have printed one, and I will be able to print the others later. Also, the expiration dates vary, as some were available last month, and 1 was from rewards this month.

Rite Aid will allow a stacking of a manufacturer's coupon, along with a store coupon, as well as an UP reward. Additionally, they will allow stacking of cents off AND BOGO deals. This means that if Rite Aid has a sale B1G1 Vaseline lotion, you can use a $1/1 Vaseline coupon on the item that you are purchasing. Also, per their coupon policy, you can use a $1/1 along with a B1G1 coupon (although this is NOT allowed at any other store).

Smart Phones
You can increase your savings at Rite Aid through smart phone apps as well! For Shopkick, Shopmium (referral code MGGMEFVW), Checkout 51, and others, you can use the apps normally (see more information at How to Save Money Without Coupons and Money Saving Apps). For Ibotta (BEST APP EVER!!!) however, you will need to link your Rite Aid card. Purchases for qualifying items will be automatically redeemed within 48 hours. To link your card, you can enter the numbers, or simply scan the barcode, and your items will be linked to ibotta. It is good that it is linked since it will automatically submit, and you do not have to worry about forgetting to redeem your rebate. Occasionally, however, some qualifying items have not been entered into the ibotta UPC database, so they may be overlooked. Always save your receipt to make sure that you get the credit that you were expecting.

Rite Aid is a far more complicated store than most to shop at, but there are SO many ways to stack your savings that it really does pay off to learn the ins and outs of their coupon policy so that you can really take advantage of all of the savings available to you!!