Can You Do Extreme Couponing in the UK in 2024?

Can you do extreme couponing in the UK? We are used to seeing Americans hit the checkout with their coupon booklet, barely paying anything for their shopping.

If you are jealous of this, you might want to try extreme couponing in the UK. But is it possible? And where do you even find coupons? This article will tell you!

What Is Couponing?

Couponing means systematically collecting supermarket coupons. Coupons are vouchers that give you a discount on a particular product.

It can include vouchers from advertisements, in-store offers, and other sources. A more modern form of couponing is searching the web to find deals. Couponing has the goal of saving money on your grocery shopping.

What Is Extreme Couponing?

Extreme couponing takes couponing one step further. Extreme couponers combine as many coupons as they can. They often go out of their way and search for coupons excessively.

Some people do extreme couponing as a hobby. Yet, extreme couponing can also become compulsive. Couponers may become addicted to the thrill they get when buying an item for a discount. This addiction may manifest in buying items that are not needed because they are on offer.

Extreme couponing is an American term first used in 2010. However, extreme couponing existed before this date and is also common elsewhere.

Why Is Couponing Different in the UK Compared to the US?

There are many reasons why couponing is different when comparing the UK vs the US:

• In the US, you can stack coupons; this is not usually possible in the UK.
• In the US, coupons are more easily obtainable than in the UK.
• The people doing couponing on US TV shows are experienced couponers. You can’t compare them to your everyday person.

The underlying reason couponing differs in the UK from the US is simple. The US has a different market and a different culture.

Firstly, grocery prices are already cheaper in the UK compared to the US. This means there is less room for discounts. Secondly, the UK has a different consumer culture than the US.

We are more likely to accept prices as they are. We also do not get the same high as US shoppers do when they do couponing. You would not buy something just because you have a coupon, would you? This is how the mentality is different between US and UK shoppers.

Can You Do Couponing in the UK?

Yes, you can do couponing in the UK. Coupons may not be as available as in the US, but you can still make couponing work. Extreme couponing is also possible in the UK. Yet, the time you need to spend finding coupons may make it not worthwhile.

Where to Find Coupons in the UK

If you want to start couponing, these are the best places to search for coupons:

1. Supermarket Magazines

Supermarket magazines are the old-fashioned way to find coupons. Many supermarkets have stopped producing magazines, but the major ones still do.

While you can read the magazines online for free, the coupons are in the physical copy. You have to go to the supermarket and buy the magazines. To avoid wasting money, read the online copy first and check if there is anything you want.

	Asda	Sainsbury’s	Tesco	Waitrose
Magazine price	Free	~£3.50	Free	~£3.75
Magazine link	Here	Here	Here	Here

2. Supermarket Apps

Supermarket apps are the modern way to go coupon hunting. Almost every major supermarket has a loyalty program. If you sign up, you get personalised coupons in the app. As an extreme couponer, you can download all apps and see where you can find a deal.

• Asda Rewards app
• Sainsbury’s Nectar app
• Tesco Clubcard app
• Waitrose & Partners app (myWaitrose)
• Lidl Plus app

You can also use the best receipt-scanning apps. These apps will give you cashback when you scan your grocery shopping receipts.

3. Shopmium

Shopmium is a free cashback app. Shopmium lists discounted products from the leading supermarkets. If you buy something, the app gives you some money back.

Shopmium only has a few products, but the discounts are generous, and you may even get freebies. The payout is also quick, and there is no minimum threshold. Read more in my Shopmium review.

4. Brands

A less common way to find coupons is to reach out to brands. You can ask for coupons, send them a poem, or make a complaint. In return, you may get printable coupons. But you could also waste your time. To increase your chances, save this tip for special events like Black Friday.

5. Social Media

Brands and supermarkets sometimes post coupons on their social media channels. This is to entice people to follow them. As a couponer, you can follow all supermarkets and brands of interest. Create a second account to prevent your feed from becoming cluttered.

6. Newspapers

You may see people in the US open a newspaper and walk away with a stack of coupons. In the UK, newspapers are not as good for couponing. Yet you can still find the one or other coupon. Prominent newspapers like The Sun and The Metro are the best sources for extreme couponing in the UK.

A problem with newspapers is that you have to buy them to find out if there are coupons. To avoid spending unnecessary money, join an online community. There, people share intel about which newspapers have useful coupons.

7. Junk Mail

It may be worth looking at your junk mail before throwing it away. While you may think companies have moved on from spamming your mailbox, you can still find coupons.

8. Online Communities

There are several coupon sites for listing vouchers. Then there are also Facebook groups and subreddits where users share discount codes.

Check the expiry date, as your search may bring up old coupons. You can also use a browser extension such as Pouch to find discounts. Read more in my Pouch review.

Can You Do Extreme Couponing in the UK? Summary

Couponing means collecting supermarket vouchers to save money on groceries. Extreme couponing goes one step further by combining coupons and spending a lot of time finding coupons. Extreme couponing can be a healthy hobby or an addiction.

If you want to start couponing, you can find coupons at the following places:

• Supermarket magazines
• Supermarket apps
• Shopmium
• Brands
• Social media
• Newspapers
• Junk mail
• Online communities

Since coupons are limited, you may want to try a different approach. Get cashback when you buy supermarket gift cards from apps such as JamDoughnut. Read my JamDoughnut review for savings on your groceries.

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