I’m always on the hunt for a good coupon or discount. I’ve used coupons for almost everything — from the expected items such as groceries and clothing, to the unexpected purchase, like paying for a parking spot. Most people know the traditional ways to find coupons such as the newspaper inserts or printing coupons online. Here are some methods you might not have considered in your quest to discover a coupon.
1. The library: Your library might offer a box with recent newspaper coupon inserts that anyone can take, or people can leave coupons they don’t plan to use. If your library doesn’t have a coupon box, ask if you could create one.
2. The cashier: Occasionally people aren’t able to use a coupon, so they will leave it with the cashier for someone else to use. You may find coupons both at the grocery store and retail stores by asking the cashier if there are any coupons available. Also, the cashier might know of a discount you could receive by text or email that you could sign up for before you purchase. Always ask the cashier before checking out if there are any additional available discounts or coupons.
3. Your receipt: On the back or at the bottom of receipts, some stores will provide a coupon for your next shopping trip or even for a different store (grocery stores do this). At the bottom of the receipt, sometimes there is a link to fill out a short online survey to receive a coupon.
4. Friends/neighbors: If there is a certain product you like or store you frequent, ask your neighbors or friends for coupons they are not using. Some people hate for a coupon to go to waste and would pass it along if they knew someone else wanted it.
5. On the product: Sometimes a coupon is stuck on the product you’re purchasing, and you can use it when you check out. Be sure to peel it off because the cashier might not notice it. The coupon might only be on select products, so make sure you grab the product with the coupon on it. If you are unable to use a coupon, leave it next to the product so others can snatch it up.
6. Coupon dispenser: Sometimes there are coupon dispensers next to the product. If you don’t plan to purchase the product that day, you can take the coupon for your next shopping trip because the coupons are usually valid for a few weeks.
7. Your phone: Some stores will give you a coupon for checking into the store Wi-Fi (Kohl’s, for example). You also can sign up for text messages or email alerts from stores to receive coupons. When you receive these discounts, all you have to do is show your coupon on your phone. Some stores will allow you to add coupon codes to your phone, which creates a barcode to scan at checkout. For example, you can add a 30 percent off code to the Kohl’s app on your phone, and then you don’t have to remember to bring the coupon with you.
Find Local Coupons Online
You can find printable coupons at:
Coupons.com
Redplum.com
Smartsource.com
Kelloggs.com
Mambosprouts.com
Some of these websites offer a program where you can add the coupons directly to your store card without needing to print them out. SmartSource and RedPlum offer coupon inserts in the Sunday newspaper.
Cheryl Maguire holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology. She is the mother of twins and a daughter. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05.
