Promo codes can help you save money on your online and in-store purchases. With the rising costs of everyday items, it’s becoming more important than ever to find ways to cut expenses. Thankfully, promo codes make it easy to score discounts on everything from clothing and electronics to groceries and home goods. Whether you’re an avid online shopper or just looking to save some cash on your next purchase, this comprehensive guide will teach you how to find and use promo codes like a pro.
Where to Find Promo Codes
Promo codes are everywhere these days, you just need to know where to look. Here are some of the top places to find active promo codes and coupon codes for savings:
Retailer Emails and Texts
One of the easiest ways to get promo codes is directly from the retailers you already shop at. Many major stores send out emails and texts with discount codes and percentages off to their loyal customers. Make sure you’re signed up for emails and text alerts so you never miss out on a promo code opportunity. Checking your inbox and messages should be one of the first things you do before shopping online.
Loyalty Programs
Sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite retailers like Target and Walgreens to get exclusive promo codes and earn points towards future discounts. Downloading the retailer’s app is an easy way to manage your loyalty program and take advantage of special mobile offers. You’ll get first dibs on discounts that aren’t released to the general public.
Coupon Sites and Browser Extensions
Sites like RetailMeNot and Honey feature constantly updated promo codes for thousands of stores. Install the Honey browser extension and it will automatically try applicable coupon codes at checkout. Wikibuy and Capital One Shopping also help you earn cash back and locate codes for online purchases. Checking one of these sites should be a crucial step before buying anything online.
Social Media
Follow your favorite brands on social media and look out for posted promo codes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brands will often release discount codes to their followers that aren’t available through email or other channels, so having social alerts enabled can lead to exclusive savings.
Influencers and Bloggers
Promo codes are frequently shared by influential social media personalities and deal-sharing bloggers. Follow savings-focused accounts on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to blogs like DealNews to receive updates about the latest promo code finds. Influencers often get special partner codes to share with followers.
Cashback Sites
Cashback sites like Rakuten and Ibotta reward you with cashback on purchases from hundreds of retailers. Not only can this cashback be withdrawn or used towards future purchases, many cashback sites also compile and share active promo codes that earn you additional savings beyond the cashback percentage.
Advertisements and Circulars
Don’t overlook print advertisements and newspapers circulars when looking for promo codes. Physical coupons and codes can still score you substantial savings in-store and online. Browse the latest ads and deals at your local grocery store or pharmacy or check Sunday newspaper inserts for retailer coupons.
Google Search
One of the quickest ways to find an active promo code is simply searching “[retailer] promo code” or “[retailer] coupon code” on Google. Add the current month and year (like “February 2023”) to filter for the latest deals. The first results will often direct you to coupon sites with available codes that you can copy and use at checkout.
Tips for Maximizing Savings
Finding an incredible promo code is just the first step. Make sure you’re utilizing them strategically to maximize your savings:
Search for Stacks of Discounts
The biggest savings come from stacking multiple discount strategies, like using a promo code on top of a discounted sale item or combining it with cashback. Look for these opportunities whenever possible.
Shop Seasonal Sales
Promo codes paired with major seasonal sales like Cyber Monday, Black Friday and end-of-year holidays can lead to crazy high discounts. Create a deal alert for your favorite retailers around major sale events.
Buy in Bulk
Some promo codes have minimum purchase amounts to receive the full discount (e.g. 40% off $100+). Meet the requirements by buying in bulk or teaming up on a group purchase with friends and family to maximize the savings.
Don’t Forget Rewards
Before checking out, sign into your rewards accounts to tack on any accumulated points for additional automatic discounts. This includes airline miles, credit card reward points and retailer loyalty programs.
Try Referral Deals
Refer friends to retailer’s loyalty programs for special referral promo codes and discounts. You can easily share your referral link through messaging and social media to maximize the deals.
Sign Up for Newsletters
Many retailers offer loyalty discounts like $10 off or 10% off just for signing up for their email newsletter or text alerts. Take a few seconds to subscribe and score a fast promo code win.
Shop the Sales Calendars
Department stores like Macy’s publish their sales calendars well in advance, letting you plan when to use promos vs. waiting for major sale days. Likewise, grocery stores post their weekly ad deals ahead of time so you can match up discounts.
Don’t Forget Printable Coupons
When shopping in-store, check for printable coupons online that you can present for additional savings on top of promo codes you found. Combining stackable coupon strategies maximizes value.
How to Use Promo Codes
Once you’ve tracked down an amazing promo code, here are some tips for flawless execution:
Copy it Completely
Carefully copy the entire promo code as is, without any spaces or typos. This includes prefixes like “SAVE20” or special character strings. Including it exactly as written ensures the discount gets applied at checkout.
Check the Fine Print
Read all terms and conditions before using a promo code to confirm any minimum purchase amounts, product exclusions or expiration dates. Understanding the fine print prevents any invalid code surprises during checkout.
Apply it Before Checkout
Enter or apply promo codes in the designated spot before completing your online or in-store purchase. Depending on the retailer, the place to submit codes will vary. Make sure the discount is reflected in your cart total before finalizing the transaction.
Purchase Within the Valid Time Frame
Double check the expiration date on a promo code before attempting to use it. Most will clearly state how long the code is active and can only be redeemed during that specific promotional period.
Check Your Email Spam Folder
Sometimes promo code emails get mistakenly sorted into spam. Quickly scan your spam folder if you requested promo emails but didn’t receive anything to ensure you don’t miss out on any savings.
Try Similar Codes
Expired promo codes often get reused with slight variations or will work for other regions. If one code says it’s expired, try tweaking it slightly or looking up a similar alternative. For example, change 20OFF to 20SALE or add CA/UK for region codes.
Follow the Retailer on Social Media
Keep an eye out for exclusive one-time use promo codes posted by brands on their social media feeds. Since codes are frequently limited or expire fast, having social alerts enabled helps you find them quicker.
Bookmark Expired Codes
Even expired promo codes can still be handy because retailers will sometimes reactivate them for certain sales and promotions. Bookmark or pin old promo codes to easily reference when you’re ready to buy again.
Common Questions About Promo Codes
If you’re new to using promo codes, there may still be a few uncertainties about how they work and how to use them effectively. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What are the different types of promo codes?
There are a few common types of promo codes:
– Percentage off codes – Take a certain percentage off your cart total (e.g. 20% off)
– Dollar off codes – Deduct a fixed dollar amount from your cart total (e.g. $10 off)
– Free shipping codes – Score free shipping on your order
– BOGO codes – Buy one item, get a second item free
– Gift with purchase codes – Get free gifts or products when you spend over a set amount
Can I use more than one promo code at checkout?
It depends on the retailer’s policy. Some allow you to stack multiple promo codes from different sources. Others will only allow you to use one promo code per transaction. Try entering them one at a time to see if they work together when checking out.
Where do I enter promo codes for online shopping?
There will be a prominently labeled spot during the checkout process to enter coupon codes, typically right before you finalize payment. Look for text boxes labeled “Coupon code” or “Promotions and offers”.
Can I still use promo codes on mobile purchases?
Absolutely! Retailers allow promo codes to be submitted on both desktop and mobile devices. Simply copy the code as you normally would on desktop and look for the coupon code text box during mobile checkout.
Do I need an account to use a promo code?
It depends on the retailer. Many allow promo codes to be used by guest shoppers without requiring account creation. However, some may require signing up for email, creating an account for tracking purposes, or to access exclusive subscriber promos.
Can I use a promo code in-store?
Yes, most retailers allow promo codes found online to also be used in physical stores. Some exceptions apply to online-only promo codes. Present your coupon code at checkout either printed or shown digitally on your mobile device.
How often do retailers release new promo codes?
Promo code frequency and quality varies by retailer. Big sales like Cyber Monday see hundreds of updated codes. But average retailers release fresh promo codes ranging from weekly to monthly, with 2-3 new discount codes per month being common.
Conclusion
With the constant stream of promo codes available from retailers both big and small, there’s almost always an opportunity to save on your online and in-person purchases. Following the tips and strategies outlined above makes it easy to stay up-to-date on the best promotional discounts. A few minutes of searching before you shop can lead to incredible savings on already budget-friendly items. So take advantage of these techniques and unlock huge savings with retail promo codes today!