Thankfully, the days of clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper are long gone. Online coupon sites give us access to hundreds of coupons whenever we want—no scissors required. All it takes is copying and pasting a special code onto the checkout page of any retail Web site, or simply clicking on a link and the discount is automatically applied.
Online coupon sites gain traffic every year—especially during special occasions and the holidays. ComScore data reveals that coupon sites garnered 27 million unique U.S. visitors in October 2008, up 33 percent from the same month a year earlier. As the prices of food and entertainment seem to rise every month, it's no wonder that online coupon sites are seeing such numbers.
Here is a collection of the top 10 coupon sites. With them, you'll find coupon codes for free shipping, product discounts, and more. Happy coupon clicking!
1. RetailMeNot.comThroughout the year, RetailMeNot.com is the first site I visit to find coupon codes and printable coupons before paying full price on an item. Search more than 20,000 stores by entering the store's Web address. The site will then present user- or staff-submitted codes as well as a list of discounts from similar stores if you're not crazy about the ones displayed. If you're anything like me, you don't want to miss out on a bargain. So, you'll want to add the RetailMeNot 2.2 extension to your Firebox browser, which automatically alerts you of coupon codes. I almost always have luck using the coupon codes submitted on this site. Recently I was able to get $5 off my $50 holiday purchase at Target.com using one of RetailMeNot's codes. Follow RetailMeNot on Facebook or chat in the site's newly launched Shopping Forums.
2. FreeShipping.org
If there's one thing I hate about online shopping, it's paying for shipping. But now I don't have to, thanks to FreeShipping.org. This site offers free shipping coupons and coupon codes to over 850 stores, including NewEgg, Circuit City, and Buy.com. Simply enter a store name, select a store from the drop-down menu, or pick a shopping category. For a recent purchase from the Discovery Channel store, I was able to find a coupon code for 25 percent off my order, plus free shipping. Can't beat that!
3. CheapStingyBargains.com
Before buying that new computer this year, see if there's a coupon code for it first. CheapStingyBargains.com shares coupon codes from several computer manufacturers, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Besides computers, you'll find tons of coupons for the tech fan: digital cameras, GPS devices, monitors, video games—the list goes on. From time to time I'll use printable coupons when I'm not shopping online, so the Printable Coupons page is worth checking out.
*4. Dealio (beta)
If I'm looking for a coupon to use for a specific product, I turn to Dealio (beta). Founded in August of 2005, Dealio makes it very easy to find the best coupons and deals so that you never have to pay retail price again. You can compare prices on over 20 million products in the last 30 days; browse the directory to find a coupon or rebate; get instant price comparisons and coupons without visiting the site by downloading the Dealio Toolbar for both Firefox and IE; subscribe to the Dealio RSS; or add the Dealio Widgets to your desktop. And if you're stumped on what to give, check out the site's Holiday Gift Guide, full of unique gift ideas for everyone on your list.
5. The Bargainist
The Bargainist, a PCMag Top 100 Favorite Blog of 2007, reports daily on the best deals and online coupons in categories such as movies, toys, and computers. You can tailor the results by choosing a store or category. You'll also find deal news, shopping tips, and free offers, like a free TiVo cookie cutter. And since I often shop on Amazon.com, I find The Bargainist's Amazon products sorted by discount list online tool extremely helpful.
6. Deal Locker (beta)
What I enjoy about Deal Locker (beta) is how quick and easy it is to search for coupons. Upon visiting the site, there's a big search box at the top to type in a store name for coupons. Or you can click through for a full list of store coupons or click on a product category. Deal Locker also has its own Secret Amazon Discount Finder. Simply choose a category and a minimum discount, and the finder will spit back Amazon items that have recently dropped in price.
7. BargainJack
Don't know jack about where to find online bargains? BargainJack.com does. Here, you can shop for products by merchant, the latest deals, or category, such as Home Electronics and my fav, Wacky Fun Stuff. Click on the Sales & Coupons tab for a list of over 180 storewide sales and coupons, which you can sort by newest arrivals, most popular, product title, store name, lowest price, or highest discount. Sign up for daily e-mail alerts or follow BargainJack on Twitter.
8. FatWallet.com
Those of you who love to brag to others that you just scored a hot deal should visit FatWallet.com. The site's half-million community members analyze every shopping opportunity and reveal which coupon codes worked for them. Or check out the Cash Back & Coupons section for the latest, most popular, and expiring coupons and deals. Click on a store and the site displays coupon code offers, specials, retailer ratings, and department offers. Want to earn money when you shop? FatWallet's free Cash Back program lets you earn commissions on purchases you make through Cash Back merchants such as Barnes & Noble, Brookstone, and Hammacher Schlemmer.
9. Slickdeals.net
Founded in 1999, Slickdeals.net offers more than 800 coupons submitted by merchants you don't typically see on other coupon sites, including Lenovo, Kodak, and ThinkGeek. The Coupon Listings page displays all of the information you need, including the merchant name, the discount, the discount code (if applicable), the expiration date, and the posted date. You can also view new coupons, expiring coupons, technology coupons, and store coupons in alphabetical order. View coupons while on the go with SlickDeals Mobile.
10. CouponMom.com
Who knows how to find sales better than your mom? At CouponMom.com, founder Stephanie Nelson scouts coupon codes for over 35 categories, such as Music & Movies, Computer & Software, and Phone & Wireless. After clicking on a category, you'll see featured deals, hot deals, new deals, and expiring deals from merchants. The newly launched Coupon Mom Forum lets users share their favorite shopping tips and deals.
Reblogged from The 10 Best Coupon Sites: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2336400,00.asp
by Jennifer L. DeLeo
*NOTE! Handbags4Hunger is featured on Dealio now, listed here: http://www.dealio.com/members/handbags4hunger/ where you can find a nice discount:
DealioDeal10 Promo Code to Save 10%
Handbags4Hunger blog, a business with a social conscience; includes reviews on cool and new products I love. By Lisa Stadtmueller.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received one or more of the products or services mentioned in various blog posts for a discount or free in exchange for my unbiased review. I will always give my honest opinion regardless of any compensation received. Some posts may contain affiliate links. When you click on those links to make your purchases, I receive compensation at no extra cost to you. I love it when you do that. ;) So thank you!
