The Ultimate Guide to Using Coupons at Big Lots

As a discount retailer offering brand-name goods at affordable prices, Big Lots is a go-to destination for bargain shoppers. But did you know you can save even more at Big Lots by using coupons? That‘s right – Big Lots does accept coupons, although there are a few things you should know about their coupon policy and how to maximize your savings. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about using coupons at Big Lots.

Does Big Lots Accept Coupons?

The short answer is yes, Big Lots does accept coupons both in-store and online. However, there are some restrictions on the types of coupons they accept and how you can use them. According to Big Lots‘ official coupon policy, they accept the following types of coupons:

  • Big Lots coupons from their weekly ad or website
  • Big Rewards member exclusive coupons (more on the Big Rewards program later)
  • Manufacturer coupons, but only if they are approved by Big Lots corporate

Big Lots does NOT accept the following coupons:

  • Coupons for products Big Lots does not sell
  • Photocopied, scanned, or expired coupons
  • Coupons that exceed the value of the item

How to Find Big Lots Coupons

Now that you know what types of coupons Big Lots accepts, where can you find them? Here are a few places to look:

  1. Big Lots Weekly Ad – Big Lots publishes a weekly ad both in print and on their website listing current deals and coupons. You can enter your zip code on the Big Lots website to see offers specific to your local store.

  2. Big Rewards Member Emails – If you sign up for the free Big Rewards loyalty program, you‘ll receive exclusive coupon codes via email, including a 15% off coupon for your birthday. We‘ll discuss more Big Rewards perks later on.

  3. Coupon Websites – Online coupon sites like RetailMeNot, Groupon, and Slickdeals often have Big Lots coupons submitted by users. Just be sure to read the fine print and check that the coupon is still valid before trying to use it.

  4. Big Lots Social Media – Follow Big Lots on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, where they sometimes share special promotions and limited-time coupon codes.

Limitations on Big Lots Coupon Usage

Before you start clipping those coupons, there are few things to keep in mind about how you can use them at Big Lots:

  • Coupons cannot be applied to delivery charges, rentals, gift cards, or other non-merchandise transactions.
  • If you return an item purchased with a coupon, you will only be refunded the amount you actually paid (not the pre-coupon price).
  • Big Lots does not allow coupon stacking, meaning you can‘t use more than one Big Lots coupon on the same item.
  • Coupons are only valid on in-stock items.
  • Coupons cannot be applied retroactively to previous purchases.

Combining Coupons with Other Offers

While you generally can‘t stack Big Lots coupons, you CAN combine certain Big Lots coupons with other deals and discounts for even more savings:

  • You can use a Big Lots coupon on items that are on sale or clearance.
  • Big Rewards members can combine their exclusive rewards coupons with weekly ad coupons and sale prices.
  • During some promotions like the Friends & Family event, you can get a 20% off your entire purchase coupon to use on top of sale prices.
  • Big Lots allows you to combine coupons with rebates from sites like Ibotta and Checkout51 when shopping online.

However, be aware that you typically can‘t combine percent-off coupons with dollar-off coupons, and some exclusions may apply for certain items like alcohol, gas, and gift cards. It‘s always a good idea to read the fine print on your coupons carefully!

More Ways to Save at Big Lots

Beyond coupons, there are a few other tricks savvy shoppers use to save even more at Big Lots:

  1. Join the Big Rewards Program – As mentioned, Big Rewards loyalty members get exclusive coupons and offers. You also earn points on every purchase that can be redeemed later. It‘s free to join!

  2. Shop the Friends & Family Event – A few times per year, Big Lots has a Friends & Family sale where you can get 20% off your entire purchase. Keep an eye out for these events!

  3. Check the Clearance Section – Big Lots has a clearance section both in-store and online where you can find deep discounts on overstocked and seasonal items. It‘s worth a look!

  4. Get the Big Lots Credit Card – If you shop at Big Lots often, their branded credit card gets you 5% back in rewards and exclusive cardholder coupons. Just be sure to pay it off in full each month.

  5. Use a Rebate App – Rebate apps like Ibotta, Rakuten and Checkout51 often have offers for a percentage back on your Big Lots purchase. You can then stack these with Big Lots coupons and deals!

Putting It All Together: A Big Lots Couponing Example

To see how you can combine these tips for maximum savings, let‘s look at an example scenario.

Say you get a 20% off coupon in the weekly ad for an area rug you‘ve had your eye on. You check and see that the rug is already on sale for 30% off the regular price of $100.

As a Big Rewards member, you have a $5 off coupon you can combine with the percent off coupon. You also notice that Ibotta is offering 2% cash back on Big Lots purchases.

So here‘s how your savings stack up:

  • Regular price: $100
  • 30% off sale: -$30
  • 20% off coupon: -$14 (applied after sale discount)
  • $5 Big Rewards coupon: -$5
  • Final price: $51
  • Ibotta rebate: $1.02
  • Total out of pocket: $49.98 plus tax

In this example, you saved over 50% off the original price of the rug by strategically stacking sale prices, a Big Lots percent off coupon, a Rewards coupon, and a rebate offer – pretty impressive! Of course, your mileage may vary depending on the specific promotions and coupons available.

Conclusion

As you can see, Big Lots does accept coupons and there are many ways to save money by using them strategically. To recap, make sure you:

  • Check the weekly ad and clip applicable coupons
  • Sign up for the Big Rewards program for exclusive coupons and offers
  • Combine Big Lots coupons with sales and rebates when possible
  • Read coupon fine print to make sure you‘re using them correctly
  • Take advantage of other savings opportunities like the clearance section and Friends & Family events

By following these tips and staying up to date on the latest Big Lots deals and coupons, you‘ll be a Big Lots savings expert in no time. Happy couponing!