Paying full price for something? Well, that seems like a reasonable thing to do. But when you’re already heavily budgeting, not looking or taking advantage of discounts seems like a bit of a waste.
Coupons seem like an easy way to cut your expenses on everyday items, but a lot of Americans avoid them because they have a preconceived idea: couponing is difficult, time-consuming, and not worth the rewards.
That may be because we’ve been exposed to what some people call ‘extreme couponing’. By doing everything and anything in order to get their hands on a ton of coupons, some households are able to save crazy amounts of dollars.
Not going to such lengths, therefore, might make it seem like couponing isn’t worth it. But being able to apply a few codes a week could save you hundreds of dollars a year.
We’re here to tell you how to make the most of your shopping spree without spending more than you need to!
1. Clothing
You can save 15%, or 25% on clothes just by couponing if you know where to look, what services to use, and when to buy. For example during Black Friday and Cyber Monday you could find 50% discount coupons for certain retailers.
Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears and JCPenny are known to offer more coupons for clothing more often, so always keep your eyes peeled. Also, if you shop online, you’re far more likely to find coupon codes either by just visiting a retailer’s website or signing up for their mailing lists.
Furthermore, you can use services like Coupon Sherpa, Rather-Be-Shopping, Offers.com, and DealPlus to find relevant coupons for you. These should trim the time it takes you to go looking for them.
The bottom line is that if you’re paying full price on clothes, considering the vast array of options to get your hands on a discount, then you’re just doing a disservice to your wallet and budgeting plans.
2. Shoes
In the same vein, you can save as much money on shoes as you can on clothes. The trick, as always, is to know where to look and when to hold off on a purchase.
For hassle free, discounted purchases look towards Kohl’s and Finish Line, as they both offer brand discounts as well as certain percentages off entire purchases.
Alternatively, if you’re a fan of rewards program then you should sign up for DSW’s. You can earn points by entering their progam, which you can later redeem as cash towards future purchases or products. Members will also receive special deals and coupons.
Some shoppers could even receive $20 or $49 off their shoes with DSW as the retailer sends such deals out though the mail about twice per year. If you’re not in a hurry to buy shoes, we recommend waiting for them or collecting points in the meantime.
3. Jewelry
Why pay full price for something that is already marked up quite a bit? If you time your purchases and look for deals, you can easily get as much as 60% off jewelry. Of course, provided you can get your hands on a discount and wait for the holiday season, known for steep discounts on a variety of products.
Another way to save on jewelry is to make purchases through Swagbucks, which will reward you with cashback. For coupons, you should look on RetailMeNot.
At the end of the day, even if it sounds a little ludicrous to get a discount on jewelry though coupons as these items seem too ‘high end’, you should definitely try it out before you go on a shopping spree.
4. Restaurant Meals
A fan of eating out? Who isn’t? Whether you like ordering dinner at home or going out for lunch during work, you could save a lot of money by using coupons. Restaurant meals might not be expensive at first glance, but at the end of each month you’ll see exactly how much money you’re spending. Hint: it’s quite a lot!
Check your mail regularly for offers from nearby restaurants first and foremost. Then, check Valpak and Groupon for any deals you may have missed.
Coupon Sherpa can also help shave a few dollars off your order. Even if you get a $1 discount, if you do this every day of the week you’ll have saved $7. That’s roughly $210 at the end of each month!
5. Pizza
Pizza is already a pretty cheap meal if you think about it, so you might not think that looking for deals and coupons is worth it at all. To that we say, why not? Should there be a line between items you buy at full price and those you use coupons on? We don’t think so, not even if you’re just looking for a slice!
Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Round Table, and Papa John’s are known to offer coupon deals, either on their website, in-store or through mail.
DealsPlus is a good place to start virtually at any time. But during the holiday season and around the Super Bowl, you could either get 15% off or free pizza!
6. Car Washes
Even if you don’t use car wash services often, you should take advantage of every deal that comes your way. Some people even like gifting these deals to loved ones they know don’t like to do it themselves, especially in the winter months.
Coupon Sherpa, Groupon, and Valpak offer coupon deals, so if you haven’t gotten anything in the mail from local businesses yet, this is a good place to start.
Ask your nearby service if they offer any other deals and sign up for them. You never know when you’re going to need a last-minute car wash you can also save some money on!
7. Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning coupons and deals are perhaps the easiest to find out of everything on our list. That’s because the competition between local cleaners is fierce, so attracting new customers is imperative to their business models. Getting sucked into dry cleaning deals is also so easy, it’s almost laughable!
First, you might want to go on Yelp to find dry cleaners that offer deals and perhaps pair this with visiting their website for 15% or 25% off. Other deals include buy one get one free and $1 per garment for new customers.
Once you’re done with your first load of dry cleaning you’ll probably find coupons pinned to the wire hangers of your clothes. We’ve found that these are ten times better than the original offers.
Keep going through the process and you won’t have to pay full price for this service for a long, long time!
8. Oil Changes
Using a coupon on an oil change might not seem like you’re saving a lot of money, but compare that to the life of your car and you’ll soon realize it’s well worth the tiny effort.
Much like with car washing services, you can find local deals through the mail or online, even through Yelp. Alternatively, head to your nearest Jiffy Lube, as they often offer $5 off coupons to customers.
9. Rental Cars
A few quick searches will come up with promotional codes for various car rental agencies. If you search on their websites, it’ll be virtually impossible not to find any.
Groupon or RetailMeNot are also good places to start looking. Some customers have even found coupons for 35% off Avis or Budget rentals.
We know that renting a car could become expensive really fast, so researching discounts before you swipe your credit card could help alleviate some of that monetary burden.
10. Ride-Sharing Services
Uber and Lyft rides are already cheaper than taxi rides, and we think most Americans are deterred from looking for extra deals in the first place because of that.
As we said earlier, just because something is already cheap doesn’t mean you can’t save money on it anyway.
Offers.com has coupons for $15 off your first trip for both Uber and Lyft, for example.
11. Arts and Crafts Items
We all know that sometimes hobbies can get a little bit too expensive. But what can you do!? If you find something you love doing you should nurture that passion.
And that’s where you’re right, but if you’re paying full price in a craft store, you’re definitely doing something wrong. When in-store, ask employees about any extra coupons they have laying around and you’ll typically get them.
Access a store’s website and app for extra deals. Joann Fabirc& Craft Stores, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby are known for great deals. You could get a minimum of 40% off some items if you shop with them- yes, you read that right! 40% minimum!
12. Houseware
Small kitchen appliances, cookware, and dinnerware can get expensive, especially if you’re planning on moving and need all new items or even if you’ve finally decided to replace old sets.
You should shop at Bed Bath & Beyond first by sing their 20% off coupon after you’ve signed yourself up for their mailing list.
But they’re not the only ones with similar deals. Google your favorite retailer and see how you too can gain rewards and coupons before making any bulk or single purchases.
13. Flowers
Sending flowers to loved ones for their birthdays or anniversaries, or just to show your appreciation of them, could cost you a pretty penny if you’re not careful. So many of us make the following mistake: we fall in love with an arrangement and then pay full price without looking at other offers.
Before you even think of looking at the flowers, check RetailMeNot, DealsPlus, and Offers.com for the best deals.
Recently, DealsPlus even offered a 25% off coupon that worked sitewide on Teleflora. How could you say no to that?
14. Diapers
Parents go through diapers in quickfire succession, which could turn into a massive financial burden if they’re not paying attention to whichever deals come their way.
But instead of waiting for coupons, you should use a search engine to point you in the right direction. Say you’re interested in store-brands from Sam’s Club or Costco due to their pricing. By looking for deals online you could find coupons that will take you near the same prices on other brands!
Trust us, saving $2 and $5 per pack and really add up.
15. Baby Wipes
Speaking of babies, baby wipes can also prove to be highly expensive in the long run, so instead of paying full price, look on coupon websites for the best deals. By also checking manufacturer websites you could save 50 or 75 cents per packet- and trust us, you’ll be using a lot of them!
Furthermore, you should sign up for rewards programs for Pampers and Huggies for more offers and, best of all, freebies! Access their website to get started.
16. Baby Formula
Baby formula, important for any infant’s development, can be rather costly, especially if you’re looking for ‘the good stuff’.
We guarantee that by searching on coupon websites you’ll be able to find various coupons. Plenty of companies also offer newsletters to new families, so signing up for these services can uncover even more deals.
Having a child can be expensive, but if you’re careful about how you spend your money, you could guarantee more of what they need without steep pricing.
17. Cereal
Sunday newspapers and chock full of coupons for cereal, so paying full price for your favorite breakfast meal seems like a waste! If you have kids that love the sugary meal, all the more reason to save up around $1 per box, which can add up quickly.
Alternatively, check manufacturer websites, such as for Kellogg’s and General Mills, for extra coupons if you’re not an avid reader of Sunday newspapers.
18. Salad Dressing
Another staple for Sunday newspapers? Salad dressing coupons. You could even look for them on Coupons.com to save around $1 per item.
A good idea is to stock up on salad dressing in January and spring months, as this is when you’ll most likely find the best discounts. It might not seem like much, but a little goes a long way.
You could even find deals for brands such as Panera at Home and Olive Garden! Why eat out when you can achieve the same results at home and save money in the process?
19. Condiments
Ready for a picnic, barbecue, or a party? Stack up on condiments and don’t worry about overspending by using coupons! You can find these for everything, from mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup to BBQ sauce.
You could get them for $1 off normally, but as the weather gets warmer and demand rises, you could find even better deals. That’s why it’s smart to stock up and then not worry about them for the rest of the year. Saving on one big purchase will take the worries away for your next friends and family gathering.
20. Frozen Foods
Buying frozen foods instead of going out for a meal, especially if you don’t have time to cook much, is a great way to save a lot of money.
But you can and should take it even further by using coupons for Totino’s, Tai Pei, El Monterey, and Weight Watchers. One place to look for them is Coupons.com.
You might need to buy a number of products in order for the coupons to work, but at least you won’t have to worry about the food going bad for a while.
21. Cosmetics
Is it just us, or have cosmetics gone up in price exponentially lately? Thankfully, RetailMeNot has got us covered with deals of 20% off at Ulta.com. Of course, you can find many other coupon codes on RetailMeNot for various other retailers- just take your pick!
You should also check out drugstore websites like Walgreens for digital coupons before you make a purchase. If you’re a member of a store’s loyalty these can also be loaded onto your rewards cards on their website.
22. Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
You most probably won’t find discounts for multiple packs or travel-sized toothpaste and toothbrushes, but you can find plenty of coupon codes in newspapers for regular items. That or a quick search online will net you the same results.
You could save 75c to $1 for a tube and 50c to 75c for a toothbrush.
Dental experts say we should change our toothbrushes once every three months so even if it doesn’t sound like much, you could buy yourself some candy with the extra money. Then, be diligent about brushing your teeth. Rinse and repeat!
23. Shampoo
You could easily save 50c to $3 for your hair care routine by looking for coupons for shampoo. Brands such as TRESemmé, Pantene, Suave, Garnier, and Infusium make such deals available once or twice per month. You might have to buy several items in order for the discounts to apply, though.
On the other hand, you’ll never run out of shampoo, and if you’ve ever wanted to try out a new brand, now’s the perfect time to do so without worrying about spending too much money.
24. Deodorant
Once more, deodorant is something that isn’t pricey to begin with, but why pay an extra 50c or $1 anyway? You can find these deals on coupon sites, drugstore and grocery websites, so take your pick.
Old Spice, Gillette, Secret, and Matchum are known to offer coupons very frequently, so you’ll probably never have to pay full price ever again if you prepare before checking out.
25. Laundry Detergent
You can snag laundry detergent coupons from grocery store sites weekly or at least twice a month. Can’t find them? Then head on over to Coupons.com and you’ll be sure to find discounts for brands such as Clorox, Purell, Arm & Hammer as well as Tide.
These could especially save a lot of money if you have a big family- we all know how quickly you can get through the stuff on a weekly basis, so saving $2 to $3 could truly make a difference.
26. Cleaning Products
As with other ideas on this list, you might need to buy several cleaning products at once in order to apply coupons. At the very least, you’ll save 50c an item, but you could save even $2 and even more if you really start digging for them- which shouldn’t be too difficult.
Brands like Pledge, Windex, Swiffer, Febreze, Clorox, Mr. Clean and Scrubbing Bubbles are known to provide these discounts to loyal customers.
Take it a step further and stock up on cleaning products during the spring months as you’ll be sure to find most offers around this time.
27. Toilet Paper
When it comes to essential items, there’s no reason not to save a few dollars whenever you can. If you’re buying these items on a weekly basis, all the more reason to look for coupons.
Just watch out. When you do find coupons for toilet paper, make sure to check that you’ve grabbed the proper package before paying so you don’t waste any time.
Check out Kroger’s mobile app for various offers. If you buy Cottonelle, Angel Soft or Charmin you could save anywhere between 25c and $1 per pack. Given how often we buy toilet paper, you can see how even such small amounts can add up.
28. Batteries
If you want to buy batteries in bulk, then a good time to do so is around Christmas, since you’ll likely see a lot of discounts around that time anyway. Furthermore,you can find 25% off coupons on RetailMeNot for brands like Energizer and Duracell.
Though most items nowadays can be charged via USB, it’s always a terrible feeling when you run out of batteries for things that still need them such as remote controls or flashlights. Ensure you always have some laying around the house and you’ll be set!
29. Cold and Flu Medication
One of the worst feelings in the world is waking up with a cold and realising you don’t have any medicine to keep it at bay. You might lift your spirits, though, if you purchase your cold medication at a discount.
NyQuill, DayQuill, Triaminic, Mucinex, Vicks, and Delsym all offer coupons regularly, especially around winter and fall, when you’re most likely to get sick. You might need to buy multiples, but you’ll be very thankful for when you or your loved ones will need some in a pinch.
By using these discounts you can typically buy flu products for $1, $2, or $3 off.
30. Antacids and Heartburn Relief
Luckily, you don’t have to shop for antacids and heartburn relief during a particular time of the year- meaning you don’t have to go out of your way to stock up either. That’s because you can find deals on this type of medicine at all times either by checking the previously mentioned coupon sites or visiting retailer websites.
You can save around $1 or $1 per item for Pepto-Bismol, Prilosec and Alka-Seltzer. When we’re talking about your health, there’s no reason to pay full price.
We recommend planning a big shopping spree and checking out coupons for all the items on your list. Then look at how much you’ve been able to save with just a little bit of effort using the methods we mentioned. You’d be surprised, and we’re sure you’ll make a habit out of it in no time.
