The Best Coupon App for Beginners, According to a Money-Saving Expert
TikTok has its fair share of coupon experts, and one of my personal favorites is Kiersti Torok. The Nebraska dweller started @torok.coupon.hunter in late September 2020, after both she and her husband lost their jobs during the pandemic. Originally, it was a way for her to share her couponing tips with friends and family who found getting basic necessities a struggle. But in a little over two years, Kiersti’s account has grown to more than 2.4 million followers.
Her high-energy videos are filled with step-by-step (and dollar-by-dollar) breakdowns of her favorite weekly deals on clothes, toys, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, and, yes, groceries. In recent posts she scored two pounds of pork sausage for just 82 cents, 12 frozen pizzas for $11.78 (that’s less than a dollar per pizza!), and a box of yogurt pouches for $2.39 (or roughly 60 cents per yogurt). Needless to say, she knows a thing or two about stretching her grocery dollars.
As someone who finds couponing both intriguing and intimidating, I was curious to learn where a coupon newbie should begin. Afterall, it wasn’t too long ago she posted her first video to TikTok. So I chatted with Kiersti to get her best tip for anyone who’s just getting started with couponing. Her advice? Download the app of the grocery store you shop at the most.
Kiersti Torok’s Biggest Piece of Advice for Couponing Beginners
You already know your way around your favorite grocery store, so why not learn how to navigate the store’s app? Most major grocery retailers — Target, Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Albertsons, Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Warehouse Club (the app her 76-year-old grandma uses), Stop & Shop, etc. — have their own apps you can use to save money on groceries. So chances are pretty good your favorite retailer has one, too. (If not, you should drop a request in the store’s suggestion box, STAT!)
Don’t worry — you don’t have to be an expert (although you may become one!) or spend hours each week searching for in-app deals, either. “It’s more user-friendly now than it has ever been,” says Kiersti. “Some of the apps do a really good job for you, as far as keeping the coupons that you’ve clipped organized,” says Kiersti.
Take the Target Circle app, which she called “amazing” and “top tier.” Within the app, you can sort coupons by category, discount, expiration date, and more. You can also see which individual items are eligible for each coupon. (For example: A 25% off coupon for Frito-Lay Party Size Chips could be used for a bag of Ruffles, Cheetos, Doritos, or Tostitos, to name a few.) Plus, you can save coupons in a digital wallet for future shopping trips. You can even use the app to scan products and clip coupons while you shop.
On top of those savings, as Kiersti points out, stores will reward you for being a frequent shopper with fuel points, cash back, and even free items — all from your weekly grocery trips. Just be sure to create a (free!) account to reap the extra rewards. And, of course, always check your receipt before you leave the store.
Do you have a couponing tip to share? Tell us about it in the comments below.