People always ask me, “How are you saving money couponing if you have to pay for the coupons?”
Here's the secret: you don't have to pay. There are always free printable and digital coupons out there, and if you're interested in newspaper coupons as well, I've found lots of ways to get free coupon inserts. And I'm sharing all my tricks with you.
If you're new to this, start with our guides on where to find the best coupons, types of coupons you can stack, and rebate apps that multiply your savings. Are you a complete beginner? Check out how to coupon first. Want to know why Sunday inserts are gold? Read our guide to Sunday newspaper coupons .
1. Look for free local papers like Your Essential Shopper (also known as Yes!).
Start with free weekly papers like Your Essential Shopper (also called Yes!). These usually get delivered to neighborhoods or stacked at grocery stores and gas stations on Sunday mornings.
Search "[your city] free weekly paper" or "[your city] shopper" online to see what's available near you. Just remember to only grab a couple so other deal hunters can get theirs too.
2. Check your community paper or midweek junk mail.
This one's a game changer. Many communities get free weekly papers delivered mid-week that include the previous Sunday's coupon inserts. I walk my neighborhood Wednesday evenings and ask neighbors if they want their community paper. Most people toss them anyway.
These also show up in those plastic bags of junk mail you might normally ignore.
3. Ask neighbors, friends, or your Buy Nothing group.
Post in your neighborhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor, or Buy Nothing groups. You'll be shocked at how many people throw away their coupon inserts without looking at them. I've scored high-value coupons this way, including coveted Bath & Body Works coupons .
Friends, family, coworkers — just ask. Most people are happy to save their inserts for someone who'll actually use them.
4. Contact schools with newspaper recycling programs.
Many schools have newspaper recycling programs to help kids stay informed about current events. That means recycling bins full of Sunday papers in almost every classroom.
Ask if you can have the coupon inserts before they hit the recycling bin. If your local school doesn't have a program like this, consider helping them start one.
5. Ask gas station and convenience store managers if you can have their unsold Sunday paper coupons.
Check with the gas stations and convenience stores around town. In some cities, the gas stations only have to give the first page of the unsold paper back to the carrier. What do they do with the rest of the leftover papers? Toss them in the trash.
Ask the manager if they’d save the newspapers for you (or at least the coupon inserts). Unfortunately, this trick doesn’t work everywhere. Some newspaper carriers actually come and collect all of the old papers.
6. Shop for discounted Sunday papers on Monday mornings.
Hit your grocery stores Monday morning to find marked-down Sunday papers. Managers often discount them 50% or more just to clear them out. I've even had managers give them to me for free.
But always check that the coupon inserts are still inside before you buy.
7. Check coffee shops, fast food restaurants, libraries, and apartment mailrooms.
Coffee shops, fast food restaurants, libraries, and apartment mailrooms are goldmines for abandoned newspapers. People leave them behind all the time.
Starbucks, McDonald's, waiting rooms — anywhere people sit and read. Just flip through discarded papers before they get thrown away.
8. Dive into recycling bins or dumpsters (with permission).
If you're not squeamish, ask your local recycling center if you can check their paper bins. This is like the Target version of dumpster diving: cleaner and more organized.
Paper materials are usually sorted separately, so you won't be digging through gross stuff. Just keep in mind that coupon inserts will be mixed in with all other paper products.
Locat your nearest recycling center here or here.
9. If you have to buy, get Sunday papers cheaply at Dollar Tree or discount stores.
When all else fails, Dollar Tree stores sell $1.25 newspapers on Sunday. Get there early because they sell out fast, and always check that the coupon inserts are inside before you pay.
Limit yourself to one or two papers so other couponers can save money too.
10. Alternative: Use free printable coupons and digital coupons.
Can't find physical coupon inserts? Don't stress. Check out KCL’s database of free printable coupons, where you'll find hundreds of printable and digital coupons you can use right away.
Digital coupons automatically load to your store loyalty card, making checkout even easier. (Many stores also accept both manufacturer coupons and store digital coupons on the same item for maximum savings, or what we call "stacking" coupons.)
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