MARTIN Lewis’ MSE has issued an urgent warning over a supermarket mistake which could see you end up thousands of pounds out of pocket.
The money saving experts shared tips on how to nab the best online coupons that could save you a fortune.
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And they highlighted how you could walk away with food, toiletries and more for free or a fraction of the normal cost.
The money pros also revealed that couponing has largely gone digital and most of the savings you can bag these days will be via your phone or online.
Punters were urged to download free cashback apps where you pay for a selected item in full but your receipt becomes a coupon.
They said on the website: “The apps work with brands who pay them for generating sales, and some of that money is passed on to you.
“Often, you can get the full amount back – nabbing a complete freebie.”
However, the finance gurus warned customers that they should see cashback “as a bonus rather than a guarantee”.
They added: “There’s arguably less risk with cashback not paying out with these supermarket cashback apps, because you aren’t relying on your purchase ‘tracking’ like you do with online shopping cashback sites such as Topcashback or Quidco.
“But there’s still a risk you won’t be paid if you don’t carefully follow the requirements for getting your cashback, so be sure to read the T&Cs so you don’t end up out of pocket, as you’ll need to pay the full-price for the item upfront.”
Newbies to Shopmium can claim a free £2 Lindt chocolate or up to £1.49 up Morrisons items using the correct codes.
While seemingly small, these steady savings could see you save lots of cash in no time.
And with the Shopmium app, your cashback will be paid automatically into your PayPal or bank account, whichever you choose.
In the rest of the handy guide, the money experts covered what coupons might work best for shoppers.
MSE coupon expert Rhiannon also advised shoppers to look out for “hidden” coupons where you might not expect.
These could appear on packing, events and even on junk mail through the letterbox.
Rhiannon says that she has bagged coupons offering £1 off McCain chips and Kellogg’s cereals.
The expert also urged shoppers to sign up to loyalty schemes for bonus offers.
She wrote: “Any true couponer will have a purse, wallet or phone full of stamp cards and loyalty cards/apps.
“Some give points on your normal shopping which can then be turned into vouchers, and others offer personalised coupons which are usually for items you frequently buy or it thinks you’ll be interested in based on your previous purchases.”
And while coupons in magazines and newspapers are rarer these days, the finance whizzes say that these are still viable options to make some savings.
Tesco has previously offered £1.50 off Alpto Greek Style yoghurt while £5 off a £25 spend at Lidl has been seen in some newspapers.
Lastly, if you’re doing an online shop, have a look for codes that can get you money off, or even a freebie.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Iceland are just some of the big brands where you can save money while shopping online, according to the experts.
This advice comes after Martin Lewis‘ MSE revealed a little known 20p hack that could save drivers hundreds of pounds.
The MSE team also issued an urgent warning last month to anyone with an MOT due.
