7 Couponing Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

“These apps are there for you to add deals directly to your account, so that when you shop, you scan your barcode or give your phone number associated with your store loyalty account and the discounts are applied to your order,” Demer says. If you are having trouble with a store loyalty app, Demer says to go to the customer service desk and ask for help. They should be able to guide you through the process and ensure the deals are being applied.

3. Using one deal at a time

Savvy shoppers stack their coupons; the rest of us use one deal at a time for our purchases. “Older adults don’t often realize they can stack coupons with other coupons, like different money-off or free-shipping coupons and with sale items,” says shopping expert Andrea Woroch. “This is especially true when shopping online.”

Always try different coupons before checking out, whether in a store or online, Woroch says. If you are online, a Google search should yield you coupon codes. Some websites aggregate coupons and discount codes, doing the work for you.

4. Giving up too quickly

If at first you don’t succeed, try again, particularly when shopping online. If a coupon code is rejected at checkout, don’t give up and pay full price.

“There is an overabundance of coupon sites out there, and many post coupons that either expired or don’t work, or potential exclusions for a specific coupon may not apply to your order,” Woroch says. “Older adults may assume that if one code doesn’t work, there isn’t another deal out there. However, there’s often a discount available; you just have to take the time to find it.”

5. Refusing to seek help

Help can come in many forms for older shoppers, but they won’t get it if they don’t speak up. If you’re having trouble clipping digital coupons and don’t ask a friend, family member, librarian or community-center worker for help, you won’t be able to benefit from the deals and discounts.

If you don’t let anyone know you are struggling to cover groceries, you may not learn about programs available to assist. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is one example. Depending on your age and income level, you can get coupons for fresh fruit, vegetables, honey and herbs — and you can use these coupons at farmers markets, roadside stands and community farms, says Demer. The same goes if you are grocery shopping and you see a BOGO deal but the store is out of stock. You can go to the customer service desk and ask them for a rain check for the deal.

6. Blowing off after-purchase deals

Rebates have been around for decades and are still an effective way to get money off your purchase. Yet rebates tend to go unclaimed to the tune of over $500 million a year, according to Consumer Affairs. It takes work to fill out the rebate and mail in a copy of your receipt, but those rebates can save you real money, Woroch says.

7. Being too worried about sharing personal information

Nobody wants to be a victim of identity theft or fraud, but many consumers, including older adults, are downright scared of giving out personal information, even if it's for a loyalty app at a trusted store. That can lead to missed savings offered for those who sign up for a store’s email newsletter, text alerts or loyalty program, Woroch says.

Stores typically ask for your name, address, date of birth, phone number and email. If they ask for more information, it should raise a red flag. “Many retailers offer a coupon code for new subscribers of up to 25 percent off, and this can result in big savings, especially on a large purchase or big-ticket item. The good news is you can always opt out after you make the purchase,” Woroch says.