COUPON QUEEN: Unique ways to save at Dollar General

When you think about bargain shopping, stores like Aldi and Dollar Tree often come to mind. But Dollar General, found in just about every corner of America, is quietly becoming a go-to spot for savings, too. Some may pop in just for milk or a snack, but if you go in with a plan, you can stretch your dollar even further. Here are five unique ways to save at Dollar General: Master digital coupons Dollar General's app is a gold mine of coupons. These digital coupons are free to use and easy to clip. Simply create an account and clip the coupons. When checking out, you'll enter the phone number associated with your Dollar General account to see the savings applied. If you don't want to use the app, you can clip the coupons you want on its website after creating an account. Use the $5 off $25 coupon Every Saturday, Dollar General offers one of its most popular deals: $5 off a $25 purchase. You can find this coupon on their app, website or printed at the bottom of your receipt after a purchase earlier in the week. The best part is that you can pair it with other digital or manufacturer coupons. That will turn your ordinary Saturday shopping trip into a significant savings win. Shop clearance Dollar General is famous with bargain hunters for its clearance events. Usually held twice a year, It slashes already marked-down clearance items by an additional 50 percent. I've spotted cleaning supplies, personal care items and seasonal decor included. Since you can use coupons on top of these savings, you can score some fantastic prices. Follow deal hunters online If you are new to couponing or don't have time to dig through the ads, let someone else do the work for you. On TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, there are entire communities of Dollar General deal hunters who post video tutorials, photo slides and weekly breakdowns of the best bargains. They will show you exactly which coupons to clip and how to combine them. This makes it easy to walk into the store with a ready-made plan. Liz, the Clearance Queen, is just one of the popular creators to follow on both Facebook and TikTok. Think beyond groceries Dollar General also carries clothing, small appliances and even home decor. Pairing clearance or digital coupons with these nongrocery finds can make it a one-stop shop for everyday savings. Don't forget that using your weekly $5 off $25 coupon on these products also works. Dollar General may not be the first place you think of for significant savings, but with the right approach, it can really add up. Once you learn the best times and ways to shop, you'll see that even a small neighborhood store can hold some of the biggest bargains. This week's deal Here is a deal to grab this week at Dollar General. Arm & Hammer liquid laundry detergent — 35 LoadsUse $2 digital coupon= $3.00 Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at rachelkrych@gmail.com.