I’ve been on this coupon kick lately, so I thought I’d try something new here at Budgets Are Sexy :) I’m not sure how cool it is really, haha…, but maybe y’all can tell me after checking it out? Maybe you’ll find it helpful too? A part of me thinks it’s just like all those other billion coupon code sites out there, but then again I could just be jaded and it’s actually a lot more awesome’er. (A boy can wish, right?)
Here’s the new concoction: CouponsAreSexy.com
I’m calling them “J. Money Coupons” :) And if you clicked, you’ll know it just takes you right back to the new coupon section of Budgets Are Sexy, haha… and if you didn’t click – well, now you know. Either way, I’m kinda just curious as to the odds of it taking off or not. Any immediate impressions after first glance? Lame? Has potential? Think you’d ever use it?
My friends over at Savings.com came up with the structure behind the bad boy (it’s a new “widget” trend that’s about to start taking off in the coupon world, I’m told. By them, and actually a few of their competitors too – they just beat ’em to the starting line ;)) and in theory I’m kinda digging it. I’d much rather use my own site, or someone else’s that I know and like, over a commercial platform all the time, cuz at least they’d be getting some pennies out of it too, ya know? I don’t even know how many times a week we search for coupons online! A crap ton!
Oooh actually, that brings up a whole bunch of questions that pop into mind. Could you do me a favor and answer some of them for me? I think that would help shed even more light on the way we all search for coupons these days. Especially if everyone leaves them in the comments :)
- How often to do use online coupon codes? (Or DO you even use them?)
- How do you usually find them? (i.e. do you google? or go straight to your fave site?)
- Do you HAVE a favorite coupon site? (Mine is usually Retail Me Not. Now, J. Money Coupons ;))
- Do you care where you get your coupons from? Or just that they work?
Thanks!! That last one was something that I’ve been hearing a lot about recently – that some sites have MORE coupons out there than others, but that they don’t really work so what’s the point anyways? Usually I just move on to the next one and forget about it all, but I know to others it’s kinda important. For what it’s worth, Savings.com says they have fewer coupons than their competitors, BUT they should almost always work like a good 95% of the time or something (who knows if that’s true or not). Either way, that’s enough questions for now. I think I asked you like 24 of them since starting this post! Haha… A new J. Money record! What can I say, I’m an inquisitive bastard ;) (And momma always said no question was a stupid question!)
I’m gonna give it a few weeks and see if my habits start changing. At the very least I can start paying MYSELF for every dang time I search for Go Daddy coupons! Haha… I literally have 80+ domains still (and privacy add-ons, hosts, etc etc), and while I HAVE indeed cut back believe it or not, it’s still one of my all-time favorite things to splurge on. When your brain keeps creating stuff in your head, you gotta grab up that website name (and idea) before someone else acts on it! Though it’s annoying as hell when they instead squat on it for years to come… F’ers… at least I TRY and get all mine up at some point ;)
But yeah – check out the new coupon section and tell me what you think. Even if you hate it. At the end of the day, this site is really for you guys – and if it doesn’t add any value then off with it’s head it goes! And onto project #308 it is! Haha… I got mad love for y’all either way. You really do make my job easy here and I wouldn’t change it for the world :)
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PS: For all you bloggers interested in adding coupons to your site, search for “Savings.com” under WordPress Plugins and then apply to be a beta tester. Not sure who, exactly, they’re opening it up to or anything, but it never hurts to try! And if someone’s reading this from Savings.com, maybe you can tell us? Thanks!
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I gave up clipping newspaper coupons – I’m a real food junkie and the only coupons I EVER find are for piles and piles of packages, preprocessed, garbage-laden “food.”
I do, however, use online coupons. I always run a google search, because many of the companies I buy from aren’t mainstream, so I never know what sites to look at. I figure if I get nothing but free shipping, or make up the cost of shipping in a discount, I’m no farther behind than if I’d bought it in town (assuming I could) – when I save more than that, its like pay day.
I don’t use coupons but I think I’m on the fringe- we rarely eat processed foods, we don’t eat at chain restaurants, the books I read come from the library and I spent last year not buying any new clothes (thank god for swaps!).
Love ya, J.Money but I’m no help ;)
I thought your coupon page was easy to navigate though!
1.How often to do use online coupon codes? If I’m going to buy something online I always look for a code for that site or item. If I can’t find one I’ll look for another sites codes.
2.How do you usually find them? http://www.google.com or the other major search engines and I just try a few different strings to help me locate what I’m looking for
3.Do you HAVE a favorite coupon site? fatwallet, dealzon, buxr, dealio, techbargains (use fatwallet a lot)
4.Do you care where you get your coupons from? Don’t care at all….I only want to save some cash for other toys. Well if i’m working I care what site I visit but other then that it don’t matter.
How often to do use online coupon codes? ALL the time. I do a TON of online shopping (something I really need to curb!) and I never press ‘order’ without searching for promo codes first. It’s amazing what 5 minutes of searching can reap in terms of dollars saved. I recently placed an order for high-end thank you notes from Picaboo.com. After designing the card, the order came to approximately $286. After a quick search, I found a 50% promo code on retailmenot.com, and saved a cool $143. I was ecstatic….so I promptly bought a new Coach bag with my ‘savings’! ha!
How do you usually find them? usually Google, but if that doesnt bring anything, then I go directly to retailmenot. I have also put a shout out on Facebook for Kohl’s or Express codes. One of my friends usually has gotten a coupon and will share the code with me!
Do you HAVE a favorite coupon site? Retailmenot. But, I want to try Fatwallet now!
Do you care where you get your coupons from? Nope…I just want them to work. I also clip coupons and try to match up sales. I am far from an extreme couponer, but I have been known to get a free shampoo or cereal now and then. If there are coupons for something I dont use, but can get the item free, I will often buy it and donate it or give to a friend that could use. I also love restaurant.com for cheap dining out!
1. I always look for a coupon code before I finish my online shopping. You can almost always get a few bucks off if you look.
2. I Google “whatever store coupon code” – that will normally pull up your biggest coupon sites. I’ll try a bunch of different sites before I settle on one code.
3. No favorite site, just whatever has the best code at the time
4. I only care that they work
The biggest complaint I have about coupon code sites is that they hide their coupons and when you click on them, it creates pop-up windows. Just show me the coupon code, i don’t want to have to click to reveal. Also, I want the site to be able to accept coupon code inputs from users.
1 I try to use codes every time I purchase stuff online.or making a big purchase at a store.
2 google, check email, facebook, or snail mail for new coupons
3 no favorite site, but email is my favorite way to get coupons for the places I like
4 don’t care where the coupons come from, but would rather have them sent to my email and organized for ease of use either online or at a store.
I’ll always search for online coupon codes before making a purchase. I generally like Retailmenot because they have working coupons – but other sites are fine too. Don’t like scam sites like “applebeescoupons.com” that don’t work. To me the main issue is that the coupons work, don’t care where they came from.
I also always search for printable coupons via the online yellow pages or just google. Pretty much all my searches start with google and stick with the first results page.
How often to do use online coupon codes? (Or DO you even use them?)
It’s pretty rare. I changed how I shop grocery stores/plan my meals and I still save a bundle without clipping. (if it would help, you can read why here: http://www.workathomemarket.com/7-ways-to-save-money-without-coupons/
How do you usually find them? (i.e. do you google? or go straight to your fave site?)
I only use them if they come in the mail or I happen to get a hold of a newspaper.
Do you HAVE a favorite coupon site? (Mine is usually Retail Me Not. Now, J. Money Coupons ;))
I like to print of coupons from couponmom.com when I need something that they are offering a coupon for. It’s also great for the holidays, as you can usually find coupons for holiday baking items.
Do you care where you get your coupons from? Or just that they work?
As long as they are free and are for something I will use, then yes as long as they work, ha!. :D
I ALWAYS use coupons when shopping online. Always.
I google for coupon codes, I use retailmenot a lot, I even try expired coupon codes and sometimes they work. Also, If I notice on retailmenot that there’s a “SUMMER11” coupon code, and it’s fall I’ll try “FALL11” just to see if it’ll work….and often they do work.
I have a lil article about how I save crazy money shopping online with codes/rebates etc… check it: http://www.okdani.com/2011/03/28/how-to-save-money-buying-almost-anything/
xo
Dani
okdani.com
Coupons honestly make me nuts! I am not a fan. I love saving money but I find coupons get me to spend money I wasn’t planning too. I always end up spending more than I have budgeted. If I was a shopper, I might really like this feature. For me, I’m leaving the coupons behind.
1.How often to do use online coupon codes? Everytime I shop online I search for some kind of coupon code. I also always make sure to shop through ebates.com to get the extra cash back.
2.How do you usually find them? I always use google to search for coupons.
3.Do you HAVE a favorite coupon site? I ususally have the most success with Retail Me Not.
4.Do you care where you get your coupons from? Or just that they work?
I don’t particularly care where they come from as long as they work but if coming to your site helped you out, instead of a large company like Retail Me Not, I’d rather come here.
Thanks for the honest feedback so far everyone, keep ’em coming!! :)
@AmandaZ – Agreed :) Usually you can find some pretty good coupons too if you spend a little bit searchin’… I just wish one place had EVERYTHING! haha…
@Molly – Well that’s good! Thanks :)
@Kevin – Yeah, I like Fatwallet too actually – forgot about that one! Thanks for being honest :)
@Nicole – Ooooh all good info! I like the facebook checking with friends too, never thought about that but great idea!! And you’re too funny w/ your coach bag, haha… you’re like me and Go Daddy ;)
@tom – Haha, agreed. I wonder if there’s some rules that companies have or something though where they have to hide them because of that? Or maybe the coupons sites just want the extra clicks and page views/etc to pump up their stats more ;) Smart in a business sense, but only if it doesn’t scare the couponers away.
@LB – Ooooooh now there’s an idea! Coupons E-MAILED to you? I like that… cuz then you can categorize them out via labels and all that when you need them.. hmmmm… wanna write a guest post for me later on how to coupon using email? ;) I’m sure there’s some good secrets/tips you probably know more than the rest of us.
@Leslie – Yeah, same way I do it too really. Never thought about searching for “printable coupons” though – I bet there’s a whole subculture on those alone!
@Work At Home Market – Coupon Mom is pretty famous, good one :) Wonder if she’ll be at FINCON?
@Dani @ OK Dani.com – Cool! Good point on expired ones or trying your own too, based on their formmatting – I do that too ;) Whatever works, right?
@Carrie Starr – Your name is AWESOME! I love it!!! (also sounds like both a celebrity’s name, and also a porn star’s fyi ;))
@Corie – Awwww, thanks! Yeah try it out and see if you like it :) If not, go back to the awesome retail me not! You rock. Also, I keep meaning to try ebates.com but I always feel like it’s a lot of work. Not sure if that’s just all in my head or not…
I do most my online shopping on Amazon but if it’s not amazon then I will do a google search for an online coupon. I also seem to come across retail me not quite a bit. I couldn’t care less where they come from as long as they work. But now I will give special preference to J. Money Coupons.
Good luck!!
1. Rarely.
2. Someone tells me about them or I just Google it.
3. Nope.
4. Nope, just that I save money.
I always, always use online coupon codes. I don’t like to shop online unless shipping is free.
I find them at Ebates (to get cash back) or RetailmeNot.
I do care where they come from. I know that some companies want you to be signed up for their emails or FB page to “earn” the coupon code or discount, so I try to jump thru the hoops. I’m signed up for a lot of those newsletters on my junk email account, so even if I find a code online, it’s almost always in my email pile anyway.
At first glance I think your Coupon Section is a good idea! Now, to the other questions:
1. I use online coupons anytime Im shopping online, which isn’t too often, maybe 2-3 times a month.
2. I usually Google, check their Facebook fan page, then the actual website.
3. Nope, I just Google.
4. Nope, don’t care where I get the coupons from as long as they work.
I don’t consider online coupon codes “coupons”. Do they help? Yes. Do I Google them when there’s a discount/coupon field at checkout? Of course.
Coupons however, are generally printable, or have a bar code you scan at the register. I use GeoQpons on the iPhone. LOVE it!
I get most of mine from the newspaper and match with sites like couponmom.com and thekrazycouponlady.com. I don’t coupon for lots of food, but practically all of the non food household goods I have close to a year’s supply of. My coupon savings nets me anywhere between $300 and $450 a month lately, and I’m able to give away a bunch of it to my family. (Our family will never have to buy toothpaste again.)
I’ve got coupons for protein bars, milk, yogurt, string cheese, organic eggs, free salad with salad dressing kit, etc. Yeah, there are a lot of “packaged” options. Skip them. There’s coupons for free and nearly free candy that I don’t use because I would be a very large woman if I did! But for the nay-sayers – go ahead and keep paying full price because you guys are the ones that pay for all of us to get these outrageous deals. Oh – any my fiance’s favorite perk – he never ever has to eat generic food again.
J$ and Team – you guys are rockstars! Thanks for all the feedback and great answers to the questions. If I can help demystify anything about the coupon world I’m here to help. At the end of the day I think all coupon sites just want to find great deals (that work) and pass that on to customers.
Here at Savings.com we’re understand that there is a bit of a deal overload going on right now (my gf gets about 10+ emails about deals everyday) – local deals – daily deals – weekly deals – travel deals – national online merchant deals – and what we’ve done is try to aggregate all of it into a personalized feed to give the customers the deals they actually care about.
In the end, everyone is trying to spend their money wisely. Either to get out of debt, buy a home, or save up for a family. We’re just trying to do our part ;) Thanks for your help J$!!!
@Ashley @ Money Talks – Woo, thanks so much! I, too, do most of my shopping at Amazon.com :) I keep storing up all my credit and it feels like I get stuff for free there now! Can’t beat that.
@Jenna, Adaptu Community Manager – thanks for answering them :)
@Gina – Oh man, I can imagine. You power through and get those deals though, whereas I just click away happily and move onto the next place I can find whatever coupon I’m looking for ;) I hate giving up my personal stuff for something small in return. Though I’m thinking of creating a fake account for everything – then it’s on! :)
@C Ann – Cool! Thanks for responding for me :)
@kirazona – I need you at my house!!! I want free toothpaste for life! Haha… rock on with your bad self ;) (and I’ll have to check out GeoQpons too – never heard of, but I got an iPhone!)
@Soam @ Savings.com – Awesome to see you here brotha! Thanks for stopping by and making yourself available like that – much appreciated :) And I’ll see you real soon again at FINCON, eh?
Coupons are great! What a user friendly way to save cash!
I am a couponer. Like seriously ( I even have a book). I won’t buy anything before I check to see if I have a coupon. This does two things, I make more informed purchases and I save money. I started doing this just to get by bu, found myself needing to get more for less with the expansion of my blended family. I get coupons for food (coupons.com, redplum.com) and or manufacturers sites. I also get coupons for clothes. good, services, resturants ect. (retailmenot, couponcabin, facebook) I have created an email dedicated to fielding all the coupons ads and coupons that come in!
I save lots of money doing this.REALLY. I am in the process of finding a way to accurately calculate my spending so that I can see the savings in black in white. We use to shop at a warehouse store spending $500+/month. Now I spend roughly $300/month and that includes tolietries. But, this does take up time! I cut out coupons from 2-4 circulars a week, organize the coupons and coordinate the sales w the coupons to get good deals if possible. I only buy what we need or actually use- the rest I clip and donate to APO’s and FPO’s overseas, as they can use 3 month old coupons.
To those who say couponing is not for the health eater, not true! The diet of myself and my infant differs from the rest of my family; I eat very little meat and majority organic or natural foods. Most stores carry a natural or organic line, some even have coupons ex. Safeway ( if you sign up for their club card). Wholefoods also has its own instore coupons. You can check a site called mambosprouts.com they offer printable manufacturers coupons. Also most manufacturers will send you coupons if you write them and ask.
I thought about including it for my site too but if too many bloggers are doing it, the market will be saturated :( So far I’ve only seen you and PT Money implement it so far. I would love a plugin for wedding planning coupons though!
@The Calculator Dude – I like to think so ;)
@DWilson – Love it! I want to see a picture of that coupon book ;) Maybe you should start a couponing blog and share your tips with everyone? That would be cool. And you can update w/ weekly savings and what not, hehe… but if you thought couponing took up a lot of time, boy… don’t get started blogging unless you’re ready to get addicted! ;)
@Briana @ 20 and Engaged – Yeah, but we all have different audiences too :) You know how many millions and millions of people are online every day looking for coupons? It won’t get saturated ;) Do it if you really want to. Not sure if they have wedding-specific ones, but maybe?
WAY late on this one due to back-from-vacation backlog, but I always put my vote in for the Refund Cents site. (You can find it under “$$ Saving/Making” on my “Resources” page.)
They do all the work for you–post coupons as they’re available, match up available coupons with your store’s weekly circular deals, post rebates and other deals to help you get cash back or stuff-for-cheap. If there was only one site I checked for all my couponing needs (and there pretty much is now, my time has gotten so limited), it would most def be RF. :)
Oh, cool – thx! Never heard of but will have to check out :) Welcome back from vacay!