Getting stuff for free with coupons was one of the reasons that I started seriously couponing in the first place. When I finally delved into the world of couponing, I knew that coupons could save a little money on household essentials. I was shocked, however, when I realized just how much we could save by using coupons! Finding out about all of the great goodies I could get free with coupons was what really got me hooked though!
Every day, savvy shoppers are able to snag lots of products for free with coupons. Personal care products, cleaning products, and even food items won’t cost you a cent some weeks, if you know what to look for and how to shop.
If you’re new to the world of couponing, here are a few tips and tricks to help you snag your own coupon freebies!
#1. Buy the smallest size allowed.
When you’re not using coupons, usually buying the biggest package of a product is the best deal. However, when you use coupons, always try to purchase the smallest size allowed. These are cheaper than the larger sized products, which means you’ll have a bigger discount with your coupon. Some coupons have no size restrictions either, so you’ll sometimes find that the smallest sizes (including trial sizes) are the same price as or less than the value of your coupon. When this happens, you can snag that item for free, and possibly even make a little money in the process!
#2. Watch the sales.
You can typically get the most bang for your buck when purchasing a sale item with a coupon. To get products free with coupons, carefully watch the sale prices. When a store puts an item on sale for, say, $1 and you have a $1 off coupn, that’s another freebie for your stash!
#3. Take advantage of rewards.
I’ve found that the easiest way for me to get items for free with coupons these days is by taking advantage of store rewards. Some stores—particularly CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid—offer a certain amount back in store rewards when you buy a certain product. Other stores, like Target, offer gift cards when you buy certain products or spend a certain amount of money. These rewards and gift cards can be used the next time you shop at the store, so they’re essentially like cash. If an item is priced at $3.00 but you get $2.00 back in store rewards, that’s a pretty nice deal. But, if you have a $1.00 coupon, it’s free after you take the store rewards into account. And free is always a better deal!
#4. Check for Catalina coupon offers.
Catalina coupons print at the end of a transaction when you purchase certain products or spend a certain amount of money. Like store rewards and gift cards, Catalinas can be used to help pay for your future transactions. You can sometimes grab some free stuff with coupons and Catalina offers. For example, let’s say an item is on sale for $1.00 each and you’ll get a $1.50 Catalina when you buy three. If you have three $0.50 off coupons for that product, all three are essentially free when you consider the Catalina savings of your next transaction.
#5. Watch for store coupons.
Most .stores that issue store coupons will allow you to stack one store coupon with one manufacturer coupon for extra savings! If the combined value of your store and manufacturer coupons are equal to the price of a product, that product is completely free!
#6. Shop at double coupon stores.
One of my local regional grocery stores doubles coupons up to $0.99. So, if I have a coupon for $0.75 and a product is on sale for $1.50, it’s free! Not all stores offer double coupons, though, and the ones that do have individual coupon policies. Make sure you read a store’s double coupon policy first, and speak with a manager to clarify anything you don’t understand.
#7. Use BOGO coupons.
I don’t advocate going out and buying a product just because you have a buy one, get one free coupon. But, if it’s a products you would buy anyway, bust out that BOGO coupon, baby!
#8. Check the clearance aisles.
When products are being discontinued or a store just has too much of one product, they will go on clearance. This includes personal care items and food items—things that we normally see coupons for! So, don’t forget to make a run down the clearance aisles with your binder. It’s not uncommon to get free stuff with coupons when it’s on clearance!
#10. Use grocery rebate programs and ecoupons.
Grocery rebate programs are becoming quite popular, and for good reason! There’s no hassle with cutting coupons, but the offers can also usually be stacked with coupons too! After paying for your items, you’ll usually need to upload a photo of your receipt, and the monetary value of the offer will be reimbursed to you. If an item is on sale, you have a paper coupon, and there’s a rebate for it, you can sometimes score it for free!
