Couponing has Changed: How to Get Coupons in 2020 Using Technology

Over the years, blogs and money savers have debated the best way to coupon.  Just a few years ago, coupon clipping and tutorials on how to extreme coupon were super popular.  Back in 2016, I talked about the new high-tech couponing and changes in coupon clipping on CBS Austin and how to get coupons.

Now, a few years later, we have seen even more changes to the world of couponing.  When I started my blog in 2008, I was cutting coupons out of the papers each week. Now, I don’t even have a newspaper subscription.

So, how do you get coupons now and what is the best way to coupon in 2020?

Here are my suggestions on how to use and find coupons with high-tech couponing.

Couponing Changes and How to Coupon in 2020 with Technology

I often get asked, “How do you coupon?”  Honestly, my response has changed over the years.   I used to cut out coupons from the newspaper and price match with different weekly store deals.  If you look back in this blog, you’ll see I used to post a lot of coupon matchups for CVS and Walgreens.

You can still cut coupons and price match, it’s just very time consuming and often not as cost-effective.  I figured out I wasn’t saving that much money after I factored in the cost of a newspaper subscription.

Now, I mostly use high-tech coupons instead of cutting them from various sources.

I’ll share the best way to coupon now with high-tech couponing.

Top 5 Tips for How to Get Coupons in 2020

Ask for Coupons

If you have a favorite brand it can’t hurt to ask them for coupons. I’ve gotten many coupons by emailing (or using social media) to contact a brand and let them know how much we love the product.  For an email template and detailed instructions, head to my post on How to Ask for Coupons. 

If you enter your email below, I’ll send you the template I use to get coupons mailed to me.  You can use this template if you choose to contact a brand by social media too.

Use the Apps from Your Favorite Stores

Many have digital coupons that you “clip” and either show at the register or they are automatically added to your account. The apps I use the most for this are H-E-B, Target, and Walgreens.

Before I shop at H-E-B, I open the app and clip the coupons that I think I might use.  Then, at checkout, I can either show my phone or type in my phone number on the keypad to apply my coupons.

For Target and Walgreens, I also use a similar method. At checkout I just have the cashier scan the barcode on my app.

You can still use this method to coupon for free stuff.  I do not post the weekly deals for stores anymore, but many bloggers do.

On the apps, you can see the weekly circular.  On my own, I compare the circular with the items I need and the coupons I have.

Get Cash Back with Ibotta or Ebates

If you have time and patience, use Ibotta to get cash back on certain purchases. You have to scan your receipt and often times watch ads to get the coupon credit.  Usually, you get only 10cents to $1 back.  If I use Ibotta, I check out the app after my shopping trip to see if there is anything on there that I have purchased.  I find that if I look at the app before shopping, I may end up not saving money at all, but spending more than I had planned.

With Ebates, you get a percent cash back on your purchases.  I can often use this with a coupon code and I save even more money.

Search for Coupon Codes

Before I buy anything online I search Retailmenot or Google for a coupon code.  For detailed steps and tips, read How Do I Find Coupons.  You can also use this widget to search for your coupon codes right here!

 

Search for Printable Coupons

For in-store purchases and restaurants, I do a Google search for “storename coupon”. Remember to use the search tool to narrow the date range.  Again, read the How Do I Find Coupons for all my tips and tricks.

 

In addition to these top 5 tips, I have store specific tips for using coupons.  If you shop at Amazon, then be sure to check out my secrets on getting Amazon coupons.   For Kohls shoppers, you’ll want to take a look at my post on The Best Kohls Coupons.

Stay tuned, because I’m sure I’ll be updating this post soon or even making a new one in a few years about the current best ways to coupon.