Smart Couponing: Saving Money in the Digital Age
by Hannah Goldstein
While couponing once meant sitting at the table, cutting paper coupons out of Sunday inserts, getting a discount today often requires a different route. Now you can swap the multiple newspapers, scissors, and the envelope half stuffed with expired offers for a charged smartphone. Loyalty clubs and apps exist for everything from groceries to gas, and from office to pet supplies. Some apps provide everyone the same discounts, but they are evolving to customize discounts based on your previous purchases and even to alert you about discounts based on your location. Aggregator apps are another popular method of modern couponing. The next time you fill your tank, use an app to see which local gas station will provide the biggest discount. Other apps and websites make discount codes and cash-back offers to multiple stores available by clicking a button or uploading your receipts. Social media offers saving opportunities with brands and influencers using platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to share exclusive discount codes and promotions. Finally, don’t forget that many credit cards offer points or cash back (usually up to a limit of a couple hundred dollars a year). With some creativity, you can layer all of these approaches to get the most money back. One potential drawback for some is that, unlike old- school paper coupons that had no identifying information connected to them, digital couponing requires handing over quite a bit of personal information on how you live
your life, make decisions, and spend money. However, it is because of this information that companies can better target what you are buying and give you better deals. And just like when we were clipping coupons out of the newspaper, expect that it will take some time, organization, and coordination to keep track of it all to get the best deals. Get started by checking out the apps below: Gas Price Apps: Upside GasBuddy Waze Aggregator Apps and Websites:
• PayPal Honey • RetailMeNot
• Rakuten • Groupon • Drop • Ibotta • Flipp • ShopSavvy • GoodRx
Savvy Shopper Weekly Coupon Book Elevating your Savings with Curated Deals for Families Visit this link to have it sent to your inbox every Sunday! Our members asked for more ways to save and we listened!
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