A penny saved is a penny earned. This is true, and one of the best ways to save money is by using coupons. It is only a matter of knowing where to find them, and you can get discounts for stuff that you already buy.
Most people think that they can only get coupons for big ticket items. This is not true. Most manufacturers, distributors, and retailers offer coupons online. Even those who do dropshipping business offer coupons.
Why? They want you as a customer, and they are willing to earn smaller profits than usual. In exchange, they can get volume of sales.
Today, you will learn some tips and tricks to help you save money. On top of the 13 best coupon websites that we will show you, we will tell you how to use coupons effectively.
Things to Know Before You Get Started
The first thing you have to do is to get organized. What does this mean?
You cannot just get coupons randomly because you saw them online or in magazines. For example, a coupon for a laptop is not something that you need. To get organized, you have to list down the things that you are buying on a regular basis.
The things you need are:
- Notebook – list down the usual prices of the products that you buy. This list is your base price. What you want is to get coupons which, when used, would reduce the price of the items as listed on your notebook. If you want, you can use a spreadsheet, too.
- Purse – the purse is where you will store your coupons. Even if you get coupons from websites, some establishments only accept printed versions. Use the purse to store all your coupons.
The next step is to understand the different terms used in the couponing world. If you understand the terms, you will not make mistakes, and you will not make assumptions.
Here are the most common terms used in couponing:
Coupon Code
A coupon code is only applicable online. You use the code when you checkout from an online store. The code is usually programmed to be only valid for a certain time. These codes, when used, will no longer work the next time you use them. To use a coupon code, just enter the code in the space provided for on the checkout page.
Store Coupons
Store coupons usually have this label at the top. What this means is that you can only avail of the promotion from specific stores (labeled on the coupon). So, if the coupon is for a McDonald’s located in Salinas, California, you cannot use that in any other McDonald’s store.
Cash Back
This type of coupon does not give you a discount. Instead, you receive a percentage of your money back. The cash is credited to you after your purchase, and the calculation is done before taxes and other charges.
Usually, the cashback is given to your online account, not in physical cash. From your account, you can initiate a withdrawal to your bank or debit card, or use the cashback to make other purchases.
Expiration Dates
All coupons expire. Pretty much, marketers use this to make you buy now. Read the expiration date at the back of the coupon. Expired coupons will no longer be accepted.
In-Store Cash Back
This works in the same way as the cash back we discussed earlier, but this can only be redeemed from brick-and-mortar stores. Most cash backs happen for credit or debit card transactions only. It is rare to see a promotion where a cashier will actually hand you out money.
Manufacturer’s Coupons
This is a kind of coupon that comes from the manufacturer. Usually, coupons like this are applicable to any product manufactured by the same company. For example, if Johnson & Johnsons have a coupon, you can use that coupon for baby lotions or other products of the same company.
Printable Manufacturer Coupons
These are coupons from manufacturers that you can print. These coupons are tracked, so you cannot print an endless supply. Now that you know the most common terms used in couponing, we can proceed with the 13 best websites where you can find coupons.
The 13 Best Coupon Websites to Save You the Most Money
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks does not only offer coupons, you can also get free gift cards. Every day, the company gives out more than 7,000 gift cards.
Over the years, Swagbucks has helped consumers save more than $400 million. The company also has a point system where you do things on the internet and you get rewarded with points.
Examples of these activities are:
- Watch videos
- Answer surveys
- Do web research
- Find great deals
You have to accumulate these points so you can convert them into a gift card. You can use the gift card in Amazon, Walmart, or transfer the money as cash to your PayPal account.
The way it works is simple. You have to sign up for an account and start doing the items above. You can also play games, do some shopping at their partner sites, or answer some questions.
Swagbucks has an app, and this should make it easier for you to track your current points, or find things to do. For shopping, Swagbucks has around 1,500 online retailer partners. If you shop from these partners, you will earn Swagbucks points or SB points.
2. RetailMeNot
This website is an online discount site. It has cashback, deals, and coupons. It has an online community here you can find out of the coupons actually work. Even retailers can post their coupons here. Like Swagbucks, this one has an app.
The company has more than 130,000 partners—these are retailers that post coupons on the website. Unlike Swagbucks, you do not have to earn points. Here, the coupon is directly accessible. All you have to do is to browse the website and look for something you like.
If you find one, just copy the code and use it upon checkout on the retailer’s website. RetailMeNot has a lot to offer—you can get coupons for food, clothing, and more.
Here are some examples of stores where you can get coupons:
- Kohl’s
- Papa John’s
- Amazon
- Converse
- Bed, Bath, and Beyond
- Agoda
The site offers online coupons, in-store coupons, and even cash back offers. The cash back offers are from other retailers such as Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, and more.
3. Coupons.Com
This is by far the largest website giving out coupons in the United States. You will be Amazed at the sheer number of coupons you can find here.
There are three types of coupons you can find here—printable, digital, and coupon codes. To make your search easier, just use the menu at the top of the website.
The website also provides a drop down by category to make your coupon hunting easier. You can filter the categories so you will only see coupons for your specific needs.
Here are the categories:
- Apparel
- Baby
- Beverages
- Per Care
- Flowers
- Health Care
- Household
- Foods
- Toys and Games
- Personal Care
- Travel
- Credit card offers
With the exception of the coupon codes, you have to print the coupons that you want to use. What you have to do is to scroll down the pages, add the coupons, and then print them all.
For the digital coupons, you have to do your shopping first, upload the receipt on the website, and you will receive a cashback.
4. Rakuten
This company used to be called eBates. The Rakuten network is not just a couponing company, but also an affiliate marketing group.
The offers in Rakuten vary. Some coupons here are direct discounts, while some are cash back offers. You can browse the discounts you can get, or just select from the menu found on top.
The general categories are:
- Essential Stores
- Hot Deals
- In-store cash back
- Travel and Vacations
Before you can use any of these offers, you have to be a member of the Rakuten network. The cash back will be deposited to your Rakuten account. Once you have accumulated your cash, you can transfer the funds to your PayPal account or via check.
The way Rakuten works is like affiliate marketing. Rakuten refers shoppers like you to their partner stores. If you buy, they earn a commission. It is from this commission where Rakuten gets the fund to offer cash back and discounts. It shares its commissions to its users, only after the user has shopped.
5. SlickDeals
This coupon site covers a wide array of products and services. To use it effectively, you need to navigate from the top bar menu.
As the company name suggests, what you get here are deals. Instead of paying full price, you get discounted rates.
Here are the main categories:
- Grocery
- Video Games
- TV and Computers
- Credit cards
- Home
- Clothing and accessories
- Tech
- Cameras
- Auto
- Health and Beauty
- Babies
- Entertainment
- Travel
At SlickDeals, it is like as if you are in Amazon or eBay. On your screen, you will see a lot of products. If there is anything you like, just click on that product, and then click on the button that says “See Deal”. If you do this, you will get transferred to the supplier’s website.
On the supplier’s website, the price is the same with what you saw in SlickDeals. All you need to do is to complete the online purchase. The products will be delivered to you.
6. Groupon
Groupon is like SlickDeals where the products on sale are offered at a discount. For example, you may see a dress that used to be $50 and now it is on sale for only $9.
The thing with Groupon is that the checkout also happens in their website. At the backend, they will take care of ordering the product from the merchant, and you will receive your item via shipping.
Here are the categories found in Groupon:
- Things to do
- Beauty and Spa
- Goods
- Hotel and Travel
The site also has a Coupon category, and this is where you can find offers from a lot of companies. If there is a coupon that gets your attention, just click in the Get Deal button, and you will be transferred to the website of the merchant.
In this case, you will order from the merchant’s website, and Groupon is likely only going to get a commission from your purchase.
7. Savings.Com
On this site, you do not only get discounts from products but also from service providers. The offers here are based on store offers. If HP offers 80% off, you will find it here.
The way to use this site is too look for an online store or brand. The names of these brands are in thumbnails lined up on the home page. The offer is also explained beside the retailer’s logo.
Here are some examples of the companies you will find here:
- Samsung
- Old Navy
- HP
- Kirkland’s
- Gap
- Lowe’s
- Home Depot
- Shein
- Old Navy
- Macy’s
If there is anything you like, just click on the button that says Get Deal, and a new window is going to open. This window is a list of all offers from this retailer. If you click on Get Deal again for a specific offer, you will be taken to the retailer’s website where you can make the purchase.
Savings.com does not offer cash back promotions, but it covers a wide array of popular stores and categories like food, toys, tax services, travel and vacation, and a whole lot more.
8. Amazon Coupons
As one of the biggest marketplaces in the world, Amazon also has its own discount deals. Just head on to https://www.amazon.com/Coupons/ at any day and you will find the best deals.
As always, all purchases are made in Amazon. The discount that you get here is not really from Amazon but from the seller who listed the item for sale on the website.
Here are some examples of the types of products you can find here:
- Baby and child care
- Makeup and beauty products
- Health and personal care
- Pet supplies
- Electronics
Despite having coupons, know that you still have to pay for shipping separately. Also, it makes sense to check out other offers in Amazon. One seller may put a pair of shoes on sale but it is likely that another seller has posted the very same item at a lower price.
9. Hip2Save
This website is also a large coupon site. You do not only get discounts for ordinary products, but also for digital goods.
Hip2Save has three main discount categories. These are:
- Deals
- Stores
- Coupons
For the Deals section, you will find items for sale, and you will even see Amazon here. You can browse for freebies and restaurant deals from this section.
For stores, you will see a list of online retailers offering discounts such as JCPenney, Kroger, Best Buy, and more. If you are looking for coupons, then click on the Coupons link. Under that, you can choose from latest coupons, printable and digital, or you can go to the website’s entire coupon database.
This website is great if you are looking for grocery items. You can buy goods here for as low as $2 when these products are regularly sold for $5. However, you have to buy these products online.
10. ShopAtHome
As the company name suggests, this is a website where you get bonuses if you shop online. First, you have to be a member. After completing your registration, you can now browse the website for deals from major online retailers.
Here are some of the biggest retailers found here:
- Target
- Best Buy
- Macy’s
- The Home Depot
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Expedia
- eBay
What you earn on this site is a cash back. The rate of cash back varies among the different retailers. Once you have made a purchases from the retailers, the money will be credited to your ShopAtHome account. From there, you can transfer the funds to your PayPal account.
You must use the links from ShopAtHome to get cashback. Otherwise, you will not get any credit. The other option is to request a check or just to convert the money into gift cards, which you can use in Amazon.
Joining is free, and the list of retailers is not limited to the ones we showed earlier. QVC, the giant home shopping network, is also a partner of this website. Other partners are HSN or Home Shopping Network, Bloomingdale’s, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and a whole lot more.
11. Brad’s Deals
Brad’s Deals has 5.5 million online shoppers on a monthly basis. In 2019 alone, it has helped its shoppers save $222 million. It has been around for 19 years.
Here are the categories if you want to get coupons from this website:
- Men
- Women
- Shoes
- Home
- Credit Cards
- Electronics
- Travel
- Tickets
If these options are not enough, you can click on “More Categories” from the menu. Here, you will find deals for just about anything like speakers, cashback cards, rewards cards, fitness trackers, and so much more.
The way it works is simple. If you see a product you like, click it and you will get to the product page where you can find more information. If you want to proceed with the purchase, click the Check it Out button, and a new window will open.
This window is the seller’s site, and you can complete the purchase from there. Pretty much, Brad’s Deals is like an advertising platform. It is likely that it gets a commission from the purchases that you make.
12. Smart Source
This website is a true coupon website. The products are neatly lined up, and you just have to click them if you want them. If you click on a product, that coupon will be “clipped”. You have to keep on clipping these coupons until you are satisfied.
Once you are done, you have to click on the Print Coupons button. If you do, the website is going to prepare a document for you. You have to print this document and then cut the coupons and give them to the retailer. The document is a PDF.
You need to be online before you can print the PDF. The coupon code varies for each customer and it depends on your zip code.
The most effective way to use this website is to type a zip code at the top bar of the page. This way, the website is only going to show you deals and coupons in your area.
13. Living Social
Living Social is a shop by itself. However, it gets its products from its partners. With Living Social, you will get discounts if you buy the items from its website.
For example, you can buy a pair of shampoo bottles for $18 instead of paying $28. Unlike other coupon websites, you have to complete the purchase here. You will not be transferred to another website.
There are only a few categories here, such as:
- Beauty and Spas
- Food and Drink
- Hotel and Travel
The top menu has a “20% Off” section, and this is where you can find deals that you can filter. On the left side of that page is a list of categories. Choose the boxes that you want, and then also use the filter below that where you can select the amount of dollars you want slashed off the original price.
You can also filter the products by customer reviews and only show those that got five stars, or show the products from low to high price or the other way around.
Summary
Coupons are great to save money. They work, and if you make this a hobby, it can even turn into a full-time job. There were even TV shows years ago where moms were interviewed about their couponing habits.
These moms spent hours cutting coupons from magazines or printing them. In the end, they even managed to stock up piles of goods in cabinets because of the freebies they got. Many of them did not spend more than $100 for a grocery shopping spree that actually cost thousands!