How to Get Free or High-Value Coupons

High-value coupons allow you to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

Developing an effective coupon strategy involves finding and using high-value coupons on your purchases. High-value coupons take several dollars off the purchase of a product or allow you to get the product for free. Using these coupons helps you reduce the amount of money you pay for groceries and household items, allowing you to save money for education, vacations or special purchases.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer

Instructions

1. Write to the companies that produce your favorite items. Company managers use consumer feedback to make product improvements or fix product flaws. Manufacturers sometimes reward consumers for taking the time to give feedback by mailing high-dollar coupons or coupons good for a free product.

2. Write to companies when you experience dissatisfaction with their products. If you receive a spoiled package of food or a broken product, alerting the company allows quality assurance inspectors to research and remedy the problem. Some companies also send packets of coupons to those who report problems.

3. Join a coupon clipping service that offers high-value coupons. These services locate, clip and mail coupons for a small handling fee. High-value coupons have higher handling fees than coupons valued at $1 or less, but saving several dollars or getting a free product makes a handling fee of 25 to 50 cents worth it.

4. Complete customer satisfaction surveys offered by your favorite retailers. Retailers reward customers for their time by giving out coupons for several dollars or a specific percentage off your next purchase. One major U.S. retailer gives out coupons for 15 percent off your next purchase, making it worthwhile to take a few minutes to share your opinion.

5. Register for websites that have printable coupons. Some manufacturers post high-value coupons online, allowing you to print the coupons from your computer. CouponMom.com, TheKrazyCouponLady.com, SmartSource.com and RedPlum.com all offer printable coupons.

Tips & Warnings

• If you complete a customer satisfaction survey, save your coupon for a high-dollar purchase instead of using it on an inexpensive item. If you use a coupon for 15 percent off on a $10 item, you only save $1.50. If you use the coupon on a $200 item, you save $30.

• Spending $5 to $10 on coupons may seem counterintuitive, but the cost savings speak for themselves. If you purchase 20 coupons at a cost of 40 cents each, you spend a total of $8. If the product you want to buy costs $2, you would spend $40 buying 20 of them without coupons. If your coupons allow you to purchase the product for 25 cents each, you will only spend $5 for the items. Factoring in the cost of the coupons, you still save $27, or 67.5 percent.

• Write complaint letters only when you truly have a complaint about a product or service.

References

• Money Saving Mom; 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget: 10 Ways to Get Coupons for Free; Crystal Paine; April 2010

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• CouponMom.com; Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half!; Stephanie Nelson
• The Krazy Coupon Lady; Extreme Couponing; Joanie Demer and Heather Wheeler
• Coupons.com: Coupons
• The Coupon Clippers: Saving Together