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As I sorted through the mail today, I found a Savings Are Stocking Up At Publix coupon booklet which brought a smile to my face. Gathering coupons takes work to find the sources. But once the coupons begin coming, I just need to keep up with the organization.

I spent this morning updating my coupon binder. Though it took me longer than usual (due to a pulled muscle in my mid-back), I welcomed the new coupon booklet as the entire booklet gets filed in my Publix slot with no clipping, organizing, or sorting. 😀

If you are looking for more coupons, enter the Coupon Binder Giveaway. Besides a new binder, the winner will receive numerous gift cards, movie tickets, coupons, coupon inserts, and a printer with supplies. The giveaway ends on June 14, 2013, so enter before it slips your mind.

In gathering coupons, let’s press on in our Coupon-ology series. Hopefully, you will find coupons in other places as well, but in this series, I am focusing on the main places coupons are found. The sources covered thus far are newspapers, magazines, printable coupon databases, manufacturers, direct mail, and stores. For the last topic, I turn to electronic coupons.

Part 3f: Electronic Coupons

These coupons are loaded to a loyalty card or accessed through your phone number. The electronic coupons, also known as eCoupons or digital coupons, require no clipping, printing, or sorting.

They are manufacturer coupons that can be stacked with store coupons. However, you should not use an eCoupon with a paper manufacturer’s coupon on the same item as the limit is one manufacturer’s coupon per item. The exception to this standard is if the store allows stacking a manufacturer’s eCoupon with a manufacturer’s paper coupon.

To find eCoupons, start with these reputable sources:

Grocery Stores

Both Bi-Lo and Publix offer eCoupons through their websites. I registered initial and now log in, load the coupons, and then shop. At checkout, my Bi-Lo loyalty card takes off the available coupons, and at Publix, I enter my phone number on the keypad.

Cellfire

This service allows you to register your loyalty cards. Then you load coupons directly to the store you choose. This service has coupons for entertainment, restaurants, shopping, and groceries. There are lots of great savings available through Cellfire.

P&G Shopper Card Coupons

For those who shop at Kroger, you can load Proctor and Gamble coupons directly to your shopper card. P & G may load to other stores, but none are in my area for me to report to you. I do know that Kroger cards work with this program.

If you don’t shop at Kroger, you can still register and print P & G coupons from their site.

Shortcuts

Another resource for eCoupons is Shortcuts. Check their website to see if your stores participate. Just load the coupons to your loyalty card, and swipe your card at checkout for redemption.

Upromise

Where the other programs listed are ways to save immediately at checkout, Upromise is deferred savings for college expenses. For Upromise, you sign up, register your store’s loyalty cards, load the coupons, swipe the card at checkout, and the amount of the coupon is deposited into your account. You can then check the balance of your account through the Upromise website.

Regarding eCoupons, I am careful about what I load on my card. At present, I use only the Bi-Lo and Publix eCoupons. My reasoning is to save time and confusion.

If I load multiple coupons at different amounts off, I cannot choose which coupon gets used. Also, the eCoupon is only for one item. If I load a coupon for $.50 off and purchase 4 items, the total savings is $.50 off. These coupons do not multiply based on the number purchased.

As you gather coupons, eCoupons is another source. Taking it slowly, I have gradually learned the ins and outs of using coupons. In trying different options, I have found what works best for me. I present these options for your benefit, not to suggest that you use them all.

I live in a world of reality, and time is precious. In using time wisely, I concentrate on getting my coupons from newspapers, printable coupon databases, eCoupons loaded directly from my grocery stores’ websites prior to shopping, stores while shopping, and whatever coupons come through direct mail.

As you find what coupons you routinely use and where you find them, you can focus on gathering coupons from those sources. My coupon journey has evolved over the years, and I love learning new ways to save. Enjoy gathering those coupons, and happy savings!

Question: Do your grocery stores offer eCoupons?