How To Coupon: Save Big With This Beginner-Friendly Guide
Written by
Jami Farkas
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
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Saving money on groceries, household essentials and even dining out is easier than you might think — and you don’t have to be an extreme couponer to do it. Couponing is a simple, effective way to cut everyday costs and keep more money in your pocket. This beginner’s guide will show you how to find, organize and use coupons to lower your everyday costs.
How To Coupon: A Beginner’s Guide
Most people usually think of a coupon as a printed ad that can be cut out to get a discount on products or services. Savers typically clip printed manufacturers’ coupons from newspapers, magazines and flyers they receive in the mail to save money at store checkouts.
Today, though, couponing is often done digitally, making it even easier to save.
With the change in the coupon landscape, is it still worth it? Do you actually save money?
Yes — and learning how to coupon isn’t difficult. It does require some organizational skills and a little time commitment each week to set up a system for gathering, sorting and using them.
There are two main ways to coupon:
- Paper couponing
- Digital couponing
Paper Couponing vs. Digital Couponing: What’s the Difference?
Here’s a side-by-side look at the differences between paper and digital couponing.
| Detail | Paper Couponing | Digital Couponing |
|---|---|---|
| Where to find | Newspapers, weekly ads and store receipts | Store apps and coupon sites |
| How to use | Present the clipped coupon at checkout | Load to your app or loyalty card |
| Organization | Physical system like an accordion file or binder | Track clipped offers using a notebook or apps |
| Advantage | No internet or devices needed to redeem | Easy access and no need for cutting paper |
| Drawback | Time-consuming to cut, organize and carry | Easy to forget digital clips without reminders |
Paper Couponing
How To Find Paper Coupons
You can find paper coupons in the following places:
- Sunday papers: They contain “books” filled with coupons to clip, primarily for groceries and household items, such as cleaners and detergents.
- Weekly store ads: Your local grocery store ads, often found in the Sunday newspaper, sometimes contain coupons to clip. The circulars generally are available at the store’s entrance.
- In-store coupons: Your supermarket might have a machine located near the entrance that dispenses coupons if you swipe your store loyalty card. These can contain offers for everyone or ones specifically catered to you.
- Checkout coupons: When you pay for your groceries, the store clerk might hand you some paper coupons along with your receipt, and those could include offers based on what you just bought.
- In the mail: Depending on where you live and your local stores, your weekday mail could contain some great deals.
- Online coupons: These are available on a variety of websites that you can download and print.
Organizing Your Paper Coupons
Once you’ve clipped, you’ll need to organize all of your snips. They don’t do you any good sitting in a pile on the kitchen table. Here are some methods to help you with your organization.
- Use an accordion file and label by category.
- Set up a coupon binder with plastic sleeves.
Pro Tip
Sort your coupons regularly and highlight those expiring within the next 10 days to 14 days. Set aside a special section in your binder or accordion file to track coupons that are about to expire.
Digital Couponing
How To Find Digital Coupons
You can locate digital savings in the following places:
- Store websites and apps, such as grocery stores, Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc.
- Coupon-specific websites.
Using Digital Coupons
Using digital coupons is a simple process. Here are the steps:
- “Clip” the coupon digitally to your store account.
- Present your loyalty card or phone number at checkout.
- Savings will be automatically applied.
Good To Know
A coupon journal can help track your digital savings:
- Create pages by product type.
- List the brand, store and expiration date.
- Cross off used or expired coupons.
9 Tips for Better Couponing
Keep these quick tips in mind when you are couponing to make the most of your savings:
- Know the store’s coupon policy:
- Understand the stacking rules, digital policies and loyalty program requirements.
- Utilize a coupon database:
- Coupon databases like Rakuten and Coupons.com can save you time and money because they house a large assortment of the latest coupons. You can even search for the discounts you want.
- Buy in bulk when it makes sense:
- Look for BOGO coupons and take advantage of stores that allow multiple coupon uses.
- Match your shopping list with expiring coupons:
- Plan your purchases around coupons that are about to expire.
- Buy only what you need:
- A good deal can turn into wasted money if the product goes unused.
- Stack coupons when allowed:
- Combine manufacturer and store coupons when store policy allows.
- Read the fine print:
- Read the coupon requirements to be sure you have the right size and quantity.
- Don’t overpay just to use a coupon:
- Compare sale prices carefully to avoid spending more even with a coupon.
- Use a coupon calculator:
- Use a coupon calculator to find the best deal when choosing between percentage-off and dollar-off coupons.
Top Couponing Apps
- Coupons.com: Access digital and printable coupons for your favorite stores.
- Rakuten: Earn cash back while you shop and find deals easily.
- Ibotta: Save on groceries and everyday items with simple rebates.
Final Take
Learning how to coupon can lead to real savings. Even saving $10 a week adds up to over $500 per year — real money you can use toward an emergency fund, down payment or even small investments. Start with just one new couponing habit this week and build from there.
Quick-Start Couponing Checklist
- Sign up for store loyalty programs to score digital coupons and rewards.
- Download coupon apps to access deals anywhere, anytime.
- Set up a tracking system — paper binder, digital spreadsheet, etc.
- Set a small weekly savings goal to build momentum.
- Read the store’s coupon policies to know the rules before you shop.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding couponing.- What is the trick to couponing?
- There are many tricks to couponing including knowing where to find coupons such as newspapers or websites, how to organize them and when to use them to get the most bang for your buck.
- How do extreme couponers get their coupons?
- Extreme couponers primarily get their coupons through print sources such as store ads, newspapers or in the mail. These savers often shop with a binder filled with plastic sleeves containing hundreds of paper coupons.
- Can you really save money couponing?
- Yes, you can really save money couponing if you are willing to put the time in to collect and organize them. You can collect them physically through store ads, newspapers, at the grocery store or visit coupon sites to download them.
- How do beginners start couponing?
- Beginners can start by collecting coupons from newspapers, store ads or online apps. Organize them in a binder or use store loyalty apps to easily access digital coupons.
- How do people do extreme couponing?
- Extreme couponers use binders to organize hundreds of coupons and stack deals by combining manufacturer and store coupons. They buy in bulk and watch for expiration dates.
Caitlyn Moorhead, Cynthia Measom and Kathy Evans contributed to the reporting for this article.
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- Coupon Follow. 2022. "Coupon Statistics: Usage Behavior Shifts 2020 to 2021."
