I have told you about internet printables from Coupons.com, and using Upromise e-Coupons to accumulate college savings, but have you heard of Shortcuts.com?
Shortcuts.com is a FREE service that allows you to upload coupons onto your grocery rewards card. The coupons automatically come off at checkout, when you purchase the item(s) on your coupon(s).
Shortcuts is an alternative to paper coupons; they are on your grocery card, and stay there until you purchase the item listed on the coupon. You don’t have to do anything for it to come off; just make sure the cashier “swipes” your card (I don’t think the coupons will work if you give them your phone number… you must have your card)… and that’s it! Easy-peasy savings.
Some people will tell you that you can use a paper coupon in conjunction with an e-Coupon. It also works at the register; the e-Coupon automatically comes off, and if you hand them a paper coupon for the same product, it will also take that discount. HOWEVER, I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT IS STEALING AND CHEATING THE SYSTEM. Let me say it again: I do not condone the usage of a paper coupon AND an e-Coupon to get “extra” savings.
Okay, “Nice” Amy is back 🙂
The only time it is appropriate to use a paper coupon in conjunction with an e-Coupon is when you have Upromise e-Coupons. This is okay, because the value of the e-Coupon does not come off at the register; it is not taking anything off of the total of your purchase.
Example: of the “No-No” Scenario:
:: You have (1) can of Pillsbury biscuits. You have (1) paper coupon for $1/1 Pillsbury biscuit, and there is (1) 75¢/1 Pillsbury biscuit e-Coupon on your grocery rewards card. The e-Coupon will automatically come off; if it is uploaded, you cannot stop it from ringing up.
Just because you don’t actually hand the coupon over to the cashier does not mean it doesn’t exist; it does. And if you intentionally use both a Shortcuts e-Coupon and a paper coupon for the same item, you are cheating the system, and it is wrong. Period.
Example of the “Don’t Worry, Amy Isn’t Yelling Anymore” Scenario:
:: You have (2) cans of Pillsbury biscuits. You have (1) paper coupon for $1/1 Pillsbury biscuit, and there is (1) 75¢/1 Pillsbury biscuit e-Coupon on your grocery rewards card. You now have two items for your two coupons… so there should be no problem: the e-Coupon comes off automatically, and you can hand the cashier your paper coupon.
Right now, Shortcuts does not offer e-Coupons for very many grocery stores; for a full list, go here. But, they are in the process of adding more stores. The two closest stores available to me are Kroger and Tom Thumb. (So, those of you in North Texas or Southern Oklahoma can drive anywhere between 20-45 minutes to get to either one of these stores.)
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