If you’ve ever heard someone say they got paid to shop, they’re probably talking about a couponing moneymaker. These deals are real — and they’re one of the most exciting parts of learning how to coupon once you know how to find them.
Most coupons save you money, but moneymakers go one step further: the discounts, rewards, and rebates add up to more than the cost of the item. And good news — moneymaker deals are easier to find than you think. Keep reading, and we'll show you the best stores to find moneymaking deals, the tools you'll need to succeed, and the easiest way to get started.
The Basics: How Couponing Moneymakers Work
A moneymaker happens when the value of your coupons, rewards, and rebates is higher than the item's price. The key principle for beginners is simple: start with a sale, add a high-value coupon (a manufacturer coupon, a store coupon, or both), and layer in a rebate offer or rewards promo when possible.
Here’s a quick example of the math:
-
Crest Whitening Toothpaste (On Sale): $4.99 each
-
Manufacturer Coupon (In the CVS App): $3 off when you buy 2
-
Promotion: Earn $5 ExtraBucks when you buy 2
-
Rebate (Ibotta): $2 back when you buy 1, can be used twice
-
Result: Pay $6.98 for two tubes, get $5 ExtraBucks and $4 Ibotta rebate (a $2.02 profit!)
See how it works in a recent KCL deal formula we shared:
Sometimes you might have to pay a bit out of pocket, but rewards and rebates turn the deal into a moneymaker.
Stacking sales, coupons, and rebates can turn a regular discount into a true moneymaker. Sometimes you’ll pay a few dollars out of pocket for the deal, but once your rebate or rewards hit, the deal becomes a moneymaker.
Where to Find Moneymaker Deals
Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens are moneymaker hot spots.
Their rewards programs (CVS ExtraBucks and Walgreens Cash) stack with coupons and rebates, which is why oral care and drugstore makeup often end up free or better than free. Watch for deals requiring two or more items — the bulk purchase often multiplies your profit.
Here's an example at Walgreens using coupons, rebates, a promo code, and a sale:
Grocery stores like Publix and Kroger have occasional moneymakers too.
Digital coupons combined with rebates can make items like deodorant, Air Wick warmers, Colgate toothpaste, or Neutrogena and Aveeno products into moneymakers at grocery stores.
Here's an easy moneymaker example at Publix, using a rebate and a sale:
Walmart stopped allowing coupon overages, but freebies are still possible with rebate deals.
For years, Walmart was a favorite for moneymakers because coupon overages could be applied to your total purchase. That policy ended, so you can’t score true moneymakers there anymore using only coupons. But you can still get Walmart freebies by stacking sale prices with rebates (especially Aisle cash-back rebates).
And sometimes, they can even become a Walmart moneymaker deal when you can combine multiple rebate offers.
Here's an example at Walmart that combines multiple rebates:
KCL TIP: See more tips about how to use Aisle to earn cash-back.
Most Common Moneymaker Items to Watch For
Moneymakers usually happen in predictable categories. If you’re just starting out, these are the items to watch:
-
Toothpaste and Mouthwash — These tend to cycle every 4 - 6 weeks at drugstores.
-
Deodorant — Especially name brands with frequent rebates.
-
Makeup — Eyeliner, mascara, and other drugstore cosmetics.
-
Household Items — Like Air Wick or Febreze warmers.
-
Skincare — Neutrogena and Aveeno are coupon and rebate regulars.
Bookmark (or pin) this list of top moneymaker items:
Must-Have Tools and Apps to Score Moneymaker Deals
If your goal is to score moneymaker deals, you won’t get far without downloading a few cash-back rebate apps and store loyalty apps. At a minimum, download these four:
Sign up for rebate apps like Ibotta, Fetch, Checkout 51, and Shopkick.
These apps let you earn money back (in the form of points, gift cards, or actual cash) when you make qualifying purchases and provide proof of purchase. Since most of these rebate apps work independently, you can often earn rewards from more than one app for the same purchase.
Download these rebate apps to try it for yourself:
-
Fetch Rewards (use code KCL to receive 1,000 points for free)
Download store apps from CVS, Walgreens, Target, Kroger, and Publix.
Store apps show which items are on sale and which high-value coupons are available to clip. Get the apps for stores you shop at frequently.
Here are a few of our favorite retailer apps for beginner couponers:
KCL TIP: We go into even more store-by-store couponing tricks in our guide to digital couponing.
Check for Aisle rebate offers near you to find easy freebies and moneymakers.
Rather than downloading an app, you'll browse current Aisle offers in your ZIP code and claim them by entering your phone number and sending in a photo of your receipt. You'll get the cash back in the form of a PayPal or Venmo deposit.
We've scored freebies (and even some moneymakers) on things like canned drinks, snacks, and new beauty products. Look for offers that say "Free" and redeem them at Walmart (if the fine print allows) to pay the least amount out of pocket. You can also score moneymakers if you claim an Aisle rebate at Dollar Tree and pair it with Fetch Rewards.
Use the free Krazy Coupon Lady app to easily find moneymaker deals.
Checking weekly ads, matching sales with coupons, and finding rebate offers can be a lot of work. By downloading The Krazy Coupon Lady app, you can see the latest moneymaker deals that our expert deal hunters have sourced.
If you're new to couponing, start with toothpaste moneymaker deals.
If you’re new, don’t overcomplicate it. Start with a toothpaste deal at CVS or Walgreens. They come around every few weeks, and they’re a perfect low-risk way to learn how moneymakers work. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be ready to branch out into makeup, deodorant, and household deals.
Just remember: moneymakers can disappear quickly, and rebate limits are common. You'll also want to pay close attention to coupon fine print so you don't get caught by surprise at checkout and end up paying more than zero.
Related Reading:
