How to Save on Groceries with Digital Coupons and Rebate Apps

You can still clip coupons from grocery store flyers and local newspapers, but if you want to find ways to save even more on your grocery bills, it’s time to go digital.

Digital coupons are the same as paper ones — they’re just now in an electronic form you access through an app on your phone or the store’s website. You can access digital coupons through your grocery store’s app or website or through shopping reward apps or both.

Unsure where to begin? We’ll walk you through the ins and outs — where to find digital coupons, how to redeem them, plus tips to make digital couponing part of your grocery shopping routine.

Start With Your Favorite Grocery Store

If you’re new to digital coupons, your first step should be to make sure you can easily access them at your regular grocery store. Most grocery stores require you to have an online account to “clip” their weekly digital coupons, which they list on the website or app just like the ones in the in-store flyer.

If you don’t have an online account, visit the store’s website and create your profile. Depending on the store, you may be able to join or link your membership in their rewards program — the one offering points or additional savings every time you shop.

Next, download the store’s app for your phone. Search by the grocery store’s name in your phone’s app section or find it on the store’s website.

Now you’re ready to get those digital coupons. Before you go to the store or place an order for pick-up or delivery, use the store’s app or website to click on the coupons you want applied to your account. You can usually search for coupons by grocery aisle category or under what’s new.

If you’re shopping in the store, the checkout clerk will scan the store’s app on your phone to retrieve the coupons you’ve clipped that match your purchases. If you’re picking up groceries at the store, you may need to have your store app scanned at pick up.

If you’re having them delivered, you may be able to apply coupons to your order when you place it online. It varies by store and delivery method, so feel free to ask someone — customer service or a friend — to help.

To find the latest deals and make sure they’re loaded to your account the next time you shop, check the website or app every week when you’re preparing your shopping list.

Tip: Not sure you’ll use a coupon? Click on it anyway so it’s loaded to your account just in case.

Add in Other Coupon Apps

Now that you’re comfortable using your grocery store’s digital coupons, it’s time to explore other tech tools that can help you save even more on groceries, whether you’re at your regular grocery store or not.

Download the free app from The Krazy Coupon Lady to find coupons from several different sources all in one place, and get grocery offers sent right to your phone. Sometimes, you can find a manufacturer’s coupon, a store coupon, and an online coupon for the same item — and many stores will allow you to use all three. If you want to learn more about how to do this more often — it’s called coupon stacking — read up on the how-tos here.

You may have heard of Coupons.com for free printable coupons, but you can also access digital manufacturer coupons through the Coupons.com app. What’s more, you can find coupon codes to use at stores that sell home goods, pet care, automotive supplies, and sporting goods, plus some restaurants and online retailers like Amazon.

Coupons.com also includes rebate offers that you can use to earn cash back. Find out more about how this works below.

Tip: Enabling location services within a coupon app on your phone can help you find digital offers for stores in your area.

Earn Cash Back on Your Groceries with Rebate Apps

Did you know you can earn cash back on grocery items after you’ve finished shopping? Rebate apps give you cash — either directly into your bank or Paypal account or by check — when you submit your receipt. You typically receive the cash you earn when you reach $20 in credit.

Ibotta is perhaps the most well known rebate app. In addition to grocery stores, Ibotta features retailers who sell groceries like WalMart, Target, and Dollar General. And like coupons.com, it includes offers from all kinds of other retailers. Download the Ibotta browser extension on your computer to automatically see and apply offers for the retailer you are shopping with online.

Checkout51 is another great app to use when you shop at drug, gas, or convenience stores. The app features new offers every week for groceries and everyday items, plus savings on gas.

Tip: To get rebates, snap a picture of your paper receipt on your phone or see if you can link the app to your store account so it’s uploaded automatically.

Go Digital, Shop Smart

Once you get the hang of them, digital coupons are convenient, especially because they help you find more savings. Want to know when your favorite brand has a coupon or if there’s a special offer for an item you know you’ll use? You may be able to set up an app to automatically send you a notification on your phone or get emails that highlight the latest deals.

All the same, buying something just because there’s a coupon doesn’t necessarily save you money. Aim to use digital coupons for items you already buy on a regular basis.

3 Affordable And Delicious Dinner Ideas

Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas

Heat oven to 425°F. Add black bean soup to small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring soup to boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bean mixture thickens, about 10 minutes.
Lay the bananas on parchment or wax paper and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Assemble enchiladas: Spread 1 can red enchilada sauce in bottom of 9”x13” baking dish. In center of each tortilla, add 2 tbsp. black beans with sauce, 1 tbsp. shredded cheese and 1 tsp. scallions. Tightly roll tortilla and place seam-side down in baking dish. Top rolled tortillas with the additional 1 can red enchilada sauce, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake enchiladas until filling and sauce are hot and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining scallions; serve.

Ingredients

2 15-oz. cans black bean soup
2 8-oz. cans red enchilada sauce
16 corn tortillas heated according to package directions
2 cups shredded Mexican four-cheese blend
3 scallions/green onions, chopped

Skillet Noodles With Beef and Spinach

Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Drain and rinse to remove excess fat.
Add onion, tomato sauce, water, and spices to the drained, cooked beef. Cover and bring to a boil.
Add noodles. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Defrost spinach in the microwave. Drain and squeeze out excess liquid and repeat if necessary. Stir spinach into skillet mixture. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir mixture and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add water if mixture gets too dry.

Ingredients

½ lb lean ground beef
½ cup onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, low sodium
1 ½ cup water
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp oregano, dried
¼ tsp basil, dried
6 oz uncooked spaghetti
1 package (10 oz) frozen spinach, chopped
½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Za’atar Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli

Combine yogurt, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper. Chill. Combine oil, lemon juice, za’atar, chicken and vegetables in a plastic bag or reusable container. Season with salt and pepper and massage to coat. Chill 2-10 hours.
Spread chicken (skin side up) and vegetables on sheet pan. Push vegetables to edges and turn potatoes cut-side down. Roast at 425°F until chicken registers internal temperature of 160°F (20-30 minutes).
Remove chicken and vegetables to plates. Spoon yogurt onto sheet pan and scrape with spatula to combine. Pour over chicken.

Ingredients

1 pound bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and/or legs
8 halved baby potatoes, 6 large broccoli florets
1/4 cup plain yogurt
zest and juice of 1/2 large lemon
1 clove garlic, pressed; salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons za’atar
Options: Replace za’atar with 1 teaspoon each dried thyme, cumin, and sesame seeds. Or top with crushed pistachios and fresh thyme.