“As crazy as this sounds, it really was like life and death.” On Season 3, Episode 2 of TLC’s “Extreme Couponing,” Cole Ledford tells the camera he is about to have a nervous breakdown when his total at the grocery store comes to $2.03. His pre-coupon total was $183.72, but he is still not happy—he’s paying $1.67 more than he expected.  After re-counting the items in his cart, refunding the entire purchase, buying it all once again and using his coupons, Ledford’s total this time comes to -$6.00. The store owes him money.  

Nearly a decade after “Extreme Couponing” first aired, couponing has become revolutionized. Long are the days when you would need to painstakingly cut out and collect coupons from newspapers. In 2024, people are able to save money on a daily basis simply by using their phone. A legion of YouTubers are dedicated to showing people at home how simple it is to use coupons to save money. In this economy, saving money is a priority for nearly everyone. 

Youtuber Star Smith (couponwithStar) has over 200,000 subscribers to whom she shares the best weekly deals and promotions. Inside Fullerton talked to her about the best tips to begin couponing and saving money. 

1) Download the apps from your favorite stores.  

Stores like Walgreens, CVS, Target, Family Dollar, Albertsons and Ralphs all offer coupons. Some people avoid drug stores because of their high prices, but many offer the best promotions, allowing you to purchase brand-name items for up to 50% off.  

Big retail stores like CVS, Target and Walgreens always update their apps on Sundays at 12 a.m. PST, while grocery stores like Albertsons, Ralphs and Food 4 Less update theirs Wednesdays at 12 a.m. PST. Knowing when new coupons drop will help you plan your shopping trips for the week. 

2) Stay on the lookout for new coupons and promotions.  

When first starting your couponing journey, be on the lookout for coupons on personal care and hygiene products. You can often find coupons for these products while also earning in-app points after purchasing. Once you earn enough points, you can double your savings by getting discounts on your entire purchase in the future. 

You can use your store’s in-app barcode scanner to see if products qualify for certain deals. You can “clip these coupons” in the app, and apply them when you enter your phone number at check out. Third-party apps like Flipp will upload the weekly ads of various local grocery stores, as well as provide manufacturer’s coupons for specific brands that you can print out. 

3) Organize and plan out your purchases before you arrive at the store.  

Smith is incredibly strategic when it comes to organizing her purchases. She says this is the most important step of her process. On weekends, Smith will take two to three hours to create a spreadsheet with the items she needs, what store she can get them at, and what coupons and deals she has for that product.  

“I think for a lot of people when they start to coupon that is where they get frustrated or flustered and they kind of drop out of couponing,” says Smith. “People say, ‘Oh, I don’t have two hours to do it’ and it’s like, in the two hours that I spend, I can save $300-500. And it’s like, do you make $300-500 in two hours at your job?” 

Something as simple as writing out your purchases on a piece of paper or in your Notes app can help. Coupons can sometimes encourage us to purchase items we don’t need simply because they’re on sale. Writing what you actually need and knowing what to look for will help you become a smart shopper.  

4) Download rebate apps for cash back.  

After completing your purchases, make sure to download rebate apps like Fetch, Ibotta, Swagbucks and Checkout 51. These apps allow you to build points for scanning your receipts, and once you build up a certain number of points, you can withdraw gift cards, Visa cards or cash that goes directly into your bank account.  

Smith says this is the best time to save money since there are so many resources at the touch of your finger. So next time you find yourself at CVS laughing at the never-ending receipts, double-check those coupons and see how to make the most of your money on your next purchase.