How to use coupons, apps and loyalty programs

Good old coupons are the old fashioned tool for saving.

They still arrive in the mail, but the digital age has created other ways to access them. Get an extra $5 off just by entering.

Common spots to find coupons are:

• mail
• e-mail
• SMS/Text
• previous purchase receipt
• amazon coupon
• Coupon.com
• Ibotta
• Rakuten
• groupon
• Online aggregators like Couponfollow.com
• Loyalty program

“Coupons are a great way to try new products and brands at a discounted price, or just to save material on your shopping list,” said consumer savings and smart shopping expert Andrea Woroch. I’m here.

Woroch said it can be more difficult to find coupons for fresh products.

“The downside of coupons is that they are often limited to boxed, canned, or frozen foods,” says Woroch. “It’s not that there aren’t other ways to save on these foods, but you usually won’t find coupons for these foods.”

Get the most out of your coupons

Coupons, whether clip-on or digital, are the classic way to save. However, experts share that it’s important to keep a few tips in mind to maximize the cost-effectiveness.

These include:

• Understanding Service Scope and Risk
• read the fine print
• Remember to bring your physical coupon
• do not discount mailers
• Ask yourself if you really need the product: discounts aren’t always worth it

Services like Rakuten are flooding the coupon market, but you should understand their usage and potential security risks.

“Consumers will want to know the scope of the contracts you’re signing up for and what your company is doing with your data,” says Johnson.

For example, Johnson said Rakuten uses a Chrome extension to offer discounts and cashback. Streamline your grocery shopping by linking your credit card. But Johnson warns that the risk of data breaches may increase.

Coupon deals may be in big red lettering, but terms and restrictions appear in small print at the bottom or back.

Coupons may be restricted based on:

• container or package size
• date
• Can be combined with other deals and discounts
• Number of consumers who have already used the transaction

Woroch suggests setting a reminder in your phone’s calendar to use the coupon before it expires.

“At some stores, you may be able to use expired coupons within a day or two, so just ask,” says Woroch.

A common reason for not using physical coupons on time: Forgetting to bring coupons, Woroch may have noticed that some people have given up on circulation altogether. Hmm.

“Flyers are still the best place to find paper coupons,” she says. “Wrap it around your credit card.”

Flyers may be a good place to get coupons, but it can be time consuming. Another expert says the best way to optimize coupons and not overload groceries on sale that you don’t need is to focus on groceries in Loyalty’s program.

“Loyalty program coupons are often based on past purchases, so in most cases it should be something people are likely to buy,” says Brendan Wright, SVP and Shopper Practice Leader at Ipsos. say.

Grocery store apps don’t require paper or scissors, saving in the palm of your hand. Some are store-based, while others are third-party.

For example:

• Checkout 51
• get rewards
• grocery IQ
• saving star
• target circle
• sprout
• Fons
• albertsons
• shop light
• stop & shop

“On the plus side, discount codes and grocery-saving apps save a lot of money,” says Johnson. “And many of these services have minimal friction. Gone are the days of cutting coupons from the local newspaper and handing them to the cashier.”

Get the most out of your grocery savings app

The app offers mostly effortless ways to save money, but keep in mind some pros, cons, and optimization tips.

• Be careful with credit cards
• Evaluate flash deals
• Limit the number of apps you use

“Like coupon apps, grocery savings apps often try to get you to sign up for additional offers that may not match your interests,” says Johnson. “This can include credit cards that lead to debt and overspending. and goes against long-term consumer goals.”

Ask yourself if you really need that product or credit card. Woroch said he might be able to get cash-back deals on groceries using the credit he already has on his card.

Each app offers great deals, but Woroch advises not to overwhelm your mobile device with them. The most important downloads are the grocery store downloads where you shop most often.

“Get into the habit of checking the app before you shop to see what kinds of deals are available,” she says. “This took the stress out of trying to find deals at checkout and the long queues behind me.”

Johnson suggests downloading a few more third-party stuff, and there might be deals worth checking out at other stores near you, such as big box stores with grocery sections like Target and Walmart. I can’t.

“It’s worth trying two to three apps at a time, depending on how many retailers you shop at,” says Johnson. “One app won’t give you discounts everywhere, so it’s a good idea to have a few apps to cover the basics.”

Many grocery stores and stores that sell groceries have loyalty programs that are usually free to join.

“Signing up is easy as you scan your card or enter your phone number at checkout and get instant discounts on a variety of groceries,” says Woroch.

Here are the retailers that use them:

• shop light
• stop & shop
• Riddle
• CVS
• walgreens

Other companies that don’t offer reward cards, like Aldi and Waldbaum’s, say they already offer the lowest prices.

Get the most out of your loyalty program

Signing up is free and easy. Experts shared savvy tips for maximizing cost-effectiveness.

• Beware of Free Rewards Programs
• Avoid keyring and mental overload
• track their use

Some grocers partner with fuel companies to help fill tanks cheaper.

“For example, Kroger’s Fuel Rewards program gives you one point for every dollar spent on groceries,” says Woroch. “Can be redeemed at Kroger gas stations or participating Shell stations.”

Many loyalty cards are attached to key rings and can be crowded. Sometimes you don’t have your keys when you come across a grocery store. You can probably still make a deal.

“Many retailers now simply need a phone number or a credit card that is used regularly,” says Light. “Otherwise, there are handy solutions like the Key Ring app that makes it easy to add all the different loyalty program details he has on one screen.”

When you sign up for the loyalty program, you can click to be notified about great deals by email or SMS. It can be a lot.

“Then you can unsubscribe from emails and uninstall apps you don’t want to keep using,” says Light.

You can streamline your loyalty program usage by evaluating what you use and what you don’t.

“Tracking what we use and where the best offers are is very important to maximize the value of our time,” says Light.

Eating at home saves time and money, but groceries are expensive these days. Coupons, apps, and loyalty programs can help you save. Each saving method may sound like a steal, but which one is best for you? Perhaps all of them interest you. Before signing up for anything, Wright says, ask yourself:

• Are you willing to make any effort to participate?
• Feel like setting up some alerts, but not hunting on a regular basis?
• Do you tend to stick with one or two stores, or do you shop at multiple stores and are unlikely to get store-specific loyalty program rewards?
• Are you sure you want to exchange your personal information in exchange for a more relevant offer?
• Are you willing to install apps on your phone and remember to use them?

For example, clipping coupons and checking third-party apps may take longer, but the transaction is worth it. phone number).

Keep track of the methods and transactions you use and don’t be afraid to remove methods or apps that don’t work. Always read the fine print, such as transaction exclusions and expiration dates, and be careful about linking your credit card or personal information to the Service.

Beth Ann Mayer is a New York-based freelance writer and content strategist specializing in writing about health and parenting. Her work has been published in Parents, Shape and Inside Lacrosse. She co-founded her digital agency Lemonseed Creative and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.