Stack those coupons!

By Mark Sweetwood

There are pluses and minuses to shopping online.

But there is one rule you must never break: Never buy anything online
without using a coupon.

Ever.

Now, as in today's stories by Ed Runyan, many people know how to use
coupons at the grocery store. What you might not know is that there are
far more coupons online for nearly every business that sells almost
anything via the Internet.

Don't believe me? Go here:

www.google.com

Name a business that you might buy from online. Try Target.com. Or
1800Flowers.com. Or Sears.com.

Just type the name into a "Google" search. Then add the words "coupon
code." You'll be sent to hundreds of sites like CurrentCodes.com,
CouponCabin.com or CouponMaker.com that will have codes for nearly every
merchant imaginable.

Now that is pretty cool, but there's a way to make these discounts go
further. Many merchants ˆ like booksellers, florists and even some general
merchandise stores ˆ offer "rewards" in the form of gift certificates that
are as good (and as spendable) as cash to ensure your loyalty.

Here's an example: With family as far away as Florida, Illinois and New
York, I send a lot of flowers. I have accounts at three online sites. The
one with the best rewards program is 1800Flowers.com. Recently, they sent
me a $40 reward. Good, eh?

Sure. But not as good as it COULD be. I did a quick search and easily
found a 10 percent coupon. In the case of the next $49.95 floral display
I'll send, my cost will be roughly $5 plus shipping.

Unless I find a free shipping coupon...

Using a coupon on top of another coupon or offer is called "stacking" in
the world of bargain hunting. And it can work at a local store, too.

Some coupons at these sites are actually ones you'll print out and use at
a store like Lowe's or Walgreens (I'm still steamed that I missed that $5
Walgreens coupon!). So search and do some experimenting. Like in the case
of that ill-fated Walgreens coupon, you would have been able to use your
Walgreens coupons from the weekend Vindicator, possibly other
manufacturer's coupons AND that Slickdeal.net coupon all stacked together.

Now THAT is stretching some dollars...

Tomorrow: Friends don't let friends spend too much.

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Mark Sweetwood is managing editor of The Vindicator.