5 Things you didn't know you could use a coupon for

Weekly trip to the grocery store? There are coupons for that. Overhauling your wardrobe? There’s a coupon for that. Meal plan box subscription? There’s a coupon for that. Needing to bulk-buy paper towels? There’s a coupon for that. 

You’re an avid Coupons.com-er, though. These are the “yeah, no duh” purchases that anyone with half a thought to save money will use a coupon for when shopping online or in the store. So we don’t need to tell you about them. 

But what are the less-obvious things you might not even think to use a coupon on? Here are the five most surprising things that you can get an offer for on Coupons.com. 

1. Car services and parking

Yep, we’re talking money saved on getting from Point A to Point B or when you just want to take your own car but don’t want to pay a fortune for parking. 

When scoping out which discounts were the most surprising among the thousands that we offer, the ones we saw from retailers like Lyft, Zipcar, Park Sleep Fly, and One Stop Parking were the first to catch our attention. 

So often, getting a cab or paying for parking are last-minute decisions, and more often than not, you’re under time pressure. To make use of these kinds of coupons, we recommend checking what offers are available ahead of the weekend when you’re more likely to use a service like these. And, if there are offers available that don’t apply to you, think about how you might be able to make them work for you. 

For example, at the time of publishing, Lyft had a 50% off code for your first two rides. If you wanted to use a code like this but you’re already a Lyft user, check if any friends that you might be riding with aren’t. If they aren’t, see if they’ll get the offer, and then you can split the fare. 

2. Internet packages

Wi-Fi costs an annoying amount of money for what’s essentially a necessity. When your contract is up for renewal or if you’re looking to switch providers, don’t forget to check for any offers that might save you on your package. 

So often, internet providers, like Tracfone, Verizon, or AT&T, are running promotions for new contracts. Even if a provider is running a promo like this, we recommend that you always check if there are ways to save on top of these kinds of promotions. That’s why we think that discounts for Wi-Fi might surprise shoppers. 

These offers are a little rarer, but when they crop up, they’re totally worth it. You never know; they could help you leverage a better price with your current provider, too. There’s no harm in calling your internet provider and letting them know the savings you’ve found before your contract expires. They may offer you a similar or better deal to keep your business. Sure, it might not help us out, but if we’re able to help you save money, we don’t really mind how we do it. 

3. Health-related testing

Of all the less-common things you can use a coupon for, these offers, found in our Medicine and Healthcare category, are the ones that still surprised us the most. 

At the time of publishing, we had a 30% off code (and a cashback opportunity!) for YorkTest, a service that provides at-home testing for food sensitivities and other health-related concerns. 

When you’re booking an appointment or are seeking out an at-home health product, we recommend taking a few extra minutes to look for a code. You never know when you might be able to save on a routine health-related purchase that you would’ve otherwise paid full price for. 

4. Tax services

April 15th—the federal deadline for filing your taxes in the US, otherwise known as Tax Day—is often a big stressor, and it can also be a big downer for your wallet. And while some of you are likely your own personal tax pro, a lot of us rely on tax services to meet that yearly deadline. 

If you fall into the needs-a-little-help category, you’re missing out if you don’t look for a coupon to use on your taxes each year. 

At any given time, you’ll find discounts for TurboTax, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer. When we published this article, we had an offer for $25 off H&R Block Premium Tax Filing services, among others. By making sure you save on actually doing your taxes, you can turn a stressful time of year into a time of year that means savings and (hopefully) a nice tax return. 

5. Luxury and premium goods

When you’ve saved up to treat yourself, or you’re planning on doing some quality shopping, it can be easy to believe the misconception that paying full price somehow equates to success or that it’s better to pay in full. Don’t do that! Just because you’re buying a designer handbag or adding a pair of slacks from a high-end retailer to your cart, don’t think that you can’t apply a coupon to your purchase. 

From Neiman Marcus to Swarovski to Bloomingdale's, you can typically find an offer for these shops and more. So, when you’re in the market for a specific upmarket item, we always recommend checking if it’s available at a high-end department store. That’s because we’ve found that department stores are more likely to have offers that include the brand you’re after rather than the brand itself.

Neiman Marcus, for example, had a 15% off code for shoppers using the app for the first time when we published this article. If you’re lucky and there is a code you can use, even if it’s only a small percentage off, you can save a fair amount since most luxury or upmarket brands are more expensive to start.

Never skip the “is there a coupon” step

Maybe your internet contract is up soon, or maybe you’re about to buy the outfit you’ve saved up for. Maybe you’re not! The point of this article is to highlight that even the things you wouldn’t expect to find a coupon for often can be made more affordable with one. We know that nothing is off limits when it comes to couponing, which is why you should always take a second to check before you hit “Buy now.” 

No item out there is off-limits when it comes to saving money!

The Clip is where the people behind Coupons.com get to speak plainly. No press releases. No corporate polish. Just honest stories from people who think hard every day about helping you spend less and keep more.