High tech coupon clipping II: Paperless coupons
Filed under: Budgets, Saving, Shopping
E-tickets, e-cards, e-gift certificates, and plastic currency. We're used to spending paperless; now how about paperless savings?
Last month I wrote about the Grocery Game, an online subscription service that can enhance coupon savings by matching grocery store specials with coupons. Grocery Game, and a similar (free) coupon tracker, Coupon Mom, both feature printable coupons on their sites. But our own AOL takes couponing to the next stage of digital evolution with Shortcuts, paperless coupons that you store to your grocery store membership/discount card.
Now we're talking.
Just the other day, I came home from a grocery run (where I realized nearly 50% savings, thanks to coupon/sales matching), and realized I'd left about $5 worth of additional savings on the table. Literally. My kitchen table. Grocery Game or not, it's hard to keep track of all those flimsy bits of paper, let alone clipping and sorting them. I love the idea of having them stored on my Kroger card. No coupon left behind!
Unfortunately, the Shortcuts selection at this time is woefully limited. A measly eight coupons. And while my regional chain, Kroger, is a partner store, the full list is quite limited. But I have high hopes that my cutting and sorting days will soon go the way of the 8-track, so I'll be checking back.
Shortcuts is free to anyone with an AOL or AIM account.
Kyran Pittman blogs about life at Notes To Self, where her musings on culture, soul and laundry have been picked up and published three times by Good Housekeeping magazine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-09-2008 @ 3:14PM
Bob Wong said...
Save a tree! Good idea!
Reply
4-09-2008 @ 3:31PM
Lisa said...
Its a great idea and I cant wait til they really get going. But when I checked the site, they only had 9 coupons that I could get!!!! Thats not worth my time! But, I'll keep watching and hopefully they will get more.
Reply
4-09-2008 @ 3:56PM
Heather said...
Paperless coupons are a wonderful idea and would be something that I would use.
However, do you know how many stores and other businesses refuse to take these types of coupons? Even down to KFC. I joined their online site for the coupons, printed out the one I wanted, took it to their restaurant, and was told they didn't accept them.
Talk about a waste of time, paper, and ink.
Reply
4-09-2008 @ 6:36PM
Wendy said...
I play the Grocery Game,and saved enough to go to Disney World with my family! I'd LOVE to have all my coupons on one card, it would save lots of time and paper!
http://wendydelmo.typepad.com/one_day_at_a_time/
Reply
4-09-2008 @ 6:46PM
Wendy said...
http://wendydelmo.typepad.com/one_day_at_a_time/2008/04/coupons.html
Reply
4-22-2008 @ 1:02PM
Victoria said...
I keep my coupons in a coupon box I bought a few years ago from Walmart. I put them in envelopes with labels on the front allowing me to sort them alphabetically by type. When shopping, I open the box and sit it in child's seat of the shopping car. As I select items, I search in my envelopes for a coupon matching my purchase. I then put the coupoons at the front of the box so I won't forget to give them to the cashier when I check out. I also apply for rebates which I deposit in an account specifically for them. To date, my balance is $1,121.28 including interest. I also receive coupons via email from various companies whose brands I purchase. I also do online surveys for cash. I'm an extremely frugal person who lives debt free and enjoys saving money. I look forward to checking out the sites mentioned in this article.
Reply
4-26-2008 @ 5:25PM
Austin Chu said...
I totally agree. It will be way to go. Eventually, we need to go here. It will benefit the consumers and the retailers. We're definitely heading in the right direction. Although, I see it going further than just coupons. I see gift cards, ALL your loyalty reward programs ( hotel,airline, market, REI!!), and ALL your coupons, offers...etc. All of it on one thing, either a card, chip in our phones...The technology is out. Our company is definitely headed in that direction, we'll see where the road leads us! Thanks for the post!!
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