Today I got a question from a reader (WOOHOO!):
"Where do you find most of your printable coupons? We need to start doing that."
Well, you would link there would be 1 short answer, but there isn't. Not from me, anyway.
Grocery Coupons
For grocery coupons, a great place to start is www.coupons.com. There, you can print 2 of each coupon, and sign-up for an email reminder so they can tell you when new coupons are available. You can also sign-up for coupon notifications through http://www.freecouponalerts.com/ to notify you when coupons are available from various sources. Check your Sunday paper, too, if you get one.
If there are certain brands you are loyal to, I would go to their websites and sign-up for email newsletters, too.
Some people also swear by the following websites, too:
www.SmartSource.com
www.RedPlum.com
Store Coupons
If there are stores you frequent, it is in your best interest to sign up fr their email newsletters. Be sure to check your favorite stores for rewards programs, too - most are free, and for stores like Target and Staples you can use coupons WITH your rewards to take advantage of the deepest discounts. Remember to check the store's website for coupons before going on a shopping trip - they don't always email you everything, and just because there is a coupon in the Sunday newspaper flyer, doesn't mean the coupon is in the flyer available at the store.
Some stores like Walgreens and BJ's have coupons in the store only. Always check on your way into a store to see if they have a rack near the door with available coupons.
Restaurant Coupons
Similar to store coupons, I would visit the website and sign-up for email newsletters for any restaurant or casual eatery you visit often. There are many rewards programs available in this category, too, and once you're on the list, you're usually in it until you unsubscribe. Check the Sunday newspaper, too, if you get it - you can usually find coupons there for places like Subway, Uno's, Smokey Bones, Weathervane, Outback, Olive Garden, Papa Gino's, D'Angelo's and more!
Clothes Coupons
My best recommendation here is to sign-up for the store's email newsletter, and when you get coupons, shop the clearance rack unless your coupon tells you otherwise. You can find great deals at Target and Old Navy just to name a few. Clothes is one of those things we don't grow out of very often, so I try to stretch this budget as much as I can by wearing things until they are worn out. For kid's clothes, I look for hand-me-downs and offers on www.freecycle.org since the kids grow out of them so fast.
Gift Cards
Another great way to save money is to cut back on Christmas spending and use that extra money to buy gift cards. MANY stores and restaurants offer some sort of bonus when you purchase a gift card during the holidays. For instance, T-Bones usually offers $5 bonus for every $25 in gift cards purchased, Weathervane usually offer 20% off at some point during the holiday season - 2 offers I can think of off the top of my head. If you get gift cards for several people during the holidays, see if you can find 1 source for all of them so you can build up the number of "bonus" gift cards you get, and save them for date night!
Last year I took advantage of a GREAT deal from Papa John's. Every Friday we order pizza for dinner. We don't go out to eat very often, so this is our "treat". They offered a free pizza with every $25 gift card purchased. Knowing we buy pizza every Friday throughout the year, I basically pre-bought $400-worth of pizza by buying gift cards. Sounds crazy, but it got me 16 free pizzas! I used the free pizza vouchers, gift cards, and BOGO Free coupon code when ordering online, AND their carry-out club punch card (program is now discontinued) and didn't pay for pizza for the fist 10 months of the year!
Another way to save money with gifts cards is to buy them through www.plasticjungle.com or www.cardpool.com where you can buy discounted gift cards. Just beware that when you buy from these websites, cards with odd amounts are probably a store credit and not a nice gift card you can give as a gift. Still if you buy the discounted gift cards, you can use them as you do your holiday shopping.
Entertainment Coupons
If you still want to enjoy life and not spend WAY too much, you may be looking for entertainment coupons. There are several sources for these - probably many out there are unknown and hardly used. First, if you are planning a visit to a specific place, visit their website and look for coupons or specials. You can also find coupons for local entertainment at www.valpak.com. You can buy an annual Fun Pass if you live in New England and get discount to so many New England attractions - usually it pays for itself easily.
Although these may clog up your email a little, you may find great deals by subscribing to email lists from
Groupon
Living Social
Amazon Local
Half Off Depot
The above websites will ask you to choose what you are interested in, so they can send you deals of goods and services based on you location.
Don't forget to check your local library for passes to many local museums, etc. It's not just for kids!
There is more information I could give you, but this is a great way to start, and I am just hoping I didn't overwhelm you. Best of luck!
