Reader Q & A: Using an Online Coupon Database

I usually receive a few emails or comments each week, all asking a similar question:

How do I find a coupon for [insert product name here]?
Are there any coupons for [insert product name here]?

Those are good questions! It’s important to be able to find the coupon you’re looking for when you’d like to use it! Along with finding a good way to keep your coupons organized, this is crucial to a coupon-user. How can you tell whether a particular coupon exists – and then find where it’s hiding?

In the past, such a search caused you to flip quickly through your coupon organizer – but technology has brought dramatic changes to the world of couponing in the form of online coupon databases. It’s a tool every smart shopper should have in his/her bag of tricks!

 

Grocery Coupon Database from Coupon Mom

What is an online coupon database?

It’s simply a running list of all coupons currently available, updated as best as possible by the provider. Coupon databases come with a nice SEARCH feature, allowing you to type in that product you’re wondering about (much like a search engine for coupons!). Looking for a Cheerios coupon? Type in cheerios and see what appears. Depending on the database, you’ll find regional newspaper insert coupons, printable coupons, and even in-store coupons that may be available.

Here are some of my favorite places to go coupon-hunting:

1. Coupon Mom (for newspaper insert coupons)
   Coupon Mom’s “Grocery Coupon Database” is a lifesaver for me. It allows you to search for coupons according to your state, providing the exact coupons that you can find in your Sunday paper. Other databases can be misleading with multiple coupons and amounts from every newspaper nationwide. Some printable coupons are also listed, but are not as reliable or regularly updated. Stick with Coupon Mom for newspaper coupons by region! (You will need to register to use the website, but it’s free and completely worth it! Coupon Mom has been an inspiration to me in the way that she encourages charity donations!
   
   On an additional note, if you’re a coupon insert filer (non-clipper) like me, you can sort Coupon Mom’s database according to the date published to decide when it’s time to recycle your past coupon inserts.
   
   
2. A Full Cup and Hot Coupon World (for printable coupons)
   I use the coupon databases from A Full Cup and Hot Coupon World to find any printable coupons that might exist. These databases can be confusing because they include Sunday newspaper insert coupons from across the country (most of which our area did not receive), so try to ignore those until you check with Coupon Mom first!
   
   
3. Google (for printable coupons)
   Yes, Google. When my other sources don’t produce the results I’m hoping for, I’ll search Google for “Cheerios printable coupon” to see what appears. Some results may be old or expired, but often I might just find what I’m looking for.
   
   
4. Manufacturer Websites (for printable coupons or coupons by mail)
   It’s always a good idea to go directly to the source. If you don’t see printable coupons available on the website, contact the company with a phone call or email, complimenting their product and asking for coupons. You might not receive coupons in time for the sale you’re shopping for, but you will receive them in time for the next one!

Reader Q & A: Could I Be Printing My Savings Away?

Carolyn recently emailed to say, "I'm wondering how you go about saving money on printing your coupons with ink being so expensive..." Of course, that's a GREAT question! Printer ink is expensive, and if you're printing in full color, you could be paying more to print the coupon than you're actually saving when you use it!  Since this information could benefit the rest of you, here it is:

SAVE ON PAPER

1. I've found that I use quite a bit of paper on printable coupons! Stock up on paper when prices are low, especially at the beginning of the school year. (At Staples this week, you can get a ream of paper for $1.00 after Easy Rebate - I'd recommend taking advantage of deals like these when you can!).
   
   
2. Make good use of your paper scraps.  I like to use smaller scraps (half-sheets and third-sheets) and feed them manually through my printer to avoid the wasting ink on the large ad that prints after most Bricks coupons. If your printer has a "cancel" button, you can also quickly press cancel after the coupon has printed to eliminate the extra ink that an ad can use. Print on the back of already-printed paper to save as well (this doesn't affect the validity of your coupon as long as the print is clear).

SAVE ON INK 

1. Printer ink makes up the major expense of coupon-printing, so you'll want to first make smart decisions about the coupons you'll print. If the coupon is for a product your family doesn't use (or you can't donate item to someone who will use it), then resist the temptation to print the coupon. Since the best high-value coupons disappear quickly as print quotas are met, deciding this can get a bit tricky. The more you use coupons, however, the better you'll be able to judge what you should and shouldn't print based on which coupons have gone unused in the past.
   
   
2. Adjust your printer settings to an economy mode. Unless your store requires it as part of their coupon policy, there's no reason to print in color. Change your printer preferences to grayscale and lower quality (even draft) settings. As long as the bar code prints clearly, the coupon should still scan correctly. Print a few on a lower print setting and test them to be sure!
   
   
3. Find the best prices on ink. If you're insistent on buying name brand cartridges, you'll find them at better prices on Ebay. If you're okay with compatible cartridges, you can save even more (example: my cartridge costs $75-90 for a name brand at a local office supply store, but I recently bought a compatible cartridge for $25 shipped from a reputable seller on Ebay). Some people have also had luck with refilling ink cartridges (I haven't tried that yet - please comment if you have!).
   
   
4. If necessary, consider a new printer. When my inkjet costs were rising because of the number of coupons I was printing, I started comparison shopping. I looked not only at the cost of a new printer, but the cost of replacement cartridges as well. In the end, I saved up my Swagbucks and got a nice price on a laser printer without paying much out of pocket (Brother HL-2140 Personal Laser Printer - I love using Amazon's customer ratings to find a quality product!). We've been very pleased - not only is the cost per page significantly lower, the bar codes are much crisper!

How do YOU save on printing costs? We'd love to hear your ideas!
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UPDATES!
There are so many good comments and questions that I wanted to share a few...


Liz emailed with a great question:

Q: Hi, question about changing your printer settings. On some of the websites, I don't get the option... once I hit "Print your coupons," it just starts printing automatically. Do you know how I can change this? With other sites, it does bring up my normal print box and I am able to select grayscale. I would appreciate any help you can give me! I am a new subscriber to your website and I am loving it -- thanks so much!

A: You're right - it has always bothered me that most coupon sites don't give you a print screen to change the options! You'll need to change the default settings on your printer before you visit any coupon site or link. On my computer, I have to go to the Windows start menu (lower left corner of the screen), then to:

Control Panel
Hardware and Sound
Printers
Select Printing Preferences

Adjusting the print settings is usually on the "advanced" tab, depending on your printer. Your computer may be configured in a different way, but there should be some similarities. Try that and let me know if it works for you!

Melanie added a good point - ask around to see if anyone you know might have a laser printer that's no longer being used (a great idea, especially if you have computer-minded friends)!

Reader Q & A: How Can I Ever Repay You? :)

I am often humbled by reader comments like this one from Jennifer:

I get *so* much value from your site that I'd love a way to give back! Do you have a "tip jar" or anything similar buried somewhere on the site? Thank you SO much for all you do. Your site makes my shopping SO easy!

Her question required me to really contemplate why I'm here each day pouring time into this strange little blog of mine - and it came down to this: I truly believe that most people could reduce their grocery spending by 50% using a few smart strategies. Having learned how to make this happen, I'm now equipped to share - and hopefully that will impact the lives of a few people. If you've found yourself wondering, 'How can I GIVE BACK?' here are some ideas:

1. SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW. If you've become a bargain shopper now, share the deals with friends. Refer them back to Macomb Money Savers when necessary. You might even consider shopping or coupon-clipping along with them as they learn. Everyone is feeling the economic strain and could benefit from learning how to maximize what they have.
   
   
2. SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE. Hopefully, shopping the best deals each week has allowed you to purchase great items for free or cheap. Keep what you need for your family then find someone who can benefit from your donations, whether it's a friend in need, food bank or charity.
   
   

3. PAY IT FORWARD. Take some of that the money that you've saved (or the tip that you'd like to give me!) and donate it to someone in need. If you can't think of someone close to home who could use your help, you might want to consider adopting a child from Compassion (we've really enjoyed getting to know a boy from the Dominican Republic) or another worthy organization. Then share it with the rest of us - we'd love to hear about it! I'm sure you can find a creative way to benefit others - whether it's a neighbor in need or someone halfway around the world!

4. TELL YOUR STORY. This somewhat selfish request comes AFTER you've worked through the ideas above! Your stories amaze me - how much you've saved, where you've come from, how shopping smart has made a difference for your family. One family realized that they had MORE food in the house when dad was laid-off (and mom was making the most of coupons) than ever before. Those stories fuel my passion for this blog - and they encourage others as well!

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your comments! I'm so glad that this little website is making your life a little easier! :)