An early-bird guide to smart holiday shopping with coupons this year:
Online promo codes:
Don’t finish checking out of your virtual shopping cart without hunting for a promotional code, also called a coupon code. You can get free shipping, a percentage off your order or dollars off. The easiest way to find a code is to use a search engine. Query the name of the retailer and such phrases as “coupon code” or “promo code.”
Stack coupons:
Savvy online shoppers know you can stack coupons — that is, use multiple coupons on the same order. For example, you might use one coupon code to get 15 percent off your order of $100 or more and then another code to get free shipping.
Newsletters:
Sign up for your favorite retailers’ e-mail newsletters, which can contain exclusive offers, such as coupon codes and printable coupons for in-store use, said Stephanie Nelson, founder of .
Social media:
If you really have a love affair with a particular retailer, also “friend” the store’s fan page on Facebook and follow its Twitter posts. Retailers are experimenting with offering exclusive deals through these social-media sites.
Mall and department-store coupons:
One little- known trick is to visit the website of nearby malls. They often have printable coupons and sales alerts for retailers in the mall. Gregory Karp, Chicago Tribune
