Drugstores carry everything from health and beauty items to school supplies and kitchenware, often at relatively low prices.

We looked at three chain drugstores available in Miami to decipher their rewards programs and let you in on the potential perks and pitfalls.

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Rite-Aid

Sign up for a wellness+ account to be eligible for several discounts at Rite-Aid and to earn reward points for purchases. If you sign up in your local store, make sure to register your account online as well. Downloading their app is likely the easiest way to ensure quick access to any coupons, points or other rewards you may want to use, but it is not required to join the program. 

When you sign up, you’ll instantly have access to members-only sale pricing and discounts throughout the store — just make sure to check the weekly ad. You’ll also get e-mail deals and offers, be able to add flavoring to your child’s medication for free and chat with a healthcare professional. 

When you join the program, you’ll start as bronze member. Each purchase (including some prescriptions) will earn you points to the higher silver and gold memberships. As a silver member, you would receive 10 percent off regular price, in-store purchases, while gold members get 20 percent off. All wellness+ points balances reset to zero on Jan. 1, so use them while you have them. 

Another feature of the wellness+ program is BonusCash rewards. These are digital coupons that are earned on participating items and promotions in-store and online and are automatically loaded to your account. The rewards expire after 30 days and can only be used beginning at 6 a.m. the day after they’ve been issued. 

If you’re looking for more coupon opportunities, their Load2Card service offers them. This tool lets you select coupons online and then load them directly to your wellness+ rewards card. They can then be redeemed in-store or online. All the coupons you want, with absolutely no printing required. You can also “stack” coupons for bigger savings, meaning you can use both a Rite-Aid coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon toward the purchase of a single item.

Rite-Aid also has a wellness program for those 65 and older, known as wellness65+. The free program includes 20 percent off regular price, in-store purchases on the first Wednesday of each month, as well as special monthly activities featuring a different health topic each month. Membership also includes a free pharmacist consultation, which includes a review of your medications, your immunization needs, free pharmacy services, free blood pressure screening and discussion of Medicare Part D questions. You can sign up online or at your local Rite-Aid. 

Find other deals and exclusive offers at Rite-Aid’s Facebook page, or on Twitter, @riteaid.

Walgreens

Walgreens introduced its Balance Rewards card in 2012 but has now shifted to the myWalgreens reward program. You can join by signing up online, on their app or in-store at checkout. 

The program helps you earn 1 percent Walgreens Cash rewards on purchases in-store and online, including those made at the pharmacy. If you want to earn more, buy Walgreens branded products — they’ll score you 5 percent in Walgreens Cash rewards. Once you’ve earned enough points, you can redeem your rewards on Walgreens purchases. $1 in Walgreens Cash reward is worth $1 off your future purchase. However, Walgreens Cash rewards can’t be used towards the purchase of prescriptions or other pharmacy items.

You can also earn rewards by setting and reaching health goals. To reap this benefit, join a four-week challenge and connect a device and track your progress. Then, earn Walgreens Cash rewards for every week you complete.