Tips on Coupon Shopping
Whether you are an Extreme Coupon Shopper or just looking to save $20 on a weekly night out with your family, spending a few minutes doing your research will pay off!
Online coupons: I would not think of making a purchase without doing an online search for a coupon, discount or rebate. We use coupons at the restaurants we frequent as well as at the hotels with stay in when traveling. You can almost always save money on items you buy, both online and at the store.
Make sure when you are using an online coupon, the discount of the coupon gets applied before you check out. If you change anything on your order, you often have to add the code back again before clicking place order.
Store coupons: The most popular way to save money is with coupons. Store coupons can be found in the local paper on Sunday, inside the pages of several major magazines (All You and Taste of Home are two of my favorites) and you can always find printable coupons to print at home on your printer. The rule for print at home coupons is usually 2 prints for each computer you own. You will need to read the policy of each store that you want to use print coupons. The acceptance rules are a varied as the number of stores to shop.
Rebate and Cash Back Sites: Again, just a little research goes a long way. I found an offer from Lowe’s for 10% back in the form of a rebate for all my purchases made for improvements when we bought our new house. The rebate capped at $500. So you bet everything we needed that could be purchased was purchased at #Lowe’s! I used the $500 to purchase a new front load Frigidaire front load washing machine! I had to pay the tax and delivery fees.
There are other sites that offer cash back on purchases. Some will send a debit card (Staples and Lowe’s) while others send an actual check or store coupon for the rebate amount (Office Depot).
A Word of caution when combining coupons with rebate offers. Most sites will allow you to EITHER use the discount code prior to purchase OR participate in the cash back/rebate offer. Most do not allow you to earn from other sides of the offer. Make sure you read ALL the fine print on coupon offers.
Discounts: Be brave and ask for discount! This is one that was hard for me until our family took the Financial Peace classes at our church. This class will show you how to get out of debt and stay out! However, one of the points made in the class was that if you are paying cash for an item, ask for a discount! If you like a product, service or location and can’t find a coupon; try sending them an email and ask where you can locate one for them. Many times, you will receive a coupon in the mail, or perhaps a free item or ticket just for sending an email letting them know you like their product/service but make it a habit to always look for coupons. Look at it this way…. What is the worst thing that will happen? They will say no.
Take advantage of free shipping: Several stores, even local ones, offer free shipping. Office Depot will deliver for free next day if you purchase over $50. This is a no brainer for me! When I need paper or other heavy items, I can order online or on the phone and they bring it to the door the following day. Thank you! ~ #Office Depot!
When shopping online, watch for the change in shipping charges. Some sites offer a flat rate shipping charge and others offer a low rate for purchases up to a certain amount. Cross that magic line by even a few pennies and you could be paying twice the shipping charges!
And of course, the earlier you shop the more time you have to search for the best deal. Waiting until the last minute will cost you money!
Another note of caution: You may have read that purchasing online will save you money because you are not charged sales tax. While this may be true depending on where you live, please check with your state sales and use tax department. Many states require you to claim purchases on items from online sources and pay the appropriate sales or use tax.
Disclaimer: This post does not contain any affiliate links. I did not receive any compensation for this post. Opinions are mine and they may vary from yours or others.
Wow really good idea about how to save your money while shopping via coupons.
Great. I will surely follow this.
love it!
So much to learn about doing this it helps when others help to share there knowledge it can help us all save more money which we all need!I’m taking notes thank you for sharing with all of us!
There are some really great tips here, things I had never even thought about. We very rarely use coupons, though hubby is good at looking into online discounts and he has occasionally gotten coupons for Pizza Hut online.
Great tips! I usually stick with store and manufacture coupons. I never thought to check out the rebates. Thanks for some great advice.
I love my coupons, and I wish I would have started using them about 10 years ago! Live and learn I guess! 🙂
My favorite coupon data base is on Hot Coupon World. When I grocery shop, I plug in things I absolutely need and ran out of in their website to see if there is a coupon for it! I don’t mind switching brands and if I can’t find a coupon I will usually buy generic unless the taste is noticeably compromised like mac and cheese..
Thanks for the great post!!
– Julie at 70 Words Per Minute.
I don’t like the online ones. They started messing up my shopping plans.
Thank you for this wonderful post.
My first rule of shopping online is find a coupon code. If I find one and they restrict me from using I I sometimes end up not buying the item and shop around for other deals.
me too!! I’ll find a place that has a better deal or discount. It’s a mind set that I need to save money!
Great tips. I love using coupons. Although our stores don’t always accept them. Which frustrates me. Especially manufactures coupons. I always search online for coupons before I Shop online though. BIG help.
I have yet to use coupons. Thanks for the tips. I really need to learn how to do this!
These are all great tips! I am new to couponing and these are very informative
A very interesting post. Look forward to seeing you again next Thirsty for Comments Thursday.
These are some excellent tips to save money. With the economy the way it is right now, making sure I am a smart shopper is incredibly important.
Hey, Sherryl, my family and I are in Somerset! That’s one thing I miss about living in a bigger city (one of the few things-lol), is the lack of coupon inserts etc. So I’m glad to have people like you who share your knowledge on the internet.
Have a great weekend!
One of these days I will start using coupons, rebates etc. I tend to forget them when going out shopping–or even to put the code in when ordering on line (but not as frequently). Money can definitely be saved by using them—–now how do I get myself to remember!!
You have a bunch of great savings tips here, great article! A few coupons can quickly add up to enough to afford a dinner out one evening or some extra gas for the car! 🙂
I used to coupon shop when my son was young…he’s 26 now. I am thinking about getting back into it, there are so many people and places to help one now. My husband and I are both on disability so we can use all the help we can get. My problem is, there are so many site offering help that I don’t know where to start.
Great tips. I need to start using rebates!
Thanks for the great tips. I have never used rebates and didn’t know that Office Depot had free shipping over $50. I really need to start couponing! 🙂
I never thought to look for coupons when shopping online. When I get an email with a code or special deal I use it but looking for deals before buying is something I’m going to start doing. Thanks for all these tips.
I love free shipping and took advantage of them last Christmas. Oh, I hate fine prints. I wanted to learn couponing quick but I think I still am not that good. I always forget to buy Sunday papers. Gee.
Where can I get these online coupons Ms. Sherryl?
Texas is such an easy state to live and run a direct sales business or really anything to do with buying online and running an online company or doing reviews. I appreciate your info on couponing. I am not a coupon user per say, but when I see a great deal, I grab it!
Great post with awesome suggestions! I have never thought to do a search online for coupon codes!
Julia @ Mom on the Run x2
I too don’t buy anything online without searching for coupons first. My son learned that the hard way this past holiday season when we were both ordering the same product as a gift and I had told him to look for a coupon first. He did not and was so upset when he saw that I had received $15 off.
Great tips! Thank you.