I hear the question all the time... "Where do you get all your coupons?". Well, that is a good question. There are many places to get coupons, depending on how much time and money you are willing to spend collecting them.
The first and easiest place to get coupons is your local (or a larger city near you) Sunday newspaper. The Sunday paper has at least one coupon insert per week, if not more. The ONLY exception to this is weeks with holidays in them, for example there are no coupons the week of Thanksgiving. The Sunday paper ranges is price, here it is $2.00 at the gas station, but yet can be found on Sunday for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree Store. Some areas sell discounted Sunday papers all week. Check your local paper and stores for their prices on the paper.
The second place is "other" newspapers. My local "Express News" newspaper has coupons in it, just one Smart Source insert, but this paper is FREE. You get a copy delivered to your home, but it can be found in most all gas stations and grocery stores, as well as in paper boxes around town. This is a wonderful place to start, or supplement your coupon stash. Check your community paper, they may be free or low cost, and be filled with money saving coupons.
Online is another nearly free resource. You can search for coupon printing sites, like coupons.com, smartsource.com, and redplum.com. At these sites, you can print two of each coupon listed, and the coupons change weekly, on Sunday's, with the newspaper. These coupons are often similar to those in the Sunday circulars, however can differ by region. Most sites will ask for a zip code, and sometimes it is worth it to try one on the East Coast, Midwest, South, and West Coast. Each "area" has similar coupons, however you may find a few that differ either in product or discount from area to area. Online is often the easiest because you don't have to leave home, or pay for the entire news paper when all you want is the coupons. But printing at home has it's own cost. While some sites will print up to 3 coupons per page, others will print just one with a huge ink wasting advertisement. If paying for paper and ink work for you better than paying for the paper, this is well worth it. Remember to check your favorite stores as well. Many stores from drugstores to mega box stores will offer their own "store coupons" right online for you to print. Remember, a store coupon can be used with a manufacturer coupon.
From companies themselves. There are two ways to get coupons directly from the companies. One is to view their website and print any coupons directly from there. Most major name brand items have a coupon or two, if not more, right on their site. Or check with their "parent" company for coupons. Can't find one to print? Click the contact us and sign up for their emails, some companies will only email out coupons. Again, normally limited to two, but still worth it when they are sent directly to your inbox. Another way is to contact the company via email, phone, or mail. You can simply ask for coupons, compliment their product, describe an issue with their product, or express your interest in trying a new product. Most companies will send coupons out for those that contact them, if you have good or bad feedback. One rule of thumb, don't complain about something just to get free coupons, it's much nicer to contact them saying that you are a loyal purchaser of their product.
Home mailers are another way. Many companies offer home mailers when you either send in a post card or sign up online. These are coupons from companies that are sent directly to your home. These can come from stores as well. I currently have home mailers from Huggies, Pampers, P&G, Glade, Target, and Bath and Body Works. I did nothing but sign up online, and the coupons come periodically. I find with home mailers that soon before or just after the last set of home mailer coupons expire, another one will appear in your mail box. This is a great way to get high value coupons as well. Often home mailer coupons hold a higher discount value, as your interest and signing up shows that you are a "loyal" customer.
Many magazines offer coupons as well. WalMart's "All You", Better Homes and Gardens, and Parents to mention a few. The coupons can be found within the magazine pages. They are either in a tear out section, or simply at the bottom of ads for the products. These often have longer expiration dates than other coupons that you would find. It never hurts to check out the magazines while sitting at the doctor office or even at the dentist. You never know what you will find!
In the isles or on the product. These are called "blinkies" and "peelies". The "blinkies" are coupons found in the isles at your local stores. The machine that houses the coupons will spit out one at a time, and normally has a blinking light on it. The "peelies" are coupons that are stuck to the product, or in the product packaging. Many times cleaners and household supplies will have coupons that you simply peel off. Check inside products too. Under candle lids, inside plastic packages, and even inside boxes of food.
These are ideas for low cost or free coupons, but you are at the mercy of what is being sent out and when. If you need a certain coupon for a sale, you still have options.
You can order coupons from a coupon clipping service. Many people provide coupon clipping services on sites such as ebay. The coupons are normally grouped by product and priced well. Or, you can order a "potluck" which is a mix of coupons. "Potlucks" are great for boosting your coupon collection.
Trades, trains, and giveaways. You can join sites that offer coupon trains, trades, and giveaways. Coupon trades are very nice, as everyone wins. You can do this among friends and family as well. I have toddlers, my sister has a school aged child, and my parents have no younger kids. What coupons I use are different than those that my sister or mom would clip. So, we each get a copy of the paper and trade coupons. This is an easy and inexpensive way to get more of the coupons you want. There are many sites that offer trading online as well. Coupon trains are a no guarantee thing, but often fun. A traditional train is where one person puts 40 coupons in an envelope and sends it to the next person. That person takes what they need, puts in coupons they don't need and sends it along. Often coupon trains have 5 people on them, and it's best to get on a train that spans different states and regions. Trains are fun, you get to give away some of the coupons you don't need, but there is nothing saying that you will actually get coupons you do need either.
These are the main options for getting coupons. I know that I have been able to ask my doctor, or my children's doctor and not only am I usually given FREE samples, but also coupons or rebates for that product as well. Free samples that are given out online from stores and companies often include a coupon as well. But these can be hit and miss as well, and are really for more specific items.
Where do you find your coupons? If you have any ideas that I missed, please feel free to share them.
The hunt is sometimes as fun as using the coupons to get free or nearly free items. Check the websites often, coupons change weekly. And check the product website as well. They often change the coupons once a month (up to once in 3 months). When they change the coupon offer, you may be able to print additional copies of coupons. Find a coupon you like? Email your friends and family the link, and ask them to print it as well. Most sites will limit you to two per computer, but if you have more than one computer in your house, you can use the others to print additional copies as well.
Happy Hunting!
