Using coupons is basically free money back in your wallet. Here are my top five ways to save using coupons!
Hi there! Welcome to the first edition of #FrugalFridays : a series of blog posts focused on how to save your hard-earned cash.
In this post, we’re going to talk about one of my favorite ways to save money: coupons!
Hear me out: I know clipping coupons might not seem to be the most glamorous way to save some cash, but why pay more for something at checkout if you don’t have to? Taking even just two minutes can help you save multiple dollars per transaction, and that adds up over time. Every grocery trip, car wash, birthday gift, new sweater from your Target run…there’s a lot of saving to be had out there! So, let’s get into it:
1. Paper Coupons: Some may say this is too old-school, but I say it is timeless. I check my weekly mailers/fliers each week and look for any coupons that might be of use to me. Even something as small as 25 cents is worth it, because occasionally you can coupon stack (i.e. present two different coupons for the same item, on the same transaction). Occasionally there will even be coupons for local restaurants or fast food chains tucked in there (Dunkin’, anyone?), so make sure to flip through your snail mail!
2. Manufacturer Coupons: While sometimes these will be in print form, you can also access manufacturer coupons by directly going to the company’s website or performing a quick Google search (e.g. “Dove body wash coupon” or “Unilever coupon”). Manufacturer coupons aren’t usually more than 50 cents, but they sometimes have expiration dates way out in the future, allowing you to save them and use them when you’re in the market for that item.
3. Store Weekly Ads: This is a great way to save money on a regular basis, and an opportunity for you to coupon stack and maximize savings! Whether it is a mass retailer, a grocery store, or a drugstore, there are usually hundreds of dollars’ worth of savings in these bad boys. With just weekly ads alone, I save an average of 20% on the list price of all my groceries. This saves me hundreds of dollars on an annual basis and allows me to find the best price in my area for goods I am in the market for. Skimming weekly ads are also a great way to find deals that allow you to coupon stack. Something I need to buy is BOGO (Buy One, Get One free) this week AND I have a 50-cents-off coupon?! It’s a no-brainer: I am definitely using those together!
4. Digital Retailer Coupons: This couponing method falls in the same stream as the Store Weekly Ad as it is retailer-specific, and even takes it to the next level. Often times, to access retailer-exclusive coupons, you need to have an account or download their app to digitally “clip” these coupons and use them at checkout. From my experience, this method has the lowest relevancy rate (i.e. most coupons available are not relevant to my needs/wants), but when I do find something, this is almost always the best deal as they can be multiple dollars off with a single coupon.
5. Competitor Coupons: Did you know that you could use a coupon from, say, Wal-Mart, at a Kroger grocery store? Next time you head over to your grocery store, go to the Customer Service desk to inquire about a list of competitors from which the store accepts coupons. Voila! Now, you can take any of those retailers’ coupons (See #3 and #4 above) with you on your next store visit and they will ACCEPT the coupon at face value!
These are some of my favorite ways to coupon and save some extra cents at checkout. Remember, every little bit counts because it all adds up along the way! Do you coupon? Have any good ideas to save some cents at the register? Comment below, I’d love to learn more!
I used to dread couponing, until I started saving a little – and then that little turned into a good amount! I find it super helpful to subscribe to the emails/text on the websites that I shop most often. There’s almost ALWAYS a quick coupon to grab out of my email address while I’m waiting in the checkout line! Plus, most of the same stores have “rewards,” and cashing those in on top of my discounts is the BEST feeling.
These were all awesome tips! I used to think that thumbing through those stack of papers in the mailbox was pointless- but I’m definitely going to thumb through my snail mail before just tossing it away this week to see how much more I can be saving my family. Thanks for this Jackie!
Thanks Lauren! I feel you – couponing can seem like a chore but once you start getting into it, its an awesome feeling to watch your balance reduce at checkout! I also love checking while I’m in line, in case there’s any last-minute coupons I can cash in on. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you get ALL of the savings! 🙂