If you’re a smart shopper, you know that you can save a ton of money by combining tools like price trackers with coupons. Coupons save you money right when you buy it, but price trackers let you see how much things cost over time, so you can always get the greatest bargain.

You may get the most out of your money, save unnecessary expenses, and even identify the optimal buying times by combining these two effective tactics.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using price trackers alongside coupons to ensure you’re always getting the lowest price on the items you want. We’ll explain what price trackers are, how they work, and how to combine them effectively with coupons for optimal savings.

1. What Are Price Trackers and How Do They Work?

A price tracker is a tool or software that monitors the price of a product over time, alerting you to price drops or increases. These trackers are often available as websites, browser extensions, or mobile apps, and they help you decide the best time to make a purchase by giving you access to historical price data.

1.1. Popular Price Trackers

Some of the most popular price tracking tools include:

CamelCamelCamel: One of the best-known price trackers for Amazon. It shows price history for products and allows you to set alerts for price drops.
Honey: A browser extension that not only finds and applies coupons but also includes a price tracker feature that monitors price changes over time.
Keepa: Another popular Amazon price tracker that provides detailed price history and alerts for price drops.
PriceGrabber: A comparison shopping engine that helps you find the best price across multiple retailers.
Google Shopping: Offers a price tracking feature that notifies you when the price of an item drops, comparing different online retailers.

1.2. How Price Trackers Work

Price Monitoring: Price trackers monitor changes in product prices across specific websites or retailers. They often display price history graphs, so you can see how the price has fluctuated over time. This helps you determine whether you’re getting a good deal at the current price or if it’s better to wait.
Price Alerts: You can set price alerts to notify you when a product reaches a specific price point or drops below a certain threshold. Alerts are usually sent via email or push notifications, ensuring you don’t miss a price drop.

2. How to Combine Price Trackers with Coupons for Maximum Savings

Using price trackers to find the best deal on a product is already a great strategy, but when you combine price tracking with coupons, you can stack your savings and get the lowest possible price on your purchases. Here’s how to do it:

2.1. Track the Price Before Using a Coupon

Before you use a coupon, check the product’s price history using a price tracker like CamelCamelCamel or Honey. This will help you understand whether the current price is high, low, or average compared to past trends.
If the current price is high, consider waiting for a price drop before using your coupon. Using a coupon on an inflated price could mean you’re not getting the best deal, even with the discount.

2.2. Set Price Alerts for Coupons and Price Drops

Use price trackers to set up alerts for price drops on products you’re interested in buying. This way, you’ll be notified when the price drops to a desired level, and you can then combine this lower price with a coupon to maximize your savings.
For example, if a product typically sells for $100, and you have a $20 off coupon, set a price alert for when the item drops to $80. When the price hits that point, you can apply your coupon to bring the final cost down to $60, saving $40 in total.

2.3. Pair Coupons with Seasonal Sales

Price trackers can help you identify the best times to buy based on seasonal trends. Major shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Back-to-School Sales often see significant price drops on a wide range of products. Use price trackers to monitor upcoming sales, and when prices drop, combine them with coupons for even deeper discounts.
For example, a product might drop from $100 to $70 during a Black Friday sale. If you have a $10 coupon, you can further reduce the price to $60.

2.4. Monitor Price Changes After a Purchase

Many retailers, including Amazon, offer price adjustments or partial refunds if the price of an item drops shortly after purchase. If you use a coupon but notice that the price drops further in the following days, you can request a refund for the price difference.
Use your price tracker to keep an eye on the product even after you’ve purchased it. If the price drops within the store’s adjustment window (usually 14 days), you may be able to request a refund for the difference.

2.5. Use Price Trackers to Avoid Coupon Expiration

Coupons often come with expiration dates, so you’ll want to use them before they expire. Price trackers can help you determine whether it’s better to wait for a price drop or use the coupon now.
Set a reminder for both the coupon expiration date and the product’s price history to decide if you should make the purchase immediately or wait for a lower price. If the coupon is about to expire, use it even if the price hasn’t dropped significantly.

2.6. Stack Coupons with Cashback Offers

Combine the savings you get from price tracking and coupon usage with cashback offers for even more discounts. Apps like Rakuten and Ibotta offer cashback on purchases, and when combined with a coupon and a price drop, you can multiply your savings.
For example, if a product is on sale for $50 (down from $70), and you apply a $5 coupon and earn 5% cashback through Rakuten, your final cost could be as low as $42.75, after cashback is applied.

3. Example of Combining Price Trackers and Coupons

To illustrate how you can effectively use price trackers alongside coupons, here’s a detailed example:

Scenario:

You’re interested in buying a smartwatch that is normally priced at $200.
You have a $20 off coupon for the smartwatch that is valid for two weeks.
You use CamelCamelCamel to check the price history and notice that the smartwatch often goes on sale for $150 during seasonal promotions.

Strategy:

Set a Price Alert: Use CamelCamelCamel to set a price alert for when the smartwatch drops to $150.
Wait for the Sale: When the smartwatch price drops to $150 during an upcoming sale, you’ll receive a notification.
Apply the Coupon: Use your $20 coupon at checkout, reducing the price from $150 to $130.
Add Cashback: If you use a cashback app like Rakuten, which offers 3% cashback, you’ll receive $3.90 back, bringing your final price to $126.10.

In this scenario, you saved $73.90 off the original price of $200 by using both a price tracker and a coupon, and by earning cashback.

4. Top Tips for Using Price Trackers with Coupons

Here are some final tips for combining price trackers and coupons to ensure you get the best deal possible:

Time Your Purchase: Always check price history using a tracker before using a coupon. This ensures that you’re using your coupon when the price is at its lowest point.
Don’t Overlook Expiration Dates: Be mindful of when your coupons expire and time your purchases accordingly. Use your coupon before it expires, even if the price hasn’t dropped significantly.
Combine with Sales: Maximize your savings by combining coupons with sales events that typically offer significant discounts.
Keep an Eye on Refund Policies: Monitor price changes after your purchase to see if you qualify for a price adjustment or partial refund.

5. Conclusion

By using price trackers alongside coupons, you can unlock tremendous savings on a wide range of products. Price trackers help you identify the best times to buy, while coupons offer immediate discounts that further reduce the final cost. Whether you’re planning a major purchase or looking for everyday deals, combining these strategies ensures you get the most bang for your buck.

Start using tools like CamelCamelCamel, Honey, and Keepa to track prices, and visit CouponZania.com to find the latest coupons. With the right approach, you’ll be able to stack discounts, time your purchases, and maximize your savings like a pro!