Coupon Codes

What Are Coupon Codes?

Coupon codes are simply an updated version of the paper coupons we often use to obtain discounts when shopping for groceries and other household essentials at brick-and-mortar stores. When you shop online, you enter a coupon code into a special box during the check out process instead of giving the cashier a slip of paper that lists your discount.

Coupon codes can be used to save money on books, DVDs, clothes, computers, mp3 players, and nearly anything else you wish to buy online. Although there are many different types of coupon codes, most fall into one of the following categories:

• Free shipping
• A percentage off your total purchase
• A specific dollar amount off your total purchase
• A gift with purchase

Evaluating a Coupon Site

As consumers become more interested in finding the best deals online, enterprising companies have responded by creating websites that help people quickly locate the coupon codes they need. However, if you’re serious about saving money when shopping online, it’s important to choose the right coupon website for your needs.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How often is the site updated?
• Can I sign up for a newsletter to be informed of the latest coupon codes?
• What is the procedure for removing expired coupons?
• Is it easy to search for the coupon codes I need?
• Are there coupons for most of the stores where I regularly shop?
• What personal information does the site ask for?
• What do the site owners do with my personal information?
• Can I opt-out of additional e-mail or listing on other sites?

Most of the answers to these questions can be found by reading the website’s “About Us” or “FAQ” page.

Another factor to consider is that many sites feature a coupon code for a particular retailer but do not include all the exclusions of the offer. For example, certain percentage-off online codes are not good for the purchase of tech items. So review all promotions carefully.

Helpful Websites

If you’re interested in finding coupon codes to help with your online shopping, the following websites may be useful.

• Ebates lets you search for discounts on toys, books, office supplies, collectibles, clothes, and other items. Then, after making a purchase from one of the site’s links, you can earn a cash back reward in addition to your coupon code savings. This site was recently mentioned on CNN as one of the best online shopping resources.
• If you create a user account with eCoupons, you can earn a cash back reward on your purchases by buying through the links on their site. This is in addition to any coupon code savings you can find. The site also offers a $5 referral bonus for telling a friend about the program.
• Current Codes has a full-time staff that works to post coupon codes from Amazon, Staples, Barnes and Noble, and other popular retailers.
• Coupon Craze lists codes from Blockbuster, Overstock, and other popular e-commerce websites. You can search for the site’s free shipping offers, popular offers, or offers that are expiring soon.
• All Free Coupons offers discount codes from a variety of web retailers, including Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret, Best Buy, Office Depot, Sears, Toys R Us, and JCPenney.

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