I do participate in affiliations on this blog. I am an affiliate with many companies, which in simple terms means I advertise for companies, and they compensate me via products, services, or monetary means. You can read my entire disclosure policy over here.
Saving Money with Coupons Companies Are Happy to Give You
I like to say I was a couponer before couponing was cool.
Long before apps, digital rebates, and barcode scanners, I was saving money the old-fashioned way—with a pen, paper, and a stamp.
Back in 1989, I sat down and wrote an actual letter to the Lysol company. I told them how much I loved their bathroom cleaner and how well it worked for our family. I didn’t ask for anything fancy. I just shared my appreciation, sealed the envelope, and mailed it off.
Weeks later, I opened my mailbox and just stared.
Inside was a coupon for a totally FREE bottle of Lysol bathroom cleaner.
That moment hooked me for life.
I realized something powerful right then:
Companies want loyal customers—and they’re often happy to reward them.
So I kept going.
I started writing letters to other companies we used regularly. I even wrote to our local grocery store at the time, Great American. Not long after, they sent me a gift certificate.
When I used it at the store, the clerks were shocked. They had never seen anything like it.
They asked, “Where did you get this?”
I smiled and said, “From your company.”
“How?” they asked.
“I asked for it.”
Back then, hardly anyone used coupons, and almost no one contacted companies directly. Saving money wasn’t “cool.” It was something people felt embarrassed about.
Then came the couponing boom.
Suddenly, everyone was doing it. Saving money became trendy. Extreme couponing made headlines, and clipping coupons was no longer something to hide.
Today, things look different again.
We live in a digital couponing world. Apps. Rebates. Online offers. And while those tools can be great, many people don’t realize this:
👉 Paper coupons are still a thing.
👉 You can still contact companies directly.
👉 And yes—many of them will still send coupons.
Just this month, I’ve received:
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Free coupons for Ken’s Dressing
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$5 off plus multiple $1 Jack Link’s coupons
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A coupon for a free bag of On-Cor chicken patties/nuggets
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Free Crisco
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Free Mr. Bubble
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And more!
My strategy hasn’t changed in decades.
I ask.
Some companies say no right away.
Some say yes, but not right now because they’ve met their monthly quota.
Some quietly drop coupons into my mailbox.
But none of them would send anything if I never reached out.
Here’s where you can start:
Go through your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.
Look at the brands you already buy and love.
Visit their websites or send a simple message telling them why you like their product—and politely ask if they offer coupons.
That’s it.
No begging. No gimmicks. Just asking.
You don’t even need a stamp today!
Saving money doesn’t require extreme measures. Sometimes it just requires the confidence to do what others won’t.
Let me know what happens when you try it.
I’d love to hear what shows up in your mailbox. 💌
I am an affiliate
I hope you love the products I recommend! Just so you know, I may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Thank you if you use our links, I really appreciate it!
