For decades, coupons have helped shoppers save money on groceries and household items. But the number of ways to find them has grown in recent years.
Now, discounts are available almost everywhere, including inboxes, websites and smartphone apps. Here’s how to get coupons, in both paper and digital form.
1. Shop at stores with rewards programs
Enroll in rewards programs or sign up for the mailing list for the retailers you frequent most. Many stores send returning customers exclusive coupons or apply discounts automatically during checkout.
“Those are savings that you’re going to get without doing a thing except for swiping your card,” says Cindy Livesey, frugal-living expert from coupon website Living Rich With Coupons. Livesey says coupons have saved her family about $11,000 a year, on average, on groceries.
Be prepared: Retailers may flood your inbox with messages or use your information, such as demographics and shopping habits, for marketing purposes. Depending on your email service, you may be able to divert messages into a separate inbox to manage the volume. Also, check the retailer website for a “do not sell my information” link, and also customize the internet cookies you accept.
2. Install a browser extension
When shopping online, use a browser extension to track down discounts on your behalf.
These extensions, like Honey typically locate coupons and automatically apply the codes to your cart, so you can save money without putting in extra work.
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3. Ask for manufacturer coupons
If you favor certain brands, contact the companies directly. They’ll often send manufacturer coupons or samples when you provide feedback (or simply request them). As a plus, you can use a manufacturer's coupon at any store that sells the featured product, barring exclusions.
Look for a “contact us” link on the company’s website. This should direct you to an email form, live chat feature, customer service phone number or mailing address. Another option? Leave a comment on the brand’s social media page.
4. Search a coupon database or app
Coupon databases are websites that compile printable and digital coupons, including rebates. You can use them to search deals by brand, product or store and save time. Search “coupon database” on Google to get started. For on-the-go savings, try a free coupon app.
5. Visit retailer websites and apps
If you plan to purchase an item, check retailer websites first. Most major merchants have a weekly ad, coupon or offers section online. Or you might see a limited-time discount code on the homepage or a banner ad.
Livesey recommends downloading apps for the stores you shop at regularly. Some, like TargetCircle, have features that make it easy to find store and manufacturer coupons in one place.
6. Check the Sunday newspaper
While you’re catching up on current events, look for coupon inserts in your local or national newspaper. These often feature coupons for food as well as personal care items. The Sunday edition usually contains $50 to $300 worth of savings, Livesey says. Typically, larger or more expensive publications will have bigger inserts with higher-value coupons, she says.
Before you pay extra for a subscription, make sure it’s worthwhile. You might be able to get access to newspapers through friends, businesses and other sources free of charge. Free papers often have coupons, too.
6. Pick up weekly ads at the store
Watch for weekly circulars on display near the front doors or registers. These might include store-specific offers that you can redeem immediately or during a future shopping trip.
8. Look at the product packaging
Some discounts hide in plain sight at the grocery store. Inspect items, like meat and cereal, for a peel-off coupon attached to the box or packaging. You could get instant savings.
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9. Browse store aisles
Don’t see a voucher on the product itself? Check shelves and other locations in the store.
“Usually when they have a new product coming out, they’ll put a display with a tearpad on there enticing you to get that product,” Livesey says. Don’t let a good deal tempt you to buy something unnecessarily, though.
10. Check your receipts
Take a close look at your receipt after every transaction. Some stores print coupons on the back. The cashier might also hand over a few extra slips of paper printed from a machine next to the register. These offers, known as Catalina coupons, are usually based on shopping habits. For example, if you buy a toothbrush, you may receive a voucher for toothpaste.
11. Use social media
Follow social media accounts for stores, brands and products you like. Many share coupon codes on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
No matter where you find coupons, be sure to read the fine print and familiarize yourself with store policies.
Couponing doesn’t require spending your Sunday cutting newspapers into tiny squares. But, for beginners, couponing can be overwhelming to dive in without having a plan. Even those who’ve used coupons for a while can benefit from a more organized approach.
From finding a coupon database to making a shopping list, here’s how to save money with coupons.
1. 'Stack' store and manufacturer's coupons
There are two major kinds of coupons that you should know about:
Store coupons are issued by a specific retailer and can only be used at those locations. Likely, you’ll find these in the newspaper (the Sunday paper usually has the most coupons), in retailers’ online apps or flyers in the mail. Look for “store coupon” in the fine print.
Manufacturer’s coupons are issued by the company that makes the product, and can be used at any retailer that accepts them.
The best scenario is using a store coupon and manufacturer’s coupon together to get an even deeper discount. This is called “coupon stacking” and it can save you big at the register.
2. Find a coupon database or a browser extension
Downloading the apps from your favorite retailers can get you access to digital coupons that you can “clip” on your phone, saving you the chore of having to present a stack of paper coupons at the register.
Another option? Coupon databases are websites that aggregate coupons in one place, so it’s easy to find deals, says Jenny Martin, the writer behind frugal-living website Southern Savers. Search online for the words “coupon database” to find one you like. Some databases allow you to search by coupon type — like a printable, newspaper insert or mobile coupon.
If you don’t feel like searching through a coupon database, consider installing a browser extension, which will do the work of finding coupons and discount codes while you shop online.
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3. Read the fine print
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting to the register to find out the great deal you thought you were getting is not valid or redeemable.
Read the fine print of the coupon: Check redemption requirements, for example what size bottle of orange juice qualifies for the coupon, and whether there's a limit on the number of items per coupon.
If you find a good deal and want to redeem multiple coupons, you’ll need a separate one for each item you buy. There also may be a limit as to how many of each coupon you can use per transaction.
4. Learn your store’s coupon policy
Coupon policies vary, so look up your local store’s rules. Martin says you can usually find these online, or go in person and ask.
Here’s what to pay attention to, according to Martin:
Can you double a coupon? Some stores will double your coupon, up to a certain threshold. That means if you have a 50-cents-off coupon, the store will take $1 off.
Do you need to join the loyalty program? You may need to create a loyalty program account with the store and scan your rewards card in order to claim some coupons or access deals. Combining coupons with store loyalty deals can help savings add up.
Once you learn your store’s policies and start shopping there regularly, you might realize that you are more in tune with its sales cycles. This will allow you to stock up on things, like your favorite cereal, when they’re on sale because you know they’re likely not going back on sale until next month.
5. Make a shopping list and use apps for more savings
Know which products you plan to buy so you can find coupons that match. An app like Anylist can help keep you organized. It allows you to create shareable grocery lists that you or other family members can edit, and organizes the list based on categories like dairy, pasta or produce to help you shop efficiently. There are also free apps that let you digitally clip coupons for products that are on your list.
And check out cash-back apps, like Fetch or Ibotta, that allow you to upload receipts and earn rewards or rebates for the purchase of featured products. The can amplify your savings further.
6. Use coupons strategically
Don’t use coupons solely because you find them, which could mean you're buying unnecessary items. And be sure to check whether there's an alternative that's cheaper than your coupon deal, such as a store brand or sale item.
Pay attention to annual sale cycles, and look for coupons to amplify savings. For example, school supply sales begin mid-summer. You can save even more if you are gathering coupons for pens, pencils, notebooks and so on leading up to those sales — but keep an eye on the coupons' expiration dates.
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7. Buy in bulk
When you find a good sale, buy a few of the items — if you know you’ll use all of them before they expire. Items that are particularly good for buying in bulk are nonperishable goods (e.g., canned goods, rice, flour, pasta), personal care items (e.g., shampoo, conditioner, soap) and other household items (e.g., toilet paper, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies).
Creating a small stockpile allows you to dictate how much you pay — rather than letting the retailer dictate, according to Cindy Livesey, frugal-living expert from coupon website Living Rich With Coupons. For instance, if you run out of toilet paper, you’ll pay the current price. But if you have a few extra packages on hand, you can monitor prices and time your purchase accordingly.
This strategy can be especially important in times of inflation. If you can score a good deal on items you know you will use, that insulates you from price increases in the coming months.
8. Start small
Martin recommends browsing your store’s ad and picking 10 items that are on sale. Then, pair coupons with these items. Finally, head to the store.
“It’s kind of setting you up for a small win, which is a great way to get started,” Martin says. “You got your 10 items, you used all of your coupons, you saw that the store didn’t treat you horribly — and they took everything. And you saw how much you saved, and that’s the best part.”