In today's edition of Coupon School, I'll tell you about where to find coupons. There's more out there than just the ones in the newspaper! Here we go:
Newspaper inserts: When people thing of coupons, they think of their moms sitting at the kitchen table with the Sunday paper, cutting out coupons. This is the most convenient way to get a variety of coupons. If you don't have a subscription to the paper, you'll also be able to get inserts from papers you buy from the drugstore, grocery store or gas station. If you plan on couponing long-term, spring for a subscription; it's much cheaper.
Coupon websites: There are 3 main websites for printable coupons (often referred to as IPs for Internet Printable): Coupons.com, SmartSource, and RedPlum. They have TONS of coupons, and new ones pop up all the time. You have to download and install software from these sites in order to print. You can generally get 2 of each coupon, so you can get more if you've got access to more than 1 computer. Tip: since coupon campaigns are sometimes limited to specific areas in the country, change your ZIP Code a few times while selecting coupons to print. For example, I put in my ZIP, but I also use ZIPs for Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, L.A., New York, and a few other large cities. The coupons you've already selected will still print and you might find some deals you couldn't find otherwise.
Facebook: Facebook is being used by more and more companies to give away coupons, as well as free samples. Make sure you "like" any products or companies you buy from so you find out about them. These coupons are usually put out by either Coupons.com or SmartSource, so you'll probably get 2 prints of each coupon (hit the back button after it prints to get the scond one). Sometimes companies put out PDF files of their coupons. If that's the case, save the file to your hard drive and print it as many times as you want!
Company websites: Lots of companies put out IPs on their websites. Like on Facebook, visit the websites of companies that make the things you like to purchase and see if they have coupons available (there's usually a link on the main page). You might also be able to subscribe to emails that send out more coupons as well.
Tearpads: These coupons are put next to a product and resemble a big stack of Post-It notes. You don't have to use them when you take them, and you don't have to use them in the store you got them from (unless the coupon specifically says "Store Coupon"). You can save them for when you find a really good price on that item. Tearpad etiquette: 1) Only take coupons for things you'll actually use. 2) Take a REASONABLE amount of coupons and leave the rest for everyone else. I would call 10 reasonable, but you might think more or less is okay. Whatever you do, don't be the jerk who takes the whole stack. I will hate you.
"Blinkies": These are much like tearpads, but you find them in little dispensers at most grocery stores and some drugstores. They get this cutesy name from the fact that the dispensers have little red blinking lights to get your attention on them. Blinkie etiquette: same as tearpad etiquette.
"Peelies": Another cutesy name, these coupons are attached directly to products. There's no rule that you have to use the coupon on the day you buy the product. Now, some people are fine with taking peelies off products that they're not buying. I am NOT. I think it's messed up to take peelies off products and I get really annoyed when I see there WAS a coupon on something, but now it's gone. The only exception I make to this rule of mine is if I'm buying another product in the same family. For example, if there are peelies for $1 off Juicy Juice on the big 64 oz. bottles, but I want to buy a pack of juiceboxes, I will probably take the coupon. Alas, this is all one big ethical gray area that has not been addressed by the Supreme Court or another governing body, so we'll have to stick to the Golden Rule. Would you be pissed if someone had taken an awesome coupon from you? If so, don't steal peelies; if not, then you're probably a thief and I am watching you.
All You magazine: This magazine's only available at Walmart or by subscription. I got a year of magazines for $15 during my niece's Girl Scout magazine sale, but you might be able to find a better deal online. It's SO worth it to have this magazine even if you're only getting it for the discounts. There's $50 worth or more of coupons in every issue. You'll get unusual coupons, too, like the $10/1 Foodsaver vacuum sealer that was in November's issue.
Other magazines: Several women's magazines (Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Family Fun, Parenting, Parents) usually have a handful of coupons in them each month. Probably not worth getting a subscription if you won't read the magazine, but don't forget to check the ads before you throw away an issue. Sometimes you'll get something great:
Family Fun &
Parenting's October issues had a $10/1 Thomas & Friends Early Engineers playset coupon. I managed to get my son a train set at Target for $7 this way.
eBay* & coupon clipping services: If you want 10-20 insert coupons but don't want to buy that many papers, you can buy them off eBay or through a coupon clipping service. One service I can recommend is My Coupon Hunter, because they have a lot of selection and delivery was really quick. If you go the eBay route, always check the shipping costs. You might be paying $2 for 20 dog food coupons, but the shipping could be $5. If you don't want to wait around on an auction, click the "Buy It Now" tab to narrow your search results. I try to look for sellers who offer free shipping or charge about .50.
The mail: You know the big bundle of ads you get near the beginning of the week, the ones wrapped around the grocery ads? Don't toss them until you read them! I've found great coupons for Lean Cuisines, Colgate toothpaste, and Skinny Cow ice cream in them.
* A word of warning: DO NOT buy preprinted IPs from a reseller. These coupons have a lot of fraud prevention features printed into them (special barcodes, text, pictures, etc.). These coupons might be legit, but they might not be, and if the retailer calls you on it, things might get uncomfortable. There are also people out there who try to make fake coupons, and I don't want you caught up in all that. Coupon fraud is a lame way to end up in prison.
