A Guide for Grabbing Coupon Codes
Couponing 101: How to Get into the Habit and Culture of Saving with Promo Codes?
If you are keen on saving a few extra bucks the next time you go shopping online, you need to learn how to grab and use coupons first. In the beginning, it might seem a daunting task, as there’s no dearth of coupon websites, and the sad part is, that most of these coupons are bogus! Yes, you read that right. Most of these coupons are already invalid, or the site you are visiting is itself just a big scam. I’m going to tell you how to find and use the best promo codes for online shopping! Sit tight!
Offline Coupons Are Still a Thing
Let’s get to the basics first. Of course, there are printed coupons, the ones we have always clipped, cut, and collected from Sunday newspapers. I imagine some of you are already familiar with this cultural phenomenon that has pretty much defined our consumer culture, particularly those who are from the USA, for the last 130 years.
And then, there are those manufacturer coupons from every big company you could ever think of – Colgate, Tide, Bounty, you name it. Although these coupons are offered by manufacturers themselves, you can redeem them at leading stores and supermarkets like Walmart or Target, something which doubles the fun of grocery shopping for me.
So, if you use a Tide coupon at your nearest Costco store, P&G or the manufacturing company will reimburse it for you. My two cents, always create deals-specific email addresses so you don’t get bombarded with promotional emails on your primary address but still get the daily deals.
There Are More Ways to Save with Coupons Than You Thought
First off, never miss out on store-specific coupons or the loyalty promotional codes. These are the coupon codes you will come across most often. Your favorite store might have an app of its own for you to get these deals on the go.
Make sure you also sign up with your email and receive “rewards” points as you shop. Always ask the cashier at your favorite store about any rewards program they might have. Chances are high that they will have one.
Rebate or discount coupons are my personal favorite though. You just need to cash in on special deals after making a purchase. Here’s what I do in such scenarios. After buying a product (or service) online, I save the receipt somewhere. I then check out the rebates page of the online store and upload the receipt if the option is available. 8 out of 10 times, I have been able to score something.
Barcode coupons come in two types. First, there are scannable digital coupons that you can scan online and get a discount. It’s that easy!
On the other hand, there are digital coupons that you can print and redeem.
Where Can You Find the Best Coupons to Save Money Shopping Online?
Now that you know about the different types of coupons you can use online and offline, let’s talk about the best places to get coupons for online shopping. As you already know, Sunday morning newspaper inserts are some of the most common coupons you will still bump into.
So, don’t just toss these papers straight into the trash bin and make sure you read the offers (and fine print) to get the deals from your nearest stores. Did I mention Catalinas or the long thin coupons that grocery stores often hand out? Yes, they’re still a thing too.
But how do you max out your savings online? First off, search for your favorite stores in the Google Play store or the Apple App marketplace. Some of the biggest stores such as Kroger and Walgreens are reputable for their app-only offers, and I’m sure you don’t want to miss out on these crazy exclusive deals.
Secondly, search for category-specific deals websites. Sites like SoftoGeek, for example, only feature deals on software products from some of the industry leaders like AOMEI and BitDefender. There are also plenty of coupon sites where you can find codes on fashion and makeup products, home appliances, groceries, and whatnot.
Always try to be niche-specific while searching online as will take the hassle out of searching the entire internet for a coupon applicable only to a specific type of product, category, or brand. Of course, sites like Amazon have a world of benefits, such as reordering benefits that you cannot find on these smaller websites. But that’s the trade-off.
Also, you should join their free loyalty programs right after downloading an app and signing up. Yes, it works wonders! Thank me later.
Do Not Forget to Check out your Inbox
Admit it, we are all guilty of unknowingly signing up for almost unwanted email alerts from retailers. However, some of these emails might just be pretty useful, as they contain the deals and coupons you might be yearning for. So browse your inbox every morning very carefully. Also, remember the pro tip? It always makes sense to create and use a separate email address from your primary one to use during shopping.
Check Out Cashback and Rebate Apps
If you are still not using cashback and rebate apps like Shopkick or Ibotta, you are probably making the biggest mistake. Each of these rebate and cashback apps might have its limits and rules, but these are not too complicated to jump through.
Also, you can use multiple rebate apps on the same purchase. Just make sure you read the conditions thoroughly before you do that. I always use my credit card while shopping on cashback sites because I can double up on the rewards almost all the time. The merchant offering the cashback is the first reward I get. And then, my credit card issuing bank also sends some sweet reward points my way.
Learn How to Stack Coupons Online
This is what I always do, so let me introduce you to the idea first. While shopping online, look for deals on existing sales, free shipping, and exclusive coupons that are sent to your email. Mark or star these emails, so you can go back to the offers just when you need them.
Use a VPN
If you are not doing it already, get a VPN first, and take advantage of lower pricing in other countries. Sounds weird? Well, it works, as companies have country-specific pricing. So for example, if you are shopping from the USA and you access a shopping site from a Singapore IP, you might see deals and discounts, not to mention a lower price, on some of your favorite products.
Now how do you deal with the geographical barrier when it comes to making the payment? Get a virtual card from a trans-border payment company like Wise or make the payment via PayPal.
I was searching for a software product from my home in Europe, but when I turned my VPN on and set the location to Mongolia, I got a cool deal and saved a couple of bucks. Using a VPN is completely legal, so that you know. Check this VPN comparison chart for more info on the top rated VPN services.
Grow the Habit of Couponing
As a parting advice, always try looking for cashback offers and coupon codes around holiday seasons, such as Christmas. Companies know that people spend more on low-cost items and less on high-dollar products around these seasons, and you can see some record-setting deals as December approaches.
In 2023 alone, Cyber Monday retail sales reached a staggering USD 12.4 billion, almost 10% up from the previous year. Mastercard retail sales also grew by 2.4% around Black Friday last year. These figures speak volumes about where the money is heading in the retail world. Start grabbing these time-bound deals and discounts from as early as October. Wait, why not from now?
