How to find discount codes for (almost) everything you buy (2024)

You know the old saying: nothing ventured, nothing discounted. Or something like that.

If you buy a lot of stuff online, you've no doubt experienced the pang of longing that occurs when faced with a Discount/Promotion Code box on an e-tailer's checkout page. If only you had a code, maybe you'd save a few bucks. Or even score free shipping.

Before you click Submit Order, it pays to spend a few minutes code-searching. There might just be one out there waiting for you to copy and paste.

How to find discount codes for (almost) everything you buy (1)

For example, I recently ordered a bunch of household water filters from Filters-now.com. (Seriously, I buy everything online.) When I got to the checkout page, sure enough, there was the Promo Code box.

So I did what I always do: I opened a new tab, ran a quick Google search ("Filters-now code"), and looked for options from the various code-aggregating sites that appeared in the results: CouponCabin, Dealspl.us, RetailMeNot and so on.

Sure enough, I found a 10-percent-off coupon -- and it worked! My 60 seconds of searching saved me a total of $8.36 -- not a fortune, but certainly worth the effort.

Don't feel like putting in the effort? Consider a browser plug-in that will do the heavy lifting for you. Coupons at Checkout, CouponSumo and Honey will automatically search for and apply codes for whatever store you're currently shopping.

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How to find discount codes for (almost) everything you buy (3)

Now, caveat search-or: This kind of code wrangling doesn't always pay off. Sometimes my searches come up empty, or the codes I find don't work. Likewise, an automated tool like Honey doesn't always score. On the flip-side, if it finds a lot of codes for any given store, your checkout might be delayed while it tries them all.

But you know the old saw: nothing ventured, nothing discounted. It never hurts to try. A few extra minutes might just save you a few bucks -- and maybe even more than a few. Give it a whirl the next time you buy.

And if you've scored a particularly awesome code, hit the comments and tell me how much you saved!

How to find discount codes for (almost) everything you buy (2024)

FAQs

How do I find an actual discount code? ›

- Search Google for "[store] coupon code" or "[store] promo code". Often recent codes are shared on deals blogs. - Look on the retailer's social media pages - many post codes accessible to followers. - Sign up for email lists.

How do I find a valid discount code? ›

Use a trusted source.

The better path is to check websites such as RetailMeNot, DealsPlus, Coupon Cabin and Slickdeals. These sites work with thousands of retailers and brands, as well as user submissions, to aggregate sales and codes. At RetailMeNot, all codes are tested and verified before being published.

How to get discounts everywhere? ›

Here's how to get coupons, in both paper and digital form.
  1. Shop at stores with rewards programs. ...
  2. Install a browser extension. ...
  3. Ask for manufacturer coupons. ...
  4. Search a coupon database or app. ...
  5. Visit retailer websites and apps. ...
  6. Check the Sunday newspaper. ...
  7. Pick up weekly ads at the store. ...
  8. Look at the product packaging.
Sep 25, 2023

How do you find the discount on anything? ›

Discount = Listed Price - Selling Price. Discount = Listed Price × Discount Rate. Rate of Discount = Discount% = (Discount/Listed Price) × 100.

What is a free promo code? ›

(Retail: Marketing) A promotional code is a code offered by retailers to customers who can use it to receive a discounted price when buying products online. The website lists hundreds of voucher codes and promotional codes which means you can save money instantly.

What is the formula for finding the discount? ›

Discount Formula

The formula to calculate the discount is: Discount = List Price - Selling Price. Discount (%) = (Discount/List Price) × 100.

How do you find the original price off discount? ›

Step 1: Convert the percent discount to a decimal by dividing by . Step 2: Set up the equation P = ( 1 − d ) x to find the original price of the item where is the sale price, is the discount as a decimal, and is the original price of the item.

How to get discounts online? ›

Here are some tips for finding great online deals and discounts.
  1. Search the Internet for Coupons. ...
  2. Sign Up for Promotional Emails. ...
  3. Watch Out for Seasonal Discounts and Sales. ...
  4. Use a Browser Extension for Online Shopping. ...
  5. Maximize Rewards. ...
  6. Use Referrals. ...
  7. Write a Review. ...
  8. Leave Products in Your Cart.
Feb 11, 2024

Where do extreme couponers get their coupons? ›

Extreme couponers primarily get their coupons through print sources such as store ads, newspapers or in the mail. These savers often shop with a binder filled with plastic sleeves containing hundreds of paper coupons.

Where can I get manufacturer coupons for free? ›

Major sources of digital coupons include the following.
  • Coupons.com. This website is perhaps the largest source of manufacturer coupons. ...
  • RedPlum.com. This site offers manufacturer coupons that can be printed or saved to a grocery-store loyalty card.
  • SmartSource.com. ...
  • Manufacturer websites. ...
  • Retailer websites. ...
  • Retailer apps.
Feb 22, 2019

How do I get coupons? ›

Likely, you'll find these in the newspaper (the Sunday paper usually has the most coupons), in retailers' online apps or flyers in the mail. Look for “store coupon” in the fine print. Manufacturer's coupons are issued by the company that makes the product, and can be used at any retailer that accepts them.

How do extreme couponing get things for free? ›

Combining deals to score items for free or for pennies on the dollar. The key to extreme couponing is not to take advantage of just one deal but to take advantage of multiple deals at the same time. By stacking the deals available to you, you can get great prices on items.

How do you find large discounts? ›

13 ways to get the best online deals
  1. Set a budget and make a shopping list. You likely already plan for big expenses, such as vacations, weddings or college tuition. ...
  2. Shop at the right time. ...
  3. Apply coupons. ...
  4. Compare (and match) prices. ...
  5. Use shopping tools and apps. ...
  6. Buy online, pick up in store. ...
  7. Get rewards. ...
  8. Score free stuff.
Jul 7, 2023

What is the best daily deal site? ›

Here's a list of the best-known daily deal sites for sellers and businesses in 2023.
  • Groupon. Perhaps the most recognizable daily deal site, Groupon has been on the market since 2008. ...
  • LivingSocial. ...
  • Newegg. ...
  • Overstock.com. ...
  • PatPat. ...
  • Zulily. ...
  • Amazon. ...
  • BuyDig.com.

How do you know if a promo code is real? ›

The source of a coupon is one of the best ways to tell if it's a legitimate code or not. If the deal comes from the retailer's official website, email newsletter or a verified social media page, chances are it's legit. You can also trust well-known coupon sites, like CouponCabin, to have coupons that are real.

How many digits is a discount code? ›

Medium length – the perfect length of a coupon code is between 8-12 characters long. Shorter codes are more susceptible to fraud, whereas longer codes may worsen the customer experience. Transparent characters – avoid ambiguous characters and exclude them from the charset for the code.

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