Are you wondering where to find grocery store coupons? You probably already know about your newspaper and printables, but what about other places? Listed below are more than 15 ways to find coupons to help you cut your food bill and stick to your grocery budget!
One thing I talk about in couponing for beginners is where to find coupons. The truth is, they’re all around you. You just need to know where to look!
Most of these options will help you track down free coupons, but there are a few you’ll need to pay for. But no matter what, you’ll know where to get the grocery coupons you need and love to save more money at the store!
Want to learn even more about coupons? Be sure you check out our How to Use Coupons page for help learning how to save more money!
WHAT ARE MANUFACTURER COUPONS?
These are coupons that companies release for the products they sell. Most of the time, they are redeemable in-store only, but there are instances when you can use them online.
To use a manufacturer coupon in a store, you need to check your store’s policy. That will let you know the value and type of manufacturer coupon they accept and how you can redeem it to save.
The way it works is simple. You buy the product or products listed on the coupon and save the amount indicated. Manufacturer coupons can be redeemed anywhere, whereas store coupons can only be redeemed at the store that issues them.
WHERE TO FIND GROCERY COUPONS
SUNDAY NEWSPAPER
Coupons in the Sunday newspaper are commonly referred to as inserts and are usually the easiest way to get coupons. Three inserts are the most common:
Smart Source (SS)
Red Plum (RP)
Proctor & Gamble (PG)
You may see additional “special” inserts. These are put out by:
Unilever (UL)
Keebler (K)
General Mills (GM)
Not all of these Sunday coupon inserts are in all editions of the newspaper every week. You’ll find ads from different stores and companies in the newspaper, so always go through it to find them all.
I recommend getting the newspaper delivered to your home. The money you can save with coupons will pay for the newspaper subscription many times over. Not only that, you don’t have to go to the store to get the paper each Sunday.
Can’t afford the newspaper? Ask neighbors or family members to pass along the coupons they don’t want. Some areas even offer FREE inserts-only subscriptions. These are limited in area, so you need to call your local newspaper to determine if you live where these are delivered.
Read more: How to find the date on your coupon inserts.
MAGAZINES
Look through the pages of your favorite magazine. You may find inserts or coupons printed on the pages of ads. So always look through magazines before you toss them!
Be sure you never pay full price for any magazine subscription! Visit Discount Mags; you’ll see titles at very reasonable prices. Then use the code PENNYPINCH to save another 20%!
You should also check our daily magazine deals list. Here we find a different discount every day of the week and pass the details along to you!
PRINTABLE COUPONS
The trend of coupons has migrated to online printable coupons. In most cases, you can print at least two copies of each printable coupon you find. Choose and print coupons you want and leave the rest.
Some digital coupons are limited to two prints per IP address, and others are per computer. If you have multiple computers in your home, you might be able to print a few more!
These coupon websites include:
You can also find printable grocery coupons on manufacturers’ websites or even in your inbox. Be sure you sign up for newsletters for your favorite brands, so you never miss an opportunity to save.
COUPON DATABASE
One thing I have added to help everyone who follows this site is a Coupon Database. Bookmark this so you can refer to it often. You can search to find printable coupons or those from inserts or magazines.
Search by product name or type, and if a coupon is currently available, my Coupon Database will tell you where to find it – and even give you a link to go print it out!
DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER
You can get coupons sent to you directly from the manufacturer. These are often of higher value than other coupons and may even be valid for free products.
Walk around your house or use your most recent shopping receipt, and make a list of all of the brands you use. Then visit each manufacturer’s website and sign up to get on the mailing lists. Note: If you can’t find a site, Google the company name to see if it’s part of a larger parent company.
Once you sign up, send the companies emails about how much you like their products. I’ve done this and gotten some amazing coupons in the mail or emailed to me. I even had a couple of them send me coupons to get the item for FREE.
Read More: How to Get Companies to Send You Coupons.
BUY THEM ONLINE
Did you know you can PURCHASE coupons? There are websites where you can buy coupon inserts.
One of my favorites is The Coupon Clippers, where you can select the coupons you want and the quantity. For a small fee, they’ll send you the ones you need.
You may be tempted to buy coupon inserts from eBay. I caution against this because many times those are fake. Stick with a reputable site when buying inserts.
Finally, always weigh the cost of the coupon and postage against your savings to be sure it’s worth it.
WEEKLY GROCERY STORE AD OR IN STORE
Sometimes store and manufacturer’s coupons are inside a store’s weekly ad. They might also be lying in a bin when you first walk into the store. Be sure to check, so you don’t miss a chance to save. Some stores offer printable or clipless versions (loaded onto your store loyalty card online).
Read more: How to use Target Cartwheel Coupons.
BLINKIES
Have you ever been walking through the store and noticed those little machines with red blinking lights on them? If not, keep your eyes peeled for them. These machines are affectionately called Blinkies in the coupon world.
If you can get a couple of coupons this way, that’s great. But never take more than two, so others can get them as well.
Remember, just because you get the coupon in the store doesn’t mean you have to use it right then and there – unless, of course, the item is already on sale and your coupon can turn it into a fantastic deal.
TEARPADS
I’m sure you’ve seen those little cardboard sheets that are attached to store shelves, where you can rip off a coupon. These are called Tearpads.
Rip off one or two the next time you see them. Again – don’t take too many, so other people can get them as well. Hold onto these coupons unless you can get a great deal in the store at that moment.
DIRECTLY ON PRODUCTS
One place to find coupons is directly on the products themselves!!
PEELIES
These are the coupons you might find on the outside of packages. You can peel them off and save instantly. Sometimes, they can only be redeemed at the time of purchase, so make sure to watch for “Cashier must remove” wording.
WINE TAGS or HANGTAGS
Coupons that hang directly from the top of a product are known as wine tags or hangtags. You can save and use them at any time. If you see these, do NOT take them off of the product unless you intend to buy it (proper coupon etiquette).
INSIDE THE PACKAGE
Make sure you look at a box before you toss it in the trash because there might be a coupon hiding on it. In fact, sometimes a coupon will be printed on the inside of the packaging. So give the box a once-over before you recycle or toss it!
FREE SAMPLES
Ever see an offer online to sign up for a free sample and thought you didn’t want such a small package cluttering your cabinet? Don’t pass up free sample offers! Most samples include coupons, so you can go to the store and purchase the full-size product at a discount.
Now that you are amazed at how many ways there are to get coupons, you will hopefully build up quite a collection soon! The most popular way to organize your coupons is in a coupon binder, which can help you avoid finding expired coupons at the bottom of your junk drawer.
PHONE APPS
As more and more people use their phones for everything, the trend has launched a new way of saving – right from your phone! Some of the coupon apps will allow you to score instant savings. These include:
Store apps (such as your grocery store’s in-store coupons)
There are also apps that offer rebates. Such a coupon app requires you to buy specific items and then upload the receipt. The funds are deposited into your account, which you can cash out. These apps include:
Now that you know where to find coupons, you can get started clipping and saving!!
