In this post, I’ll share with you on the numerous sources of coupons and how you can increase your coupon stockpile. I’ll be doing a separate post on different coupons available online (called “IPs”, or Internet Printables).
Your Sunday Newspaper. Sunday Newspapers have coupon inserts each week. There are 3 types of different inserts: Procter & Gamble, Smart Source and Red Plum. The Parade magazine sometimes includes couopns too, so check those each week as well. They each have different schedules and each one is not always in the paper every week. I post each week a preview of how many and what inserts will be in the paper. You can acquire more inserts from your Sunday paper in a number of ways-through friends & family, your local recycling center (always ask first), multiple subscriptions (ask your local newspaper if you can get a discount rate). And be aware that not all areas get the same coupons. The bigger cities seem to get more coupons in their inserts. I live in a smaller city and the coupons in my local paper are pretty pitiful. I do not rely on my local paper for the bulk of my coupon supply.
Magazines. While you’re flipping through your magazines, keep your eyes peeled for coupons. Most magazines have at least one or two coupons, some include a lot more. I have gotten a lot of free magazine subscriptions (watch for my posts on free magazine offers, sometimes the offers only last a matter of hours so you have to be quick). I seem to have a constant flow of magazines coming in the mail each week. I usually flip through the magazines in the evenings when I’m watching tv and I’m always amazed at the coupons I come across. All You Magazine has the most coupons, check out the long list of coupons in the June issue HERE. You can get a 6-Month subscription at Amazon for $10.00 HERE. I see cheaper rates for All You on different websites from time to time, but I personally like purchasing it on Amazon mainly because I use free Amazon gift cards I have earned through various survey programs. That way, I don’t spend any out of pocket for the subscription. The less out of pocket I spend, the better!
Coupons through Free Samples. When you sign up for a free sample online, it will often include a coupon.
Coupons in the mail. Contacting companies online is a great way to add to your coupon stash. Companies love to hear from their customers and want to know what you like about their products. When you email, be specific. Let them know what you like about a their product and ask if they have any coupons available to send. It only takes a few minutes of your time and if you resolve to contact a certain number of companies a week (like say, 10 a week, you’d only be contacting 2 a day, very easy to manage that), you’ll be amazed at how fast your coupon collection will grow. Here’s an example of a few companies I personally contacted in the past and the results HERE.
Coupons in the store. Blinkies, Tearpads, Hangtags, Peelies, Coupon Booklets, Store Magazines/Coupon Booklets. As you walk the aisles of your local grocery store, keep your eyes peeled. You’ll be surprised how many coupons you’ll start seeing in the store.
- “Blinkies” are coupons distributed by SmartSource Coupon Machines. The name “blinkie” refers to the blinking light so it attracts your attention.
- Tearpads are simply coupons you tear off of a pad. I see a lot of these in the chips aisle.
- Hangtags are coupons literally hanging off of a product
- Peelies are coupons that are on the actual product and you have to peel the coupon off the product to use it.
- Companies like Kellogg’s and others put out coupon booklets generally on displays you’ll find sprinkled throughout the store, often at the end of the aisles. And if you have a Whole Foods store near you, be sure to watch for Mambo Sprouts coupon booklets, they’re loaded with natural & organic coupons. And if you’re like me and you don’t have a Whole Foods, you can sign up HERE to get one sent in the mail. Offers for coupon booklets pop up periodically online as well. Home Made Simple is a great example, they put out a great coupon booklet at least twice a year and there are usually numerous links so that you can get several booklets throughout the year.
- Some stores themselves have coupon booklets on display in the store, Safeway & Publix are examples of that. Walgreens carries their own magazine Diabetes & You and it always includes coupons, check out the latest issue HERE.
Thanks for checking out my post! Next time, I’ll continue with yet more coupon sources including coupon clipping sites & coupon trains.
Also, I’m putting together a Q&A Coupon post and would love to hear from you about what you most want to know about couponing in general, feel free to leave your questions in the comments or email me frualfritzie (at) gmail (dot) com, thanks!
