Paper is Passé. Go Digital to Get the Most Out of Coupons

Taking advantage of discounts is more difficult without a smartphone or computer

Lisa Lee Freeman,

AARP

Comments

En español

Published November 04, 2022

/ Updated July 29, 2024

a smartphone with coupons on the screen surrounded by items

Zachary Scott

In this story

Transition to digital • Email, text promotions • Workarounds for no smartphone • Store loyalty cards • Printable web coupons • Dollar store apps • Big-box retailers

You don’t need to clip coupons from the Sunday paper anymore.

And if you still rely on them for your couponing needs, you’re missing out on many discounts that you must seek out to receive. Supermarkets, dollar stores and big-box stores increasingly offer deals only through apps and websites.

“Coupons are even better when they’re automatically applied at checkout,” says Nathan Burrow, deals editor for Wirecutter. He suggests signing up for retailer loyalty programs, which will often get you these automatic deals on purchases.

Also download retailers’ and restaurant chains’ mobile apps. Those often contain special discounts because the companies want to encourage you to order from your phone.

Digital coupon redemptions have outpaced paper coupon redemptions since 2020, reports Inmar Intelligence, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based company that first digitized coupon redemption for retailers, then became part of the move to electronic coupons for consumers.

Email lists, texts can be source for discounts

Joanie Demer, co-CEO and cofounder of the Krazy Coupon Lady, suggests signing up for mailing lists from trusted retailers.

“Just for signing up for SMS text messages with some retailers, you may get a special text offer,” she says.

While giving retailers your email or phone number typically gets you a discount code upon sign-up, their future promotional messages may tell you only when sales are happening rather than giving you access to special deals. So consider using a separate email account if you want sign-up discount codes without the flood of emails, and unsubscribe from texts if they become a nuisance.

Once you figure it out, “clipping” and redeeming digital coupons is super easy: For many retailers, all that is required is having a loyalty card and registering your number on the store’s app or website. Then, select deals you want as you scroll through a list on your smartphone, tablet or computer. The store automatically applies those deals at checkout.

How to get the deals without a smartphone

Having a smartphone allows you to add coupons — and comparison shop — while you’re in a store.

But even if you don’t have a smartphone or aren’t online, you can often work around the tech to get these coupons. Have a friend or family member download the coupons from a website to your loyalty card, and the selected discounts will be applied when you punch in your phone number at the register.

Also, some stores ask for a smartphone number to send you a sign-up code as a text message. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can give the number of a friend or family member, then ask that person for the code they’ve received to complete your registration on a store’s website.

Even if your “dumb” flip phone has text messaging, some companies won’t send this code, a security method called two-factor or multifactor authentication, to such phones because they don’t have the security features common to an Android or Apple smartphone. Some will allow you to enter a phone number to get a code read to you over the phone.

Here’s how to get digital coupons to work for you at major chains that offer them. Though these instructions might seem complicated, you’ll find that most sites make the sign-up task easy. Once you use digital coupons a few times, it all becomes second nature.

Have a store loyalty card? Get the app or sign up online

The best places to start with digital couponing are the supermarkets and drugstore chains where you have a loyalty card. Go to the retailer’s website, or download its app to your smartphone and create a digital account.

Next, sign in and link your loyalty card to the account by typing in your card number or scanning the card with your phone. With many stores, here’s what you do next.

1. Look for a Coupons or Deals icon on the app or website. Tap or click on it, and coupons will pop up.

2. Scroll down the page for deals; often you can search by category, such as Fruits and Vegetables or Personal Care. Tap or click on the deals you want; you’ll often see a plus sign or a scissors icon. The deals should automatically load onto your loyalty card account.

3. To redeem a coupon, scan your loyalty card if you’re doing self-checkout, or have the cashier scan it. The discounts will automatically get applied.

If you left your loyalty card at home, the cashier can scan your unique barcode from your phone since it’s usually stored on the store’s app. Some stores also may accept a phone number linked to the account.

At Coupons.com, you can print out digital coupons

This site showcases cash-back deals. But it’s also a clearinghouse for digital coupons for a variety of products.

Unlike many other apps and sites, it lets you print those coupons. On the website, click on Printable Coupons on the top left-hand corner of the page. Then click on the blue plus signs for the coupons you want.

Before you can print, you’ll be asked for a mobile phone number to be sent a verification code.

If you have only a landline, submit that number instead. On the next screen, you’ll be able to request a call with the code recited to you. Other brands’ sites that let you print coupons may also have such a workaround.

Dollar stores these days also have their own apps, coupons

On the website of Dollar General or Family Dollar, sign in to your account or create one. Then click on DG Digital Coupons on dollargeneral.com or scroll down the page on familydollar.com. You’ll need a mobile phone or landline to sign up.

Here’s how to use the DG app. Family Dollar’s works similarly.

1. On the app’s home page, tap Explore Digital Coupons.

2. Tap All to get a list of coupons, or filter by product category, such as Foods or Beverages.

3. Tap Add to Wallet to “clip” the coupons you want to use.

4. To see the coupons you collected when at the store, go to the app and tap Wallet | Coupons.

5. Enter your phone number at the register, and the coupons will be applied to your balance automatically.

Big-box Target taps into desire for more discounts

Both Target and Walmart have subscription programs that cost around $100 a year, Target Circle 360 and Walmart+. But Target also has the free Target Circle membership, which offers coupons online or through its app; Walmart accepts printed coupons in stores but does not have digital coupons.

On the Target website, click on Deals at the top left-hand side of the home page. From the drop-down menu, click Target Circle Offers. You can also find it on the home page of the Target app.

Sign up for the Circle loyalty club, which gives you access to perks such as exclusive discounts on groceries. Here’s how to download digital coupons on the app.

1. Tap on Target Circle Offers | All to see the digital coupons.

2. Pick one of the 12 categories and scroll down to see current offers. In each category, you can use filters to explore subcategories, such as Baking Supplies or Deli & Meat in the Food category.

3. Tap on the plus sign. A check mark will appear, which means the offer has downloaded to your account.

4. While you’re shopping, tap the Wallet icon on the bottom of your screen, then tap Saved Offers for a list of your coupons. You can check for additional offers while you shop by using the app’s barcode scanner, located in the Discover icon at the bottom of the home screen.

5. At the register, tap Wallet at the bottom of the screen, then tap the red bar labeled Show My Barcode. Show that to the cashier, and your coupons will be subtracted from your balance.

This story, originally published Nov. 4, 2022, was updated with additional information.

%{postComment}%

Contributing: Chris Morris and Lexi Pandell

Lisa Lee Freeman, a consumer and shopping expert, was founder and editor in chief of ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports.