Joann’s is a coupon and sale-cycle powerhouse, but the fine print on coupons and the constant sale pricing can get confusing and lead to major checkout disappointment if you aren’t careful.
Let us clear the confusion so you can shop with your coupons held high:
1. Sign up for All. The. Coupons.
There’s a simple reason you need to get your hands on all the coupons, every week: You can use multiple coupons with the same percentage off in one transaction (on different items), as long as the coupons are from different sources.
For example, the Joann’s mobile site and app have the same coupons, but you can use them both once in the same transaction. Which means you can use that “50% off one item” coupon on two different items, as long as you have the app and the website both pulled up on your phone.
Just downloading the app gave me exclusive access to 60% off any one regular-priced item, 50% off my total home fabric purchase, $5 off $35 and $15 off $75.
TIP: You’ll also get a coupon for 20% off your total purchase when you sign up for emails and a coupon for 25% off your total purchase when you sign up for texts.
2. Use competitor coupons from Michaels and Hobby Lobby.
If you have three 40% off coupons from Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Joann’s and you’re buying three regularly priced (eligible) items — go ahead and use them all.
3. Stack coupons with Ibotta to get an extra 15% cash back, plus instant rebates.
Ibotta is a really easy-to-use rebate app that’s currently offering 15% cash back on your Joann’s purchase in-store when you shop using the Ibotta app.
Ibotta also has a rotating selection of in-store cash back offers for Joann’s like $1.00 back on yarn, gardening supplies and hand towels.
4. Aim to save at least 40% – 50% on every purchase.
Use your 40$ – 50% off coupon for items that aren’t already on sale and a coupon for 20-30% off your entire purchase for anything that’s already discounted.
5. Don’t bother using coupons on sewing machines, Cricuts, magazines and Crayola products.
Can I use Joann’s coupons on Cricuts? What about sewing machines, Crayola or magazines?
Many people ask these questions! Unfortunately, none of these items can ever be purchased using coupons.
5. Purchase yarn in the spring and fall to get 55% off.
Yarn goes on sale for 25-35% off in the fall and again in the spring. Use a “20% off your total purchase” coupon during the sale, or use a 50% off coupon when it’s not on sale.
Remember to check Ibotta for a $1.00 cash back offer on yarn.
6. Purchase beads when you can get them for 40% off, then use your total purchase coupon.
Wait for them to reach at least 40% off, then use your coupon for 20% off your total purchase.
7. Get smaller pieces of fabric for up to 70% off.
For small pieces of fabric, look in the remnants bin for 50% off the current fabric price. Need an accent fabric? This is a great place to check for small pieces of faux fur.
If what you’re looking for isn’t in the remnants bin, look around for bolts of fabric that are almost empty. If there’s roughly half a yard or less left, you can get 50% off the regular price.
8. Don’t bother with a home decor or floral sale unless it’s marked at least 50% off.
These items always hit the sale floor at 40% off, so while the sale sign may be tempting to your budget-loving heart, it’s also misleading.
Since you won’t be able to use a 40- or 50%-off coupon on these items, wait until you have a “percentage off your total purchase” coupon in hand.
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9. Don’t waste a 50% off coupon on scrapbook paper.
Instead, wait for the 12/$2 sale on sheets that are regularly priced between $0.79 – $0.99 each.
Instead of getting $0.50 off one sheet of paper, you can save close to $10 when you purchase 12 sheets, regularly priced $0.99 each.
10. Use each coupon twice — once in the store and once online.
Use the online code from a paper coupon first, because you may not get it back after using it in the store. Some coupons are only eligible online or in stores, so watch the fine print.
11. Shop in stores if you’re using multiple coupons.
You can only use one coupon at a time online, which means you can save way more by shopping in the store and combining multiple coupons instead. Plus, Joann’s shipping fees start at $8 and go up from there, making a single coupon not really worth it.
If you have to shop online, calculate which promo code will give you the best discount. Opting for a discount on shipping fees may result in losing your “40% off one item” discount. My advice? Check your cart breakdown carefully before completing any online purchase.
TIP: Avoid shipping charges altogether by choosing same-day pickup.
12. Skip buying fabric quarters — buy fabric by the inch instead.
Dollar for dollar, fabric quarters are generally more expensive, but sometimes they are exactly what a project needs.
If not, you can ask for fabric to be cut as small as four inches, and (when combined with a 50% off coupon or sale) by-the-yard quilting fabric goes for between $1.99-$5.99 per yard. That means if you only need a small amount of fabric, you’ll pay pennies instead of $2.49 per fabric quarter.
13. Get at least one free month of online DIY classes by signing up for Creative Bug.
Creative Bug is Joann’s digital collection of classes covering sewing, crochet, knitting, cake decorating, home decor, and more. Get one month of free unlimited access (read: share with your daughter, mother, friend. . .) by signing up on Joann’s website, and after that you’ll pay just $7.95 per month.
I recommend checking Joann’s Coupons section online before signing up to see if Joann’s is offering a two-month trial instead of just one month. And depending on the promotion, look for a “30% off your total purchase” coupon in your inbox after signing up as well.
14. Shop Sunday mornings for the biggest sale selection.
New coupons are released every Sunday morning, and Joann’s doesn’t do rain checks. So, if a hot item is out of stock, you’re out of luck.
15. Items sporting a red clearance tag are fair game for your percentage-off coupon.
Small red stickers with no bar code or SKU number signal clearance items that can be purchased using a “percentage off your total purchase” coupon (even if your coupon is from Michaels).
Don’t wait for additional markdowns once you see the red sticker — it won’t be marked down more than once, and stock goes fast.
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16. Wait patiently for seasonal items to hit 90% off.
You’ll see 70% off seasonal items just two to three days after a holiday and a whopping 90% off four to five days after the holiday has passed. If you have a coupon for 20% off your purchase, go ahead and use that too.
The selection gets picked over fast, so head in first thing in the morning.
17. Use a discounted gift card with your coupons to get an extra 5% off.
Purchase a discounted Joann’s gift card from Gift Card Granny to save an extra 5% on average. Because the card acts like cash, you can still pile on your coupons.
18. Never settle for less than 60% off custom framing.
Between the Joann’s app, the weekly ad and competitor coupons, you should never pay full price for custom framing.
We often see Joann’s online coupon page featuring a 60% off + 15% off offer for custom framing.
19. Teachers, military and anyone affiliated with Girl Scouts or 4-H can save 10-15% every day.
Only use your teacher, Girl Scout, 4-H or military discount if you don’t have a “percentage off your total purchase” coupon. Why? Because teachers and military only get 10% off, and anyone affiliated with Girls Scouts or 4-H (kids or adults) will get 15% off their total purchase. But odds are pretty high that you’ll have a “20-30% off your total purchase” coupon in hand, which is a better deal, and you can’t use both a coupon AND your discount.
Just like with a percentage-off coupon, you can use your discount on sale and clearance items.
Coupon discount exclusions are the same as coupon exclusions.
20. Join Purchasing Power Plus Perks to get bulk pricing and earn 5% cash back on bulk purchases.
If you’re a professional crafter and have an LLC, you can get 5% back on your bulk Joann’s purchase. That 5% goes a long way when you’re buying 1,000 yards of upholstery fabric or 400 skeins of yarn. Plus, get $25 back on your first business purchase of $500 of more.
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