If you want to save money while shopping, coupon applications are a perfect way to save money on a wide variety of transactions easily and effectively. If you want to save on food, clothes, experiences, or restaurants, then it doesn’t matter, there’s probably a coupon of some kind available to help you keep your hard-earned money in your wallet.
Consider when couponing that you really shouldn’t let coupons determine where and how much you spend. Alternatively, put coupons in the daily budgeting method to save on transactions you will make anyway. You don’t save money, you just spend less if you don’t make a purchase and do so because of a coupon.
Don’t just spend less, use these coupon apps to help you save regularly where you are already spending.
Best for Groceries: Ibotta
When you go into the grocery market, you should never buy something which wasn’t already on your list. So open the Ibotta application before you leave home and look for any coupons that match your needs and represent goods that you would probably purchase anyway. In the Ibotta app, mark them, and go buy them just as you would without a coupon. When you leave the shop, make sure to keep your receipt handy. You’ll use it again later.
Open up Ibotta again after you get back to your home and choose the option of redeeming those coupons. On the product and your receipt, you will have to scan the barcode, and you should get credit for the purchase within a day, although it may be as fast as a few minutes. You will check out on PayPal and get actual money back until you hit $20.
Best for Digitizing Paper Coupons: SnipSnap
SnipSnap helps you to transform your paper coupons into a digital format. As the names indicate, you snap a coupon first, then using your phone you take an image of it. When your coupons are transformed, you can take your phone and use the coupons at the register just like if you had handed over a piece of paper.
The utility of this app does not, however, stop there. Based on such public reviews, if your coupons don’t work, you can enter a ranking for the supermarket and pick where you shop. Also, the coupons are shared with the wider user community, who share their coupons with you as well. This leads to a mutual coupon experience that saves money for everyone.
Best for Dining and Experiences: Groupon
Groupon is not grabbing attention as it once did in the original daily deal app but is still a big player in the coupon market. Many Groupon coupons come in the form of a sale where for a single benefit or value you pay a reduced rate. For example, a new offer allows you to pay $10 for $20 at a local restaurant. One big thing to be aware of, though, is that if you don’t use them in the allotted time frame, Groupon promotional values expire.
When they pass, the cash amount you have spent can still be redeemed. This can be huge money savers in locations you are already going to and help you find new places at a cheaper rate.
Best for Printable Coupons: Coupon Sherpa
Coupon Sherpa is one of the popular couponing applications that you can use in several stores and has a nice section loaded with printable coupons. For restaurants, regional department stores, retail outlets, big stores and specialty retailers, a brief look gives you options.
However, Coupon Sherpa is more than simply printable coupons. It also provides coupon codes and several offers through mobile apps. On the go with the app, pre-plan with printable coupons or figure out your savings. You’re covered either way.
Best for Online Promo Codes: RetailMeNot
When checking out online, if you see a box for a promo code or coupon code, don’t click the checkout button before visiting RetailMeNot. There may not be much help about your efforts, but you might just find yourself saving quite a bit on might order.
In addition to the coupon codes, you can find on the site, the mobile app assists with discounts at a lot of large department stores and chains. The big drawback of RetailMeNot, however, is that it opens the website again in a new tab when you click to show a coupon code on the website, and it will take you back to the site to copy the coupon code. But the little discomfort isn’t enough for major savings to be deterred.
How Does a Coupon App Work?
A coupon app makes finding discounts on a range of purchases easy. It will help you find discounts, save them, and use them on everything from food to clothing to excursions. In the form of cashback, digital coupons, promo codes, or paper coupons, the coupon app scours the web for deals and passes them on to users.
Each app with a coupon is a little bit different. Others want you to print and check your receipt, some convert paper coupons into digital ones, and when you prepay on what you were already planning to purchase, some give you a discount. You will use a coupon app to help you save money until you know what you want to buy.
