Loadable eCoupons – 5 Types: Couponing 101

 
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In this how to guide, we’ve talked about how to get and use printable coupons and manufacturers coupons. Now we’re on to the 3rd type of the 5 types of coupons, the less commonly known loadable eCoupons that can make couponing fabulously fun and savings rich. You’re one step closer to getting free stuff with coupons in this serious on how to become a freebie couponer.

Introductions are silly, aren’t they? Let’s get on to learning more about these mysterious eCoupons.

Loadable coupons work with your grocery loyalty card (you know, the one you scan for savings when you check out?). Loadable coupons are often referred to as eCoupons, and I’ll refer to them both ways to get you used to the lingo. So, what you do is join a site like Cellfire and then enter the number on the back of your Kroger shopping card and then you essentially shop for the coupons that you want, loading them on your card. What’s cool about loadable coupons, is that you can often combine them with manufacturers coupons and stores coupons (but look out for the warnings below and pay attention to your individual store policy).

Here are the best loadable ecoupons by store:

  • CellFire - One of the first to provide loadable coupons
  • Coupons.com – Click on Savings Card
  • Savings Star - New provider of eCoupons for CVS, Rite-Aid, Price Chopper, Cala Foods, Ralphs, Nob Hill Foods
  • Shortcuts - An AOL property that provides loadable eCoupons, works with Vons, Safeway, Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Smith’s
  • P&G eSaver - Load P&G brand name savings to your store card
  • Just for You - Safeway eCoupon program
  • Softcoin - Kroger eCoupon program
  • Avenu - eCoupons that work at Jewel-Osco & Albertsons

 
Hot tip: Loadable coupons can be tricky unless you have a system down since they require you to login, choose coupons and remember what you’ve loaded on your card and then purchase good in the exact size specified to ensure proper savings. Plus, there’s some setup time in adding your grocery card to the systems.

Even Hotter Savings Tip: You can stack eCoupons! What does this mean? It means you can combine printable manufacturers coupons (only sometimes) and store coupons with loadable coupons. When you do this you maximize your potential to get stuff totally 100% FREE!

Good to know: Loadable coupons do not double, but as mentioned above you can stack them with other types of coupons. We’ll cover coupon stacking in more detail later in the Couponing 101 series.

Beware: Some stores scanners will take both your eCoupon and your paper printed manufacturers coupon, reducing the item by only the savings alloted on the eCoupon and ignoring the printed version, which will likely not work in your favor. Since printed coupons can be doubled in many stores and eCoupons cannot, this is something to watch out for. Although, in many stores, they’ll happily accept both an eCoupon and a printed manufacturers coupon for the same item, will still doubling the printed coupon. Pay attention at your local store and just beware of their particular policies.

You’re getting the hang of this. Up next we’ll teach you about store coupons >>