When it comes to saving money at variety stores, most shoppers stop at sales. But the smartest budgeters know how to layer discounts—stacking store sales, digital coupons, and cashback apps for serious savings. This strategy takes just a few extra minutes but can easily shave 20–40% off your total, especially at stores like Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Five Below.

Here’s how to build a savings stack that works every time.

Start with the sales

Weekly sales are the foundation of any savings strategy. Before heading to the store, check the retailer’s website or app for current promotions. For example:

• Dollar General runs weekly ads and frequent $5 off $25 deals (especially Saturdays)

• Family Dollar features Smart Coupons tied to in-store deals

• Five Below rotates trending seasonal items and markdowns by category

Find items already discounted and center your list around them. Then, build up your stack.

Add store and manufacturer coupons

Most variety stores offer digital coupons through their apps. Some, like Dollar General and Family Dollar, let you “clip” these coupons virtually and apply them at checkout by entering your phone number. You can often use both a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item.

You can also find manufacturer coupons from sources like Coupons.com or the P&G Good Everyday platform.

Layer with cashback apps

Once sales and coupons are applied, cashback apps offer an additional layer of savings. Popular platforms include:

• Rakuten: Best for online purchases, often offering 1–5% back at major retailers

• Ibotta: Offers product-specific rebates at variety and grocery stores

• Fluz: Lets you buy digital gift cards with cashback that can be used instantly at the register

For example, if you’re shopping at Dollar General or Family Dollar, you can earn cashback with a Fluz gift card while still applying store coupons and sale pricing.

Example savings stack

Let’s say you’re buying household cleaners and storage bins totaling $25:

• Clip a $5 off $25 coupon in the Dollar General app

• Use a $1 manufacturer coupon for a cleaning brand

• Buy a $25 Fluz gift card for Dollar General and earn cashback instantly

• Final price: $19 out of pocket, plus cashback rewards

That’s a full-circle savings method for a standard trip.

Know the rules of stacking

Some general rules to keep in mind:

• You can usually combine one store coupon with one manufacturer coupon per item

• Digital gift cards from cashback apps are considered “payment,” not “discounts,” so they don’t interfere with other promos

• Cashback apps may have terms—always double-check if you need to upload a receipt (as with Ibotta) or pay with a specific method (as with Fluz)

Time your purchases for extra impact

Some apps and stores run stacking events, where bonuses are even higher. Fluz, for instance, occasionally offers boosted cashback rates for a limited time. Ibotta sometimes includes bonus missions that offer extra rewards for buying multiple items in a category.

By combining sales cycles with these promos, your savings stack becomes even more powerful.

The bottom line

It doesn’t take extreme couponing to save big. With a little planning and a simple strategy, you can turn regular purchases into significant rewards—without spending more than you planned. Stack smart, and your receipts will start looking a lot more satisfying.