Handing over coupons at the checkout used to be considered very uncool but these days, no-one bats an eyelid. Why? Because ultimately, we’re all looking for ways to spend less and coupons and discount codes are fast becoming a recognized way to do this. If you’re not already using coupons at the grocery store or finding discount codes for shopping online, you’re missing out on great ways to save more. Want to know more? Here are some tips for getting started with coupons and discount codes.
How You Can Save Money with Coupons
Using coupons is a great way to help you to save money, but contrary to popular opinion, you can use more than one at the time. Here are a couple of ways that the most savvy coupon users get the most out of their coupons:
Time it right. You can often use coupons on items that have been discounted, which is a great way to maximize the savings. You’ll get the best savings if you use a high-value coupon that is offering a sizeable discount when the item in question is selling for less than its full price, even if it means that you have to wait to buy it.
Double up. If you can combine coupons from store circulars with other coupons, you can reap the benefits of coupons.
How to Find Coupons and Discount Codes
If you’re new to the idea of using coupons and discount codes to get bargains, here are some of the places that you can find them:
Store circulars. Grocery stores usually have a circular to inform shoppers of the offers that are currently available. You may also be able to find up-to-date coupons to use in-store. However, these tend to be date specific so if you don’t use them quickly, they won’t be valid for later use.
Blogs. There are lots of blogs dedicated to the art of online coupons and some of these even do the hard work for you by comparing the various coupons available to determine which offer the best value. Likewise, there are various sites which bring together discount codes so that you don’t have to spend hours tracking them down for yourself.
Inserts in Sunday papers. Many of the Sunday papers have inserts containing coupons galore.
Manufacturer’s websites. If you visit the websites of brands and manufacturers, you will often come across coupons that can be downloaded and printed off, particularly for newly-launched products, to entice you to buy them.
Grocery store websites. Many grocery stores now have an Internet presence, and you’ll often be able to find coupons and loyalty offers here to up the potential savings.
Social media. Many brands are now on Facebook or Twitter and you can receive exclusive discounts if you follow them or like their page. These are often in the form of discount codes for online shopping rather than printable coupons for in-store shopping. Signing up to receive email newsletters from retailers can also be a good way to receive incentives and many will include a printable coupon or more commonly a discount code for online shopping within the email.
Internet searches. If you’re after coupons or discounts from a specific retailer, a simple search for ‘(brand name) coupons’ or ‘(brand name) discount codes’ can bring up lots of potential results. It can be quite time-consuming though to sift through and find results that are still current so you may find it more useful to use one of the many sites that are dedicated to finding coupons and discount codes as these will often make it a lot easier to see what is available from specific brands or retailers.
If you’re not already clued-up on using coupons and discount codes, you’re missing a big trick as far as saving money goes. It can be time-consuming to find relevant coupons and codes (less so if you go straight to the coupon and discount code websites that do most of the work for you) but it is well worth the effort if you can knock something off your bill at the checkout!
So, do you use coupons, and if so, where do you find the best deals?
Miss T has written 582 articles on this blog. Hi, I am Miss T and I am the owner and head writer of PrairieEcoThrifter. Each and every day I am working to live a money savvy, healthy, and green life.While you're here, consider signing up for the RSS feed or email subscription . Both deliver the latest articles directly to you everyday. Have a Twitter , Facebook, Reddit, Stumble Upon, or Digg account? Then follow me for all of the latest posts or to send any comments or questions.
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I need to get better at checking for coupons on blogs. My wife is great about it and finds some fabulous deals. What’s not to like about 50% off? Some of the deals on things you would buy anyway are amazing!
It does take time that is for sure. The online sites are really handy for this because you can search by store. That way you only look at coupons and deals at the places you shop.
I am bad about coupons too. It’s a lot of hassle. I find the lowest deal on stuff, but typically, unless it’s online don’t bother finding coupons. My fiancee does though. She prints out a lot before she goes shopping.
I am guilty for relying on the internet too. I just can’t be as bothered with the flyers. That is where my husband comes in. Sounds like we are alike.
I love to be able to save as much as those people on Extreme Couponing, it’s amazing how they do it. I know I’ll never find the time to sit down and cut coupons though haha
I don’t have the time for that either. Really I like to spend my time on other stuff. However, I do keep an eye out on deals for the places I shop at. I like how at the stores I go to the coupons hang right by the entry door. I can take a quick peek before I walk in.
Except for special – usually very large – purchases, I have found that buying generic is usually thriftier than using coupons – and saves my time.
I would say I agree. I have found this true when we shop. We buy almost everything generic.
I love saving money using coupons. I always try to google for coupons before buying on the internet as well… Also, I get discounts using credit card links for my online purchases.
Credit card link discounts hey? I haven’t heard of those. I will have to see if they exist in Canada.
I am a fan of using coupons
Unfortunately we can’t double up in Canada. The weekly store circulars are my usual source for coupons. I should probably move online as well as I might be missing on some!
Being a Canadian as well I too can’t double up. There are a lot more options in the US that is for sure. Like you I use the weekly flyers to find deals.
The only time I ever do is if I’m shopping online and do a quick Google search for “____.com coupon codes.” I’d say it works often enough that it’s almost always worth a shot. There are many sites set up for this, too, which makes it even easier to find them.
Google is our friend when it comes to coupons. We also search for coupon codes when we are shopping online. I would say we have a 50/50 success rate.
My wife uses some when she goes shopping and I use the ones I search for when I shop online.
Sounds like a good team at work here. Glad to hear you take the time to find a good price.
I use coupons on a limited basis. I don’t get the mail and I hate looking through the online circular, so I don’t coupon clip. Just online coupon codes for big purchases.
We tend to do similar to you. Google is our friend although I must say, there are many more options for online coupons in the US compared to Canada.
I am horrible at checking flyers. I need to start looking at these closely.
Even just make a note to check if there are coupons on the wall next time you go grocery shopping. It’s a start.
This is one of the reasons I vastly prefer shopping online. A lazy guy like me can be convinced to quickly Google up some promo codes, but to clip and save coupons… that’s taking way too much time and organization!
Yes it can be time consuming. I do find though that because I live in Canada there are a lot less online codes that I can actually use. Sucks.
Awesome tips as always! Do you have a favorite coupon site like Groupon or Living Social?
I do use the social coupon sites for some things. I really don’t have a favourite one. It really just depends on what the deal is. I get email updates from them all.
I definitely do not use coupons. I comparison shop only. I do not find it fun clipping or managing the coupons. Seems like a hassle to me. I’m not sure when my aversion to coupons started. But, maybe in college.
It does take time for sure and I too don’t believe in going to extremes. What I think is reasonable is to look for coupons on things you are going to buy anyways.
Some stores offer ridiculous discounts if you use coupons. Kohls and Bed Bath and Beyond comes to my mind. Never shop at these stores without a coupon.
I have seen stores like that here in Canada too. There are always deals. Never pay full price. Wait for the sale.
I always get really great deals when I coupon. I stock up on chicken, fish and meat when it’s on sale so i never have to buy at full price : )
Great to hear. We get to take advantage of some deals but I do find in Canada there are not a lot of deals on the food we eat which stinks. There doesn’t seem to be tons of savings out there on fresh produce, whole grains, and bulk goods.
Good post! Love coupons. Wife loves them even more
I LOVE coupons!!! They have changed my way of shopping completely, and our family saves a LOT of money with the use of coupons everyday.
One of the easiest ways to get all the latest deals/flyers/sales and the coupons that can be used to shop is to subscribe to coupon blogs–add them to your preferred reader (such as Google reader) and then daily you can just scan the new blog posts all in one place!
Check out my blog Coupons Canada!
There are many more great Canadian blogs that help you save money with coupons! Once you get hooked shopping with coupons you will never go back to paying full retail price
[...] T. from Prairie Eco Thrifter presents How to Save Money with Coupons and Discount Codes, and says, ” If you’re not already using coupons at the grocery store or finding discount [...]
Coupons are a great way to save money. Clipping coupons from the weekly newspaper can add up to hundreds in savings every month. We all need basic items like detergent and groceries. The money conscious consumer always knows that coupons on those basic items will add up to tons of savings.