Using Coupons the Lazy Way

So You Want to Coupon But Don't Have the Time or Patience...

That's okay! I see shows like Extreme Couponing and I am always in awe. There are some incredibly talented and organized people in the world who know how to work a deal! However, I am not one of those people nor do I have the desire to be. All I want is to get a discount on the things that I buy, make a little money on the side, and do it in less than 15 minutes a week. The ideas I have offered below can take as much or as little time as you feel like spending, so it's really up to you how much you want to save. I also have referral links for any of the websites mentioned below, so just send me a message if you want to sign up.

Over the years, I've tried a lot of options to see what worked. Many were too complicated or took too much time. Many just didn't offer me the options I wanted. So I've worked out something that is simple for me to do and often results in multiple ways to save or make a little money for very little effort. Below are screenshots of these sites from my own personal accounts. If you are busy then you know what it's like to come home and realize that you've run out of milk right when you need it. Shopping can be a chore so I don't like to spend too much time worrying about it, but I do want a deal. Here are my suggestions. Let me know what you think of this lens and what your tips are!

How I Stack My Coupon Savings to Maximize Earnings

The Basics

As I mentioned before, I have been working for years to find a solution that I feel is rewarding and not too difficult. Here is what I have come up with. I use what I like to call the stack method. For me this means using multiple opportunities to save on the same items. This maximizes my earnings for buying things that I already buy.

The Basics

To start, I follow the same advice you hear from any frugal shopper: don't buy anything you won't use just because you have a coupon! It's good advice for life. Instead, you can make your list based on what you would like to eat for the week or based on what is on sale according to grocery circulars. It depends on how much you like to plan and check sales.

The second step is to use a rewards credit or debit card. Only rely on a credit card if you can pay it off every month. If you are responsible, this is a great way to get rewarded for making purchases you already plan on making. If you have several (like many people), make sure to sign up for the monthly categories for shopping at specific types of retailers and take advantage of the rewards.

Use what you buy! I am very guilty of wasting things - food, cleaning supplies, pet supplies, the list goes on. Those of us who are Americans are especially guilty of this. Trying to be more mindful of how we use things is good for the wallet, the planet, and my delicate constitution! I am slowly getting better through years of consciously working on it, but I always have room for improvement. Now, I see what's in my pantry and under my sink before rushing out the door.

These three steps set the groundwork for all of my savings. I consider buying exactly what I need and getting rewards for it to be the base layer for savings. From here, I use a few more websites to quickly get the most out of my spending.

Step One: No Clip Coupons

I discovered SavingStar.com about a year ago and have never looked back! Savingstar is a really simple website that allows you to register your frequent shopper cards for your favorite stores and automatically reimburses you for buying items on their list. The coupon amount gets added to your account and you can put it in your bank account or redeem it for gift cards. I have never had a problem redeeming my cash. If you find a deal you like, all you have to do is click "I Want This" to have it automatically load to your card. You don't have to print or clip anything! Easy right?

I can use this to buy or substitute anything on my list in just a few minutes and it is next to no work. I love that I don't have to worry about more paper getting lost in my purse, folding over barcodes, or things not scanning properly. Just swipe your card at checkout and bam! Just visit savingstar.com. It's free and takes less than 10 minutes to create your full account. 

Stack Auto-Coupons with Printable Coupons

Reward Sites

Want a big tip? If you use Savingstar, most of those same deals are also offered with extra coupons if you use Swagbucks or Mypoints. Discounts tend to have a schedule and shelf life that makes it easy to stack them, so if you find a deal on Savingstar that you like there is probably another coupon you can use to save even more money. That means you get a double deal without even trying. All you need to do is search the websites to print them out.

What's even better than that? If you redeem coupons using reward sites, they will award you 10 points for every one you use. For example, if I use a $1 coupon I printed from Swagbucks, they also give you 10 cents. That is a total of $1.10 - 10 cents each time!

This is a great deal on some items. When I run out of cereal, I browse around SavingStar to see what is on sale. When I find something I like, I just click a button to load it to my card. Let's say that it's for 50 cents. Then I might go to Swagbucks to see if they have an additional coupon. Look, they do! Maybe this one is for 40 cents, so I quickly print it out. Once redeemed, they award me 10 cents. So my cereal was $1 off without even trying. Then I get rewarded for using my credit card. It doesn't get any easier than that.

Pros: Get good deals quickly.
Cons: No search feature that lets you search to stack coupons.

Find a Coupon Website

If you want to find a coupon website, throw a rock. There are a million out there. My favorite ones are those that also offer other things such as shopping discounts, paid surveys, or paid games. The two that I use are Mypoints.com and Swagbucks. They both have lots of ways to earn and save money. Not to your taste, simply pull up a search engine a do a search for coupon websites. You should be able to find one you like within minutes.

Use Reward Shopping Links

Shop Through the Right Links for More Savings

Want to use another level to stack your savings? Use reward shopping links. There are several ways to do this, but it works best when shopping for retail goods.

Shopping Sites

These websites reward you with points for shopping through the links on their shopping pages. Again, Mypoints and Swagbucks are my go to for this, but another great site it Ebates.com. When I'm prepared to buy something online, I just quickly glance through these sites to see who has a savings link or who offers the most.

Credit Card Rewards Center

Make sure you use a rewards credit card for a start. Also make sure you sign up for the monthly specials attached to that card. Now, for bonus points, see what discounts your credit card company is willing to offer. This is great if you don't feel safe using a shopping site or would like to cash out a rewards bonus for a particular card. Most card companies have a center once you sign in online that shows you what stores they offer the discounts through, so always make sure to check before you check out!

Last Check!

One last thing! Always search online before you buy. There a many websites that only deal with online codes for shopping. Make sure you're not missing a free shipping, BOGO, or free item with purchase offer by checking these sites. Many of them also offer discounts for first time customers so it pays to shop around.

Go All The Way!

Use Your Manufacturer Coupons and Frequent Buyer Cards

If you are a creature of habit, you probably buy the same things week after week. I try to take advantage of this. Businesses are always looking after their bottom line too, and the best way for them to do that is to keep customers happy and recruit more of them. Since everyone is online now, simply go to the manufacturers website and sign up for the newsletters. They often send coupons and alerts right to your inbox. Also, carefully check packaging when you buy these products to make sure you're not throwing anything important away.

Now, if you are like me and tend to rush out the door to get things done then you know it's hard to remember where you put those things! Since I'm known to hurry and can never remember where I've put my own head, I made a specific spot for coupons, reminders, and everything else. I print them out or clip them immediately and then stash them in a dedicated folder in my car. I keep it in my center console so it's out of the way, but always next to me when I'm about to dash into a store. I try to remember to check it one last time before I go and am almost always glad I did.

In the same vein, I also keep all my rewards and frequent shopper cards next to that same folder. I hate when I get into my favorite coffee or sandwich shop where you have to buy 50 to get one free, only to remember that my last 49 punches are on a card hidden behind my desk! As you can see, I have quite a few. And if we're being honest, I have a lot more than the picture shows. Having them with me when I go out has saved me a lot of regret and frustration.

Frugal Finds

Here is a collection of websites that focus on the art of being frugal.

The Dollar Stretcher

The Dollar Stretcher is a site that I have been getting emails from for years. The website is full of reader supplemented tips on easy ways to live more frugally.

Frugal Living @ About.com

Another great reference site for frugal living and how to find great deals.

Fabulously Frugal

Saving money can seem hard since it takes quite a bit of the glamour out of life. This site is great for adding in a little shine by helping you focus on your goals without giving up everything.

Broke Grad Student

While no longer a grad student, this blog offers great stories about the journey to pay off grad school debt and enter the "real world" in all it's costliness.

Man Vs Debt

This is a no-nonsense blog from a straightforward guy who is all about simplifying his life to do what he loves and shedding the financial baggage along the way.

The One Week Budget: Learn to Create Your Money Management System in 7 Days or Less!

by Tiffany The Budgetnista Aliche

Learn to save in a hurry!

Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey: Learn Coupon Strategies to Save $1000s at the Grocery Store

by Joanie Demer, Heather Wheeler

Want to start scratching more than the surface? Start here and get lots of tips in one place.

Best Budget Calculators on the Web

Life is full of unanswered questions. Luckily, none of these financial worries should ever be a question again.

Check out the budget calculator round-up on The No-Pants CEO.

The "Best" Way to Pay Off Debt and the Stress Impact Method

Some would argue that there are as many ways to get into debt as there are people. I personally think that all of these reasons boil down to one of two things: living beyond your means and unexpected hardship. Let's look at student loan debt. This would fall into the living beyond your means category. It's for a good cause, investing in yourself, and can even help you build your credit. But let's face it, no one likes to see their monthly bill years after college and realize they are still paying for their education. Yet for either of those reasons, nothing feels better than paying them off. So let's take a look at the two most common debt repayment techniques and analyze them.

There are two techniques that have garnered the most attention: the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche.

Debt snowballing is a debt repayment technique that involves paying off your smallest loans first. The idea behind this is that many people need a boost to encourage them along the way. When payment is tough and you lose sight of ever getting out of the red, that quick boost of paying off a small credit card balance or a utility bill keeps you going. Plus, once that small thing is paid off, you can transfer the payments you would have normally used for that to apply to your next smallest debt helping to repay that faster.

The debt avalanche supports paying off your highest interest rate first. The logic behind this method is that by paying off your highest rate, you will avoid paying extra interest. Lowering your interest payments means you can pay more on your second highest rate and so on until you are debt free. You will pay less interest overall and get out of debt faster than any other method.

I would also like to present an additional option that will surely be met with disdain from most of the debt-fighting population. Let me direct you to the stress impact method. I'm bolding that because I came up with it myself and am inordinately proud. The idea is a hybrid of two factors that I think are important. It involves pay off the debt that is causing you the most stress first and paying off what will make the biggest impact to your bottom line or your credit report. Let's look at these factors individually.

Stress factor. I would argue the merit of the debt snowball for one main reason - it has emotional impact that the debt avalanche misses. I know there is a battlefield with very vehement supporters of both who are always at odds. However, I would still argue the merit of this to most people in debt since the reason for it is 10 times more likely to be based on emotion rather than circumstance. Enter stress based debt reduction. The debt snowballs focuses on the smallest debt to get that first small win. I would suggest the largest stressor. I know people who have mounds of student loan debt that can make their minimum payments, but have one store credit card with a balance that keeps them awake at night. What about that car loan you shouldn't have taken out that makes you angry every time you think of it. Make it a goal to lower your stress, thereby increasing your motivation and determination to keep going by paying off the most emotionally impactful debt.

Impact factor. Which debts impact your financial well-being the most? For example, showing a history of on-time payments for a credit card, but being late for your mortgage shows up as a huge difference on your credit report. When times are tough, you always move back to your core which is shelter and utilities. How about the interest rate? If your car loan is at 2% while your credit card is 22%, that will also have a large impact depending on the balance of those accounts. To get ahead, you need to be mindful of how each debt affects you.

Put it into action. The first step is sitting down with a list of all your debts. That list needs to include what the debt is, what your monthly payments are, the total amount of debt, and the interest rates.

For this example, we have four accounts. Both the debt snowball and avalanche methods would attack the credit card first. This might be a great first move. You pay off the highest rate first while also giving yourself that kick to get you going. But let's consider a narrative:

In your mind, credit cards are used in emergencies. Last year when your car gave up the ghost in the middle of the road, you had to have it towed to a mechanic (which hurt) and have major engine surgery (which really hurt) before you could drive her again. You didn't have the money in your checking account so you paid on a card and are paying it off. That car gets you to and from work every day. It needs to be reliable so you can be too. 

The store credit card was something you got so you could get 10% off the shopping spree you never meant to take while you were feeling down. You did some shopping therapy and are still paying for it a year later. 

Both of these situations caused a credit card balance. Now, if you have the will, pay off your normal credit card first. It will do you the most good and help you pay down your debt faster. However, if you really can't stand the store card, it won't leave you alone and you regret every payment, pay that off first. It will give you the motivation and fortitude you need to move on.

Once you've taken care of that, let's look at the student loan and car loan. They have the same balance and the same rate.

While in college, you had the opportunity to work your way through school. Instead of taking advantage of that, or scholarships, or living with roommates, you did not. Investing in yourself was a good decision. Using debt to pay it was not.

Your car finally died. After a few solid hours of mourning, you headed out to find the next one. Unable to buy it up front, you chose the best financing options available. Just like fixing your old one, having a car is a necessity and if you have to pay extra then so be it. 

Here's where you have to make a decision. What is more important to you? If that student loan is the thorn in your side, then maybe that should go first. But if you can hold off, paying your car loan will benefit you more. Student loan debt is seen as a positive investment from a credit standpoint and can increase your score or help start building credit if you are younger. Your car loan can do that as well, but doesn't count as much. In addition, your car loan cannot be deferred if you go back to school or lose your job. In this case, impact should take precedence if you can stand it.

I am a firm believer that the debt avalanche is the smartest way to go. It's got the numbers to back it up and I like anything that is highly logical. Yet, humans are no so. We make decisions largely based on emotion and that can trump good planning every time. Looking at debt as both a financial and psychological hurdle may muddy the waters, but it might just offer another way to view the path to financial freedom that works for you.

A Quick Study in Interest Rates and a Public Service Annoucement

There are several major theories on the most effective way to pay off debt. They make for very good reading, but I want to quickly touch on two other topics: simple comparisons and debt shaming. Let's start with the easy stuff.

I am sometimes surprised by how much some people seem to hate numbers. Literally, I cannot begin to tell you how many people have talked about "you finance people" like it's the new clique in school who shoots you dirty looks. They are amazed at some of the things you can do with spreadsheets and how you can keep it all straight. I feel the same about cars and history.

This in itself is not a bad thing. We all have areas where we excel. However, not understanding something can quickly lead into unpleasant areas you didn't expect. Recently, I had a conversation about student loan debt wherein this person had two loans with the same interest rate. Without the fine print in front of you, you cannot be certain of all the details. However, I had to explain numerous times the concept of how much interest would be paid between them. It took three examples to get the point across that it is the same. So when you are truly comparing apples to apples, meaning all the fees, ect are the same, it will work out like below.

Let's do a quick example:

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

It's a topsy-turvy world. Now remember how not understanding can lead to unpleasantness? Think politics, religion, love, and anything else that results in defamation, death, or desolation. Those are more extreme examples, but the concept of debt shaming is a rising trend that I find particularly disheartening.

The person with these student loans felt bad about paying them off in the "incorrect" order according to his father who also did not understand the above examples. It immediately brought to mind the debate on whether to pay of the smallest loan first or the one with the highest rate. That's a conversation for another day. What I feel very strongly about though is that debt is an epidemic in this county - one most of us face at one time or another. It is a hard and often emotional thing to go through. Debt shaming for not doing it the "right" way is counterproductive and hurtful. It has the added bonus of making a person afraid to speak to others about their goals and progress, making it even more likely they will miss out on good advice or slip back to old habits.

I advocate for paying off debt in the way that makes it most likely that you will achieve your goal. Don't be afraid to find a way that works for you because you are the only one who knows whether it is a regimen you can commit to or not. Control your own life and remember to tread kindly.