I recently wrote a post about the Grocery Game. I was impressed with everything I read about this popular method of saving money on grocery purchases and even decided to risk one whole U.S. dollar on the trial membership so I could try it out for myself.

We’re two weeks into the Grocery Game. That really isn’t enough time to assess its overall value, as coupon accumulation can take awhile, etc. Remember, one of its tenets is using the right coupons at the right time, which means it may take awhile for that perfect moment to emerge.

So far, I’m still optimistic about the whole thing.

As I researched it, however, I learned about its #1 challenger, Coupon Mom.

It seems like the two services are often mentioned in the same breath, so I decided I should probably take a look at Coupon Mom.

I love the fact that Coupon Mom is free. Free is good. And joining was a quick process. However, I was forced to click through (and decline) a series of “special offers” as part of the sign up procedure. These ran the gamut from getting auto insurance quotes to “reading emails for cash”. I can’t begin to explain how much I dislike the whole “read emails for cash” industry, so that was a turn off. Nonetheless, Coupon Mom has to make money somehow, so I didn’t let it drag down my opinion of the site.

I will say this. Saving $5 over Grocery Game is nice, but it isn’t a huge deal for me. I’m interested in the bottom line. Thus, if Grocery Game is worth $6 more than Coupon Mom, the “free” thing is essentially meaningless to me. Still, it’s nice.

I took a look at what Coupon Mom had to offer in terms of savings information for my area. Unfortunately, they only cover one store in my immediate vicinity. Grocery Game covers all three of my local chain grocery stores.

The list of bargains itself is presented intuitively and the “free” stuff his highlighted for quick discovery. It’s not quite on par with Grocery Game’s color-coding system, but that’s not a big deal. It’s usable.

I pulled the Grocery Game list for the same store and compared it to Coupon Mom’s. Much of the data was, of course, on both reports. The differences in calculations, etc. were generally negligible. I did find a few coupon-driven savings opportunities on the Grocery Game list that didn’t make the Coupon Mom version, however.

Coupon Mom does have one thing really going for it, though, if you plan on being a hardcore saver. Their forums are active and seemingly filled with very helpful people who are serious about saving money on groceries. If you’re interested in really becoming “involved” with the process and uncovering savings opportunities you might otherwise miss, this is a huge mark in CM’s favor.

After looking at both options, I’m coming down on the side of Grocery Game, but not be a wide margin. The price difference between $5 and free is negligible and in my case, GG covers my area better. If Coupon Mom was on top of my other local chain stores, I might break in the other direction. As it is, though, I’m going to end up more than $5 ahead with GG.

Overall, I’m impressed with Coupon Mom. For those in the right places who don’t mind working just a little harder to get things done–or those who are ready to get serious about saving and will use the forums, it’s a great choice, too.

I’m one of those guys.  You know the kind.  Someone tells them about a great idea or a seemingly wonderful approach to something and they start thinking about why it couldn’t possibly work.  I’m not negative, really.  I just like to test other people’s notions before taking them for granted.

Anyway, when I heard about The Grocery Game I instantly started coming up with reasons why this “coupon and sales tracking” system for saving money on groceries couldn’t really work.  I came up with a series of objections to “the Game”, thinking it was probably one of those “more effort than it’s worth” propositions.

Something interesting happened, though.  As I continued researching The Grocery Game, many of my objections melted away in the face of new information.  By the time I sat down to write this post, I was ready to give this thing a shot.

Here’s how it works, in a nutshell.  You pay The Grocery Game, which is a for-profit website, a nominal monthly fee.  In return, they supply you with what basically amounts to a database to help you go grocery shopping.  It tells you what coupons you need and where to get them.  It also tells you what stuff is on sale at a great price.  Best of all, it merges that information so that you know what to buy to get really rock-bottom deals.

The folks who run The Grocery Game, namely a woman by the name of Teri Gault, apparently have the right connections to get all of the necessary data and the way they organize the information makes it appear to be very easy to put the plan into effect.

Now, I’m not a big coupon clipper, generally speaking.  I’ve always felt that it would encourage me to buy expensive stuff at a marginal discount when cheaper alternatives were available.  I also felt like I would spend more time sorting through cereal coupons than the savings could ever be worth.

The Grocery Game, however, only advises using coupons when their net effect produces a truly hellacious bargain.  Additionally, it gives you a good idea of what coupons you actually need to bother with.  Yes, one could come up with this information by himself or herself, but for the price it makes more sense to me to have someone else do the dirty work.  Quite frankly, I don’t have the time, energy or interest to do that kind of homework and I doubt most other people do, either.

It appears to me that “the Game” rests on a few fairly solid premises.  It advocates stockpiling essential items when they’re dirt cheap so that you have them when you need them at a fraction of the price you’d otherwise pay.  It encourages coupon use only at optimal moments.

But the proof is in the pudding, as they say.  So, I started looking for some anecdotal evidence from real-life folk who have tried this system.  Some of the report some pretty amazing results.  Most everyone seems to think they come out ahead after paying for the data.  Even more critical assessments stop way short of considering the Grocery Game a non-starter.  After all, you’re looking at a few bucks per month–it doesn’t take much to justify the expense.

The more I read, the more I liked it.  Although some of my objections to the idea are still valid for those with certain consumption habits, etc., most of them just vanished as I learned more.

So, after years of eschewing coupons and believing in my own well-honed abilities to spot a good bargain, I have decided to give this thing a shot.  We just finished a heavy-duty round of grocery shopping, so it will be a few weeks before I can enter the store in full Grocery Game mode, but when I do, I’ll be sure to report back to you on the results.  I doubt I’ll experience 90% savings or anything, but I have a strong feeling that I’ll end up considering the nominal investment extremely worthwhile.

When I think of Macy’s, I think of three things other than the big Thanksgiving parade.

First, I think of their current logo scheme and the way they’re branding by emphasizing that big red star.  I love it.  Yes, it certainly does have a sort of Red China feel about it.  I think that’s what I like, though.  It’s bold and it’s memorable.  Sears can emphasize its “softer side” all day, but Macy’s looks like it’s trying to lead us toward some Great Leap Forward in retail.   Love it.

Second, I think of David Sedaris’ “Holidays on Ice” which features a story about working at the world’s biggest Macy’s as one of Santa’s helpers during the holiday season.  His recounting of what it was like to play elf at Macy’s is a hoot and a half.

Third, I think of those great Macy’s coupons that can save people a pretty penny.  Okay, I really don’t think about that as often as I think about the red star or Sedaris, but I’m thinking about it right now.  Macy’s is a popular place to shop and people are digging for coupons.  I wouldn’t mind a few myself.  They usually have decent stuff there.

If you read my recent post about finding Dillard’s coupons, I have some bad news for you.  You can almost replace the word “Dillard’s” with “Macy’s” and you’d have the correct information either way.  This is another situation in which the store in question just doesn’t make much of an effort to circulate online coupons.

Instead, they rely on their own website to offer promotions and to advertise special sales.  Just like with Dillard’s, you can sign up to get emails from Macy’s alerting you to all the super-bargains that you’ d absolutely hate to miss.

Just like the Dillard’s situation, most of the links you find to “Macy’s coupons” are actually affiliate links to the store’s site.  Even some of the most reliable coupon sites out there, like RetailMeNot don’t have much more to do than redirect traffic.  That’s just the way it is when the store in question isn’t ga-ga over coupons.  So, you’re left in that same position.  You can browse Macy’s site on your own or you can rely on a coupon/deal aggregator to point you in the right direction.  You pay the same no matter what.  Someone else does get a little spiff if you make a purchase, however, if you follow one of those third-party links.  It’s your call.

All of that being said, there is one way to find Macy’s coupons online.  If you can find a full PDF file of a paper in which the Macy’s folks are advertising, you might just get lucky.  Here’s an example.  It’s a 10%-20% coupon (depending on what category of stuff you’re buying) that appeared in the St. Pete Times.  Unfortunately, those who live outside of the friendly confines of the sunshine state are not going to have much of a chance to use it–it’s valid for Florida stores only.

This little ad sends a big message, though.  It means that real-life printed Macy’s coupons exist.  You might not be able to find online coupons in a few easy mouse clicks but there is, apparently, room to find some bargains if you’re ready to sort through your paper with a pair of scissors or to read full-copy PDF’s of  the Sunday newspaper with a pair of scissors in your hand and a lust for bargains in your heart!

Six Flags Magic Mountain has a lot of stuff to do.  I’m sure the food is great.  There are undoubtedly some fun shows.  There are probably some lazy, enjoyable rides.

But when I think about SFMM, I think about one thing…  Nearly urinating my pants and/or vomiting as I’m hurled through time and space, playing nearly impossible games with gravity while locked into a SERIOUS roller coaster.  Magic Mountain boasts no fewer than 16 roller coasters that rate either a “moderate” or “max” thrill factor.

If you can stomach the coasters, you can get into Six Flags on the cheap.  This LA entertainment tradition does a great job of providing cut-rate ways for families to get into the complex.

Although the printable Six Flags Magic Mountain coupons offered by the State of California last year have expired, you shouldn’t have much problem finding new ones.  I wouldn’t be surprised in Arnold didn’t have the state print up another batch for this year.  Until the Governator gets his act together, however, I’d recommend starting with a look-see at the Magic Mountain site.  They often have some great specials and coupons.  It’s pretty common to find “two for one deals” there.

If that doesn’t do the trick, you might want to consider a cool, refreshing Coca Cola.  Quenching your thirst can save you some big money, as Magic Mountain coupons frequently appear right on the good ol’ 12 oz. can.  SFMM and Coke have a nice little summer vacation symbiosis thing happening, and these offers usually aren’t too hard to find if you’re in the LA area.  (Note:  The above-referenced link verifies the Coke ads, but it also recommends the old “lick your hand” and share the admission stamp scheme.  We don’t advocate sneaking in or entering under false premises here.  We’re all about saving money, but we do draw the line before we stray into the realm of criminal activity).

Coke isn’t the only coaster sponsor and Six Flags Magic Mountain coupons also appear at area grocery stores like Ralph’s and at big-name fast food joints like Burger King and McDonalds.  All three are worth a look if you’re motivated to get into Magic Mountain on the cheap.

Finding online sources for these coupons isn’t as easy as you might think, however.  Even usually reliable sources for great coupons and discounts like CouponMountain can offer little more than a link back to Magic Mountain’s own website.  Online coupons do show up occasionally (like the State of CA offering), but not nearly as much as do traditional “hard” coupons.

You can also check for SFMM cupons on eBay.  The auction monster is usually overflowing with sales on Six Flags Magic Mountain coupons and discounts.  It may cost you a little bit of money this way, but you’ll still be able to net huge savings.  Take a good look at the coupons and examine the expiration dates before making a buy, though.

If you’re looking for a summer trip that involves feeling as if you’re strapped to a get engine on rails, don’t pay full price.  You might need to work a little harder to find Magic Mountain coupons than you would to save a quarter on a box of Wheaties, but the potential savings are worth the effort.  Entertainment is rarely cheap and theme park entertainment has NEVER been cheap.  That’s not going to change this summer.

Oh, and if you’re planning to ride The Viper, you might want to consider scheduling your ride before you have a meal.  It’s that awesome.

You’re looking for Applebee’s coupons?  I’m sorry.

Seriously, consider an alternative eatery.  No matter where you live, there is undoubtedly a better option than Applebee’s.  Someone else will prepare a better meal.

If you haven’t guessed, I’m not big fan of Applebee’s.  Or Chili’s.  Or Friday’s.  Or any other generic suburban replacement for an actual diner or restaurant.  The food is uninspired.  Quality takes a backseat to making something that everyone from toddler to senior citizen can comfortably gum without the risk of encountering flavor.  Oh, at least one Applebee’s had an issue spreading shigella.  Shigella?  Seriously, folks.

Oh, and there was that episode in which the lizard corpse mysteriously appeared in a salad.  Yum!

But I know something.  I know that I could present an ironclad argument against Applebee’s–an attack so honest, fierce and well-developed that no one could overcome it.  And even if I did that, some folks would tell me to take a hike as they negotiated their local suburban roads in hot pursuit of boring chicken fingers with equally boring honey mustart dipping sauce (or mega-sweet “BBQ” sauce for the daring).

I don’t understand the appeal of Applebee’s, but they don’t have nearly 2,000 locations because people agree with me.  Some folks love it and they’re out there looking for coupons.  Who am I to stand in their way, right?

So, here’s the scoop on finding coupons for Applebee’s.

Look locally. The national chain doesn’t seem to offer many online coupons.  Local franchises, however, may very well hook you up with a better-than-menu-price deal.

Buy ‘em. People find print coupons for Applebee’s every once in awhile and then sell them via eBay and other sites.  It may feel strange to pay for a coupon, but if your five bucks will save you ten, it’s a winner.

Check the regular sources. Go ahead and check all of the usual online coupon sites.  Once, in a great while, an actual Applebee’s coupon or coupon code will show up.  I gotta tell you, though, it’s rare.  You’re more likely to find entries that “sound” like coupons but actually end up being nothing more than mentions of Applebee’s national specials, which don’t require anything more than a willingness to show up.  Some of these deals are pretty decent—two full meals for twenty bucks, for instance–but they’re not actual Applebee’s coupons, per se.

Stick your hand in the horse’s mouth. You might want to visit Applebee’s website.  I have no evidence to suggest that they send subscribers to their email list coupons, but they might.  And, if you’re a fan of Applebee’s, you’ll want the information they do provide.  They describe their mailings like this:

If you’d like to receive our email updates featuring new menu items, special events, and other news, enter your information below.

If you like the place, you should sign up.

Now, there are a handful of ways to find the coupons you want.  Now it’s time to mention a popular offer for a free Applebee’s gift card that is not worth your time or effort.

For whatever reason, Applebee’s has been the repeated target of a scam email that promises readers a gift card in exchange for forwarding the email to a specified number of other people.  This offer is compete and utter nonsense.  It’s been annoying enoug to the folks at A-bee’s that they’eve even dedicated web space to explain that the whole thing is a hoax.  Don’t fall for it!

If I managed to talk you out of eating at Applebee’s (that dead lizard story is at least a little persuasive, I hope), I’m happy to have provided a valuable service.

If you’re still sold on the idea of eating there, I hope that the advice herein can at least save you a few bucks!

Are there really Dillard’s coupons floating around out there?  I’m tempted to give a flat-out “no” in response to that question, but there may be a few circulating in local Sunday papers.  So, I’ll stop short of saying that.

I will, however, tell you that you’re not going to find any great coupons for the big shopping mall anchor retailer online.

Bad news, I know.   But it’s about time that one of the eighty kerbillion web pages referencing “Dillard’s coupons” told you the truth.

Here’s what happens when you search for Dillard’s coupons…  You get tons of search results featuring sites that are labeled as if they have Dillard’s coupons.  When you actually click on the links for any of those coupons, however, you’re not actually delivered to a coupon.  Instead, you’re sent to Dillard’s website–usually to one of their specials or sales.

Now, that’s not a bad thing.  Some of their sales are quite good.  They often have a great free shipping thing going for online purchases, too.  The fact of the matter, however, is that you’re not finding anything you’d be unable to find on your own by browsing Dillard’s site.

So, why are all of these other “coupon” sites providing you with these direct links to Dillard’s offers that anyone can access on their own?  They’re making money by delivering customers to the site.  It’s affiliate marketing.

If you click on a link at a coupon site and subsequently purchase something from Dillard’s, that referrer is going to get a commission payment for providing the traffic (you).  As such, all of these “coupon” sites have a vested interest in making you think that you’re getting some sort of amazing deal thanks to their efforts.

Now, I’m not saying that you should avoid doing things that way.  Not at all.  Affiliate marketing is a perfectly legitimate enterprise and those sites work hard to get your attention.   Many of them do a heckuva job parsing out all of the specials and sales, too, which can make it easier to find a good deal.  It’s not like they’re ripping you off or anything.

However, it’s not like they’re providing you with some sort of actual coupon that will provide you with some kind of additional savings, either.

So, if you’re all about cutting out the middle person (remember, though, it won’t save you a dime), you can just cruise on over to Dillard’s sites and do your thing.

My advice?  Do whatever makes you feel better.  It doesn’t make a difference.

I will say this, though.  Some of the sites that are providing those affiliate links to Dillard’s do a great job of providing “real” coupons and savings opportunities for other stores.  So, if you frequently save money by using one of those sites, you might want to consider using it to find a good deal at Dillard’s.  The commission they’ll get from your purchases can be your little way of thanking them for their good work.

One other note…  If you’re worried about missing a great deal at Dillard’s, you can sign up for their email list.  They promise to keep subscribers up-to-date about relevant special offers and sales.  I’m sure you’ll occasionally receive an email that doesn’t do much for you, but that annoyance will probably be outweighed by getting the scoop on good deals in a timely fashion.  It’s still not a source of genuine Dillard’s coupons, but it might be the next best thing.  There’s a little spot to sign up on the top of every page at their site.

Sorry I couldn’t lead you to the promised land of 75% off Dillard’s coupons.  If they were out there, I’d let you know.  The fact of the matter is that the store, unlike competitor JC Penney’s, just doesn’t issue any online coupons.  From what I can tell, offline versions are a little scarce, too.

You’ll notice from the title of this post that I personally feel the main attraction of the ubiquitous Red Lobster seafood chain is the fact that they hand out those sorta greasy, sorta cheesy biscuits.  Those babies are mmmm, mmmm good.  For those counting at home, that’s an 2×4mmmm recommendation, which means they’re really good.

The rest of the food?  So-so.  If you like your seafood battered, fried or soaked in butter and served as a big ol’ smorgasbord of oceanic goodness, you’re probably a Red Lobster fan.  If you’re living in flyover country and can’t get much in the way of fishy chow elsewhere, it’s also an okay choice.

Me?  I have this thing about fish.  I love it, but will generally order it only when I am within sight of the waters from which it was caught.  There’s something that happens when fish goes from fresh, to frozen, to defrosted, to cooked to served that just doesn’t work for me.  Again, though, not everyone lives on the coast.  Thus, Red Lobster serves an important function.  It’s the only seafood contact much of the American interior has.

Red Lobster is generally a pretty affordable joint, all things considered.  Yeah, it will cost you more than a trip to Chili’s, Fridays, etc.  Those places, however, are more reliant on cheaper and readily-available stuff than is Big Red.  When it’s chicken vs. halibut, you can bet that the chicken will cost less.

The nice thing, though, is that you can use Red Lobster coupons to equalize the price points.  In some cases, you might net a good enough coupon to make Red Lobster cheaper than its chain-restaurant counterparts.

You can start by heading over to RL’s own wesbsite and signing up for their “Fresch Catch Club“.  This is the restaurant’s version of a customer loyalty program.  It gives yout the chance to buy gift cards and gift coupons for others, and will also give you access to occasional Red Lobster coupons.  They also send you some sort of super-special offer if you decide to celebrate your birthday there.

Once you’ve done that, hit up the online coupon sites like SlickDeals or RetailMeNot.  There are many different Red Lobster coupons floating around out there.  Some are “buy one, get one” deals, but most are just a flat $4 or $5 off your purchase.  That’s enough to make up the difference between a Red Lobster meal and a trip to Applebee’s or some place like that.

There’s something you DON’T want to do when pursuing Red Lobster bargains.  Don’t accept a RL gift card when you’re being subjected to a pitch for a travel club or some other similar arrangement.  Apparently, the bad guys use this as a way to claim that you’ve used their services and that may contractually entitle them to bill you big bucks.  You can read more about this nasty bit of chicanery if you’d like, but the big ol’ takeaway on this one is:  Don’t sign anything in order to get yourself some free Red Lobster–or anything else for that matter.

I’ve also seen the $50 Red Lobster card used in those “free” online giveaways.  The catch is that you generally have to get involved with some other potentially underhanded business endeavor before you get your card and it’s usually just as sneaky as the travel club gambit.  In the immortal words of everyone from your father to Milton Friedman, “There’s not such thing as a free lunch”.  Even at Red Lobster.

One last big of advice.  Sometimes, they’re sort of stingy with those Cheddar Bay biscuits.  Don’t allow that to happen to you.  Ask for them.  Ask for a second plate, too.  They’re the best thing going at RL!

All right.  Before we get into this one, I have two things to say.

First, a belated “congratulations” to Jared, the Subway guy who lost a billion pounds by marching uphill to a Subway twice a day for twelve years to order a six-inch veggie sub, no cheese, hold the bread.  Yes, I’m exaggerating.  The Jared story has always bugged me, though.  They play up the fact he ate at Subway but they don’t mention all of the exercise.  

Second, I’d like to know who wrote the “Five Dollar Footlong” ditty that’s in all of the ads for Subway these days.  Whoever came up with that deserves a handshake for writing something so memorable.  He or she also deserves a solid beating with a footlong piece of wheat bread for coming up with something so annoying.  

Okay, now we can get started.   People like Subway.  They like to save money.  They’d like to save money at Subway.  I’m right there with them.  I enjoy the occasional sub from the ubiquitous sandwich franchise (not the meatballs, though. I think they have a very mild aftertaste that reminds me of that kitchen cleanser, Mr. Clean).  I’m also a fan of spending as little money as I can.  

Here’s how you do it.  Consider this a primer of finding and using Subway coupons.

First, you have to realize that Subway shops are individual franchises.  That means the franchisees have a lot of say in what promos they’ll do and which ones they won’t.  That goes for coupons, too.  The Subway on 5th Street might be thrilled to take your coupon while the one on 10th will advise you that you cannot save $2 on your bologna there.  

I read one person who recommended trying to use the coupons even if the store in question isn’t part of the promotion.  They say that if you get to the register and they refuse the coupon you can just tell them that you won’t take the sandwich.  Apparently, the Subway employee is then supposed to crumble, happy to get anything for the food he or she will otherwise send to the dumpster.  I’m guessing that most sandwich artists would be happy to flip your MT into the trash and let you walk.  I could be wrong, though.  Either way, I think it’s poor form to try to muscle a franchisee into taking a coupon they don’t want to take.

The best place to find coupons you’ll be able to use is to check your local paper.  Buy the Sunday litterbox liner and dig through the advertising circulars.  You have a good shot at finding a coupon in there.

You can also find coupons online.  There is a red hot market for Subway coupons on eBay.  If you’re willing to spend a few bucks to save a few bucks more, it might be worth bidding on one of the many auctions that seem to be underway consistently.

You can also find free Subway coupons online if you aren’t willing to buy them.  People have found “dollar off” printable coupons, for instance.  You can also poke around the various forums dedicated to coupon sharing and frugal living looking for coupons that will be valid in your area.  An eHow piece explains:

Search various websites as different people may find different free Subway coupons. There may be many Subway restaurants in your area and they may target only the neighborhood they are in. So to get the most free Subway coupons to use at your disposal, look in more than one place.

If you’re not familiar with Aeropostale, that can only mean one of two things:  You’re over eighteen years old or you haven’t set foot in a shopping mall for quite some time.

Aeropostale is a mall-based clothing retailer targeting the teen demographic.  If you’re a teen, like to dress as if you are a high schooler, or have a kid at home with a taste for trendy-yet-safe mall fashions, it’s a great place to shop.

Aeropostale just annouced its plans to close its “Jimmy’z” stores, which were aimed at a slightly older crowd.  You’d think that announcing one’s intentions to close a chunk of a business might be a bad thing, but Wall Street doesn’t think so.  It appears as though Aeropostale might be doing things the right way in terms of company management.

The retailer also seems to be doing things the right way in terms of discounting its merchandise.  You can find printable Aeropostale coupons and online coupon codes fairly easily, giving you a shot at hitting the mall on a budget.

I did a quick check for a good Aeropostale coupon and found some great opportunities to shave down one’s bill.  CouponCabin featured five listings for the retailer, including some hefty %-off discounts.  Savings.com had a full page of sizeable discount deals.  BradsDeals had a few listings, too.  They also showed some of the now-expired codes, which evidence consistent offerings on the part of Aeropostale.

Coupon codes are only part of the story, though.  Aeropostale also runs some eye-popping sales.  Witness, for instance, their 70% off warehouse sale.  This doozy was featured in the Bargainist and included t-shirts for way under $10/ea.

Perhaps the best way to get your hands on a great Aeropostale coupon is to ask the company for the hook up.  How do you do that?  You sign up for their email list.  According to their subscriber page, you can get members-online online promotions and invitations to their very best private sales.  When you consider the fact that it only takes a few minutes to sign up to the list, becoming a member is a no-brainer for anyone who might want to purchase Aeropostale products.

Aeropostale does issue printable and printed coupons, too.  You can keep your eyes peeled for coupons in your local paper, or you can hunt them down online and print ‘em up yourself.  The coupon and bargain/frugality forums are a great place to look.  The printable coupons offer some very nice savings potential, too.  Consider these finds:

• I found one issued in December (now expired) that offered $10 off any purchase of $40 or more.
• At one point, there was an Aeropostale coupon that offered 30% off any purchase.
• Over the holidays you could take 25% off any purchase in excess of $100.

Those are just a few examples of the printable Aeropostale coupon offers that have been floating around online.  With a little digging, you’re sure to find some wonderful deals.

I’m not a big fan of the mall and when I am in a shopping center I usually steer clear of the joints specializing in teen fashions.  If I was in the market for some clothing for teenagers, however, I’d put Aeropostale on my list of places to stop.

It looks like they have some decent products and they’re certainly prepared to supply customers with some great savings opportunities.

Let me say this, right off the top. I’ve long been shocked that a major retailer functions with the name “Banana Republic”. I don’t want to sound like the kind of person who has a seizure every time someone says “mankind” instead of “human kind”, but I do believe that language matters.

As such, there’s something that makes me a little uncomfortable with a clothier that chooses a pejorative term often applied to nations in the developing world as its monicker.

Sure, I know that “officially” the term “Banana Republic” is applicable to kleptocracies, but in practice it’s often hurled as an insult at other nations who are trying to working through a slew of problems as they sift through some post-colonial issues.

Okay, now that’s off my chest. Now we can talk about saving some dough if you decide to go shopping at Banana Republic.

I personally don’t wear a lot of BR stuff. I think some of it is quite fetching and the quality seems pretty strong. I do think they size out a little small (but then again, I have the famed portly Lampsen physique) and there’s something about their offerings that are just a little too plain for me. Nonetheless, it’s a fine store and many people absolutely love the stuff they sell there.

Here’s something that surprised me when I went on a Banana Republic coupon hunt. Unlike many major retailers, these folks don’t seem too interested in providing customers with an coupons or coupon codes directly from their own website. I couldn’t find any.

What I did find was a promise of a shipping price break for those who signed up to be on the BR mailing list. It wouldn’t surprise me if being on the list nets you an occasional special offer, too, but the Banana Republic site isn’t really touting that possibility.

So, that meant it was time to check out some third party sources where I might get lucky enough to find a Banana Republic coupon.

RetailMeNot had a small collection of 10% and 20% off coupons that could definitely come in handy. Well, as is usually the case online, they weren’t really coupons. They were coupon codes of online shopping. I tend to use the terms interchangeably, though.

You might not think that a site called TechBargains would be that interested in what’s happening at BR, but they did have a 10% off coupon available. They also directed readers to ways to secure the free shipping mentioned earlier.

CouponMountain? Basically the same stuff. CouponCabin? The same stuff again. Noticing a trend?

I sure did. Apparently, unlike a lot of the other stores with a significant web presence, Banana Republic is perfectly satisfied to offer a small collection of coupons at any one time. There really isn’t a lot of reason to dig too deep in hopes of securing significant BR savings. They have a few decent coupon codes, those fall into circulation and you can use them. It’s handled pretty simply and directly without a lot of competing offers and confusion.

If you’re a Banana Republic shopper (which probably means you tend toward muted hues and non-controversial styles that will allow you blend in to most “office casual” situations quite effectively), you might as well use one of the easily-discoverable Banana Republic coupons online.

Grab one of those 10% or 20% off deals (there are some qualifications for each) and try to secure free shipping. You’ll end up on their mailing list, which could provide you with some better deals down the road.

While you’re there, give the clerk a fifteen-second talk on cultural sensitivity and the use of the term “banana republic”. You know they’ll just love that almost as much as you loved the opening paragraph of this post!