Although buying statement-making shoes can be pricey, there are ways to cut costs. Using coupons is one way to cut costs. Coupons are a form of incentive that merchants use to draw in customers. They may be used as a marketing tool for new shoppers or to reward loyal customers with discounts.
1. Search for Shoes on Sale
Whether you’re searching for a new pair of sneakers, boots, sandals or shoes for work, the smartest way to shop is by looking for them on sale. Many retailers have sales or clearance sections where you can find the latest styles for less.
Alternatively, you can look for coupons and deals on couponing sites like RetailMeNot, which offers a wide range of footwear promotions. Some of the best online shoe retailers offer sales on their brands, while others sell name-brand shoes for discounted prices through their outlet stores.
You can also amplify your savings by shopping at sites that have cashback apps. Apps with more than 2,500 retailers give you a portion of their commission for every purchase you make through them. When you shop through the app’s website or Google Chrome extension, you can save as much as 10% on your footwear purchases.
2. Shop at Stores That Have a Rewards Program
Coupons are great, but savvy shoppers know there is more than one way to save money. Store loyalty programs, apps and even coupon websites that let you cash in points can help you get additional discounts and sometimes free items.
Regarding couponing, the most important step is finding a system that works for you. Some people choose to organize their coupons in folders, binders or envelopes. Others prefer to manage them by product categories, such as household, food, or groceries. Whatever method you use, ensure you can easily access your coupons when you shop. Another great way to save money is by combining manufacturer’s and store coupons.
Manufacturer’s coupons are provided by the company that makes an item, while the retailer issues store coupons. Many stores allow you to stack these two types of coupons, giving you a deeper discount at the register.
To maximize your savings, always check the store’s coupon policy before you shop. Some stores may limit how many manufacturers and store coupons you can use per transaction. You should also ask if they have other coupon policies, such as a minimum purchase amount required for sale items or whether they accept competitor coupons. Nothing is more frustrating than getting to the register only to discover that your couponing strategy violated a store’s policy.
3. Look for Clearance Items
The key to couponing is to find a source and stick to it. You can get coupons online, in the Sunday paper, from retail stores’ apps and digital loyalty programs, or you can find in-store circulars or mailers that come to your mailbox.
You can also stack coupon codes for the same item from different sources to maximize your savings. You can even find coupons for shoes on clearance, which can help you score a pair of sneakers or boots that are on trend without blowing your budget. Remember to check the fine print for the terms and conditions before using a coupon on discounted items.
Purchasing on occasions like Cyber Monday or Black Friday, when merchants offer exclusive coupon codes, is another piece of advice. It can save you money on shoes as well as other merchandise that you plan to buy at the same time. Couponing may sound old-fashioned, but buying shoes on a budget is effective. And although learning the fine print can take a bit of work, the rewards can be huge: You’ll be able to snag shoes at a fraction of their original cost. And that means more money left in your wallet for other purchases. You can also use this money to pay down debt or invest in your future.
4. Shop at the Right Time of Year
Whether you’re in the market for a new pair of sneakers or an elusive tech gadget, coupons can help make your purchase easier on your wallet. Look for these online, in newspaper coupon inserts or by subscribing to a coupon database that will do the work for you and alert you to the best deals. Also, consider downloading a browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupons during checkout.
The key to extreme couponing is organizing and having a clear action plan for your shopping trips. It’s important to know the store policies of the stores you regularly shop so that you don’t run into brick walls with the cashier or manager. It would help if you also learned what stores allow you to “coupon stack,” which is when you can combine a manufacturer coupon, a store coupon and a store sale to score an item for free or at a very low cost.
A three-ring binder, baseball card protector sheets, and A-to-Z dividers are a smart way to organize your coupons. This system will let you easily sort your coupons by product category and keep the sweet deals from expiring before you use them. It’s helpful for those who prefer to shop semi-annually, like in January and July, when many manufacturers have overlapping sales.