Advice from an extreme couponer on digital coupons

None — PITTSBURGH --   If you're not using electronic coupons, you're missing out on an easy and convenient way to save money.  Target 11 consumer investigator Robin Taylor talked to an extreme couponer about how they work.

When I was working on this story, I realized a lot of you don't know what digital coupons are.

They're a fantastic way to save money, so I’m going to show you how to use them, and I’m going to guide you away from any dangers.

For expert advice, I turned to Jane Franco, an extreme couponer in Wilkinsburg, who knows all about electronic coupons.  She even has website CouponShoppinWitJane.com.

"If you're not saving with digital coupons, you're losing money," said Franco.

The first step is to go to your grocery store's website.  Both Giant Eagle and Shop ‘n Save offer digital coupons.  Once there, look for e-coupons, and then clip what you're interested in.

"It says clip a coupon, but it's really not clipping a coupon.  It's just checking it that you're going to buy this stuff and then it comes off of your Advantage Card when you check out.  It's really convenient and easy," said Judy Keffer, a Giant Eagle Shopper in Glenshaw.

One of the things I love is that you can download digital coupons while you're in the store.  All you need is a smartphone.

For example, with Giant Eagle’s free smartphone app, I can clip coupons, which go directly to my Advantage Card, and then the savings is automatically deducted when I check out.

But there is a downside to digital coupons.  Neither Giant Eagle nor Shop ‘n Save will double e-coupons, and you can't combine them with paper coupons, so a 25-cent e-coupon will only save you a quarter.

"If I brought this paper coupon in, then I would get 50 cents," said Franco as she held up a 25-cent coupon for Puffs.

At Target, you can combine paper coupons with digital ones and that can lead to real savings.

Jane also showed me how easy it is to get Target coupons sent to your phone.

"They can go on Target.com and sign up to receive a text message, which will go straight to their smartphone.  They'll scan their smartphone at the register and the money will come off," said Franco.

Another valuable website is Cellfire, where you'll find more digital coupons that can be loaded onto your rewards cards.

"Everywhere there's a savings card, there's a digital coupon to help you save money," said Franco.

SavingStar works a little differently.  Instead of deducting money at the checkout, a rebate is sent to your pay pal or bank account.

Jane recommends all of these websites, but she warns there is a dark side to e-coupons.  Some sites are tricky.  They'll charge you or overload your inbox with spam or even something worse.

"Malware and things like that that could tear up your computer, so you need to be careful," said Franco.

That's why I recommend sticking to trusted websites.

Jane gave me a whole bag of things she got for free by combining digital coupons with paper ones, so there’s proof, they really do work.

WPXI