smart spending

8 tips for online coupon clipping

7. Join the store's loyalty card program. The card gets users a discount on certain items at checkout. The trade-off: The store tracks what you buy. In return, the retailer will mail or e-mail you coupons for products that you regularly use or even for generic items, like fresh fruits or vegetables, Nelson says.

8. Opt in for mailed offers, newsletters and offers for special deals. Want some additional coupons from manufacturers or issuers? Sign up and you shall receive.

But read the site's privacy policy. You want to know what information it collects, whether it shares your personal data and with whom.

"Sign up for everything," says coupon clipper Jamie Howard, who estimates she saves 30 percent weekly with coupons. "For me, it's worth the effort."

And while the discounts and offers are great, if the spam becomes too much, "I unsubscribe immediately," she says.

A favorite clippers' trick: Use a separate e-mail address just for coupon offers, Freeman says. That way, if that address gets spammed, your personal e-mail address is still protected.

advertisement

Compare Rates
advertisement
Overnight Averages
Product Rate +/- Last week
30 yr fixed
5.02%
4.98%
15 yr fixed
4.55%
4.54%
5/1 ARM
4.18%
4.09%
View rates in your area:
Product Rate +/- Last week
30K Home Equity Loan
8.36%
8.30%
30K HELOC
5.29%
5.27%
50K HELOC
5.02%
5.00%
View rates in your area:
Product Rate +/- Last week
36 Mo Used Car
7.15%
7.21%
48 Mo Used Car
7.02%
7.09%
48 Mo New Car
6.79%
6.81%
View rates in your area:
Product Yield +/- Last week
6 Mo CD
1.26%
1.27%
1 Yr CD
1.71%
1.71%
5 Yr CD
2.94%
2.91%
Compare rates:
Product Rate
Low Interest Cards 9.71%
Balance Transfer Cards 14.54%
All Variable 11.68%
Compare rates:  
mortgage
Banks, like car dealers, try to trip up consumers with a well-practiced array of tricks.
advertisement
Smart Spending
Are you a champ at cutting costs? Enter your tip in our Frugal $ense contest to be eligible to win $100. There’s a new winner every month.
Is your bank safe? Now you can find out
Look up a bank, thrift or credit union by clicking one of the buttons below.
advertisement
Sign up for our free e-mail newsletters full of ways to save money over the holidays.
Subscribe:RSS Feeds