We don't always base our purchasing decisions on whether we have a coupon, but if we are going to purchase something, we certainly want to make sure we get the best deal possible! And we definitely don't want to miss out on awesome freebies floating around out there. Here are a few quick tips everyone can take advantage of to maximize savings on your everyday purchases:
Run a Search Before You Purchase
If you are about to make an online purchase, run an internet search before you hit “Check Out.” You can often find percent off or free shipping promo codes just floating around out there on the internet. A great source for these is www.retailmenot.com. It will often be one of the first sites to come up if you google “[store name] promo code” or “[store name] coupon code.” Some online retailers will even let you enter multiple codes for additional savings.
If you are heading out to a new restaurant, run a quick search for “[restaurant] coupon” to see if there’s anything out there. Sometimes you’ll hit on deal blogs that will link you to a current coupon or even run across a promotion from the restaurant’s own website. (In scanning your search results, try to focus on blogs and sites affiliated with the company you’re searching for. Avoid sites with names like “free printable coupons,” since these are usually junk sites.) Also consider checking the site to see whether they sponsor an email club. Many restaurants will send an introductory email to your inbox the same day with a free offer (such as a free appetizer) just for signing up. Click on this link for our list of restaurant email clubs.
Always Scan Your Junk Mail
Are you one of those people that just tosses the junk mail without looking at it? You may be missing out on some great savings. It only takes a few minutes to scan through the junk mail for anything of value, but sometimes this can really pay off. We’ve often received coupons to get things completely free from new businesses opening near our homes (for example, a free small yogurt from Red Mango or a free sandwich from Chick-fil-a—no purchase necessary!). We’ve even received coupons from large retailers such as Kohls, JCPenney, and even Walmart for $5 or $10 off our purchase with no minimum purchase requirement. A number of fast food restaurants also regularly send coupon sheets and booklets with BOGO and $ off coupons—no reason to ever pay full price for fast food! While we still throw away 95% of the junk mail we receive, it’s certainly worth reviewing before we toss it!
Check Your Deal Blogs
If you have a few minutes in the morning, be sure to skim through the most recent posts on your favorite deal blogs. Although many bloggers will find the same deals, each blogger tends to focus on different things, so I find it useful to regularly check two or three of them. Our favorites are www.freebies2deals.com, www.coupons4utah.com, and of course www.thriftysistersdeals.blogspot.com :)
Sign Up for Emails
If you can, it’s best to get your offers right from the source. Most retail stores and restaurants now have email clubs you can sign up for, and most of these send valuable email offers from time to time, many of which are exclusive to their email subscribers. If you have a favorite store or restaurant, visit their site and look for links like “Join our club,” Sign up for our newsletter,” or “Get exclusive offers from [store name].” If they give you the option, be sure to provide your birth date, since many businesses send special offers on your birthday, some of which are completely free.
Take Advantage of Punch Cards and Rewards Cards
If you have a favorite restaurant, find out whether they have punch cards or rewards cards. If you’re going to be visiting frequently, or even occasionally, you might as well get credit toward a free meal sometime down the line.
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