Types of Coupons and Where to Find Them

Manufacturer

The most common type of coupon is a manufacturer coupon.  These are put out by the companies that make the product.  The easiest way to pick up these coupons is to get your Sunday newspaper.  There are several inserts like Red Plum, Smart Source, Proctor and Gamble and Pepsi.  Red Plum and Smart Source come almost every week, Proctor and Gamble once a month and Pepsi a few times a year.        

Manufacturer's coupons are generally for a fixed amount off ($2 off 1) or can be for a free product (Buy 2, Get 1 Free).  Make sure you carefully read the coupon to determine if it will double, how many you can use and to make sure you have the correct product in the correct quantities.  If the expiration date or barcode does not appear on the coupon you cannot use it.

If you want multiple copies of a coupon or insert you can buy multiple copies of the paper or look for a coupon clipping service that sells individual coupons or whole inserts.  It is illegal to sell coupons, so the price you pay is for the person's time to cut and assemble the order.

You can also get manufacturer coupons from the internet by printing from a coupon website or directly from the product's website.  Most coupons will allow 2 prints for each printer you have access to.

Manufacturer coupons can also be printed by a store's Catalina machine at checkout.  A printer at the register will print out a coupon based on your purchases.  They often will indicate where you can redeem the coupon, but you should be able to use them at any store.

Another place to get manufacturer coupons in the store is near the products.  Look for blinkie machines that dispense coupons (there is a delay between coupons) and tear pads where you pull off a paper coupon.  Some products have "peelies" which are stickers that often say Save $1 NOW attached to the product.  You don't have to use your coupon immediately and can file them away for later as they often have expiration dates 1-2 years away.  Some products will have coupons inside and will often indicate the type and value of the coupons on their packaging.

Store

These coupons are put out by the individual store and can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon for greater discounts.  Some (like Harris Teeter) can be loaded directly to your store card from a website so they come off automatically at checkout.  Giant and Target send out store coupons in the mail.  Target store coupons also come in the Sunday paper as a separate insert or as part of Red Plum or Smart Source.  These coupons almost never double.

Catalina (On Your Next Order)

These coupons are often advertised in the weekly circular as Buy 3 and Save $5 on your next order.  You may also receive Catalinas for free items like milk or ground beef that rarely have manufacturer coupons.  If you buy the correct amount of items, a coupon will print at the register which can be used like cash on your next checkout.  These offers are often only good once per transaction.  If you plan to get multiple Catalinas you may have to divide your purchase into multiple transactions.  You may also receive a Catalina notifying you of a future deal.