19 Secret Shopping Hacks for Saving Money Shopping at Kohl’s

Do you love saving money at Kohl’s? I love long, romantic walks down their clearance racks. All 38 of them. Not only do they offer coupons, but they have amazing rewards programs and then there’s the Kohl’s Cash and their Early Bird and Night Owl specials. It’s alllll good.

19 Kohl’s Sopping Hacks

In fact, I used to work at Kohl’s. For all of four months (it just didn’t work out). Kohl’s has got to be my all-time favorite store to find clearance bargains and earn and redeem rewards. I did learn some secrets, some secrets that have saved my family hundreds over the last decade or so. You down? Let’s DO this.

1. Get a Kohl’s Charge Card 

I know, I know. I really dislike applying for store credit cards. BUT Kohl’s makes it so easy though – and rewarding. In fact, this is the only store charge card we own.

Twelve different times per year (about once a month) Kohl’s offers charge card holders 30% off discounts that you can use IN ADDITION to their other rewards programs. If you do not have a Kohl’s charge, they usually give you 15% off during those same times. Not only can you stack those coupons/discounts, but if you shop online you’ll usually get FREE shipping too!

Spend $600 or more in one year and you’ll be placed in their “Most Valuable Customer” program which nets you EIGHTEEN discounts per year.

2. Sign up for Yes2You Rewards

Do you love rewards? You need a Yes2You Rewards card. It’s FREE and you’ll get $5 in rewards for every $100 spent. Redeem those points on ANYTHING in the store and you CAN stack those savings with other coupons and Kohl’s Cash etc.

My favorite is using those rewards on something for myself. On clearance. Off season. But for cheap!

3. It’s Not Really $50 to Earn Kohl’s Cash 

Did you know that you don’t actually have to spend the $50 to earn your Kohl’s Cash? Oh no! It’s more like $48.

Say whaaaat? Yes!

Spend $48+ and they’ll round it up to $50 giving you the $10 reward. Don’t believe me? It’s even explained on their website.

4. Stack your Discounts 

Did you know that you can use up to FOUR different promo codes when shopping Kohl’s online?

Oh yassssss.

Note that if you are shopping on a mobile device you will only be able to use two codes, so you’ll want to use a laptop or desktop computer if you have more than two codes to apply to your order. Also note that you may only use one site-wide % off code (like 30% off entire purchase) and one free shipping code per order. But you CAN stack those with other threshold or department codes if you have them.

5. Pay off your Kohl’s Card Immediately 

One thing I love about having a Kohl’s Charge Card? Paying it off before I even leave the store. This helps to avoid interest fees and late fees, and I’m still getting my bigger discounts just for being a charge card holder.

If I’m getting 30% off, earning Kohl’s Cash and Yes2You Rewards points, not paying interest is just the icing on the cake.

Use your Kohl’s Charge card to save big in-store, then use cash or check right there at the register and the payment will post on the same day. Forget to make your payment by check? Take it IN to the store instead of mailing it in and your payment will post the same day. Woot!

6. Shop 2nd and 4th Saturdays 

On the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, Kohl’s offers some of their biggest discounts. During their “Early Bird” and “Night Owl” sales, we typically see the rock bottom prices with additional 10-25% off. You can use coupons on top of these prices, as well as rewards.

Night Owl sales start on Fridays at 3:00 pm and run through midnight. The Early Bird typically last from opening until 1:00 pm on Saturday.

Note that when I worked at Kohl’s, the end time for the “Early Bird” was actually one hour past the posted time. Say they give you until 1:00 pm on Saturday you actually get the “Early Bird” price through 2:00 pm. (To give shoppers time to shop and find more deals – and at the time I worked there. No guarantees and as always this policy could change at any time.)

7. Use and Abuse the Kiosks

Find a sweater you just love but not in the right size? How about those kids shoes, one size too small? Take the item over to the Kohl’s kiosk and search their inventory. Order that sweater or those shoes from a kiosk and they’ll ship them to your home – and for free.

You can also use promo codes at the kiosks. Bonus!

8. Know Your Return Policy 

Did you know that there is no time limit on the returns at Kohl’s? For the first 12 months after your purchase you will get cash back (or a credit on your Kohl’s Charge card).

No receipt? No problem! If you do not have your receipt but used a charge card (any, not just Kohl’s charge) they will be able to look up your purchase within the last 12 months.

If you do not have your receipt or the card you used to pay, Kohl’s will give you Merchandise Credit at the lowest price that item has been in the most recent 13 weeks. No receipt needed for purchases made with a Kohl’s Charge Card – they can look those up easy peasy.

9. Price Adjustments

Buy an item (not on clearance) one day and notice it cheaper shortly thereafter? If you notice a cheaper sale price within two weeks of your purchase, you are eligible to receive a price adjustment. This is just one of the reasons I recommend keeping your receipts, so head to customer service and get the difference put right back in your pocket.

If you purchased the item on Kohls.com, you can get the price adjustment by calling their customer service department at (855) 564-5705.

10. Know How to Read the LCD Screens

If you’re an avid Kohl’s shopper, you’ll recognize their LCD sale signs, but did you know that there is a trick to reading them? Totally.

Notice a square on the LCD sign (or tag)? This means that this is the lowest price the item will reach this season until it hits the clearance rack. Go ahead and buy it. See a “NM” on the tag? Don’t buy it… yet! When you see “NM” that means that the item will be further reduced in the next day or so.

Codes to know:

BB = Bonus Buy
S = Sale Price (typically last 1-2 weeks)
PP = Product Placement (fixed price, not % discount)
50 = 50% off
NM= This means that the price will drop either that evening or the next day.
GV = Limited-time price drop
BGH = Buy One Get One Half Price

11. Know the Price Match Policy 

Wait, Kohl’s price matches?! Oh yes, yes they do! They price match in-store only and deals from a brick and mortar store only. This means they’ll match Target, Best Buy, Walmart etc. but not Amazon (since you can’t physically go TO Amazon).

You’ll want to take the physical ad with you to the store; one showing the current sale dates and descriptions and prices.

They will not match wholesale or club prices, and they will not match Kohl’s.com prices but you CAN use coupons up to 15% off when price matching. Sa-weet!

12. Check for Rebates 

One of my favorite times to shop Kohl’s is when they offer rebates. Make sure you check this page on their website for rebates – this link will never change but the offers will!

13. Check their Current Online Deals 

See all of the current promo codes available, special purchases or other offers all on this current promotion page on their website. This page will never change, but the promo codes and promotions change frequently.

14. Get the Most out of Your Registry 

Having a baby or getting married? Create a Kohl’s registry and get 10% back in rewards. This means that if you create a registry and your friends/family members spend $500 on those items, you get $50 in rewards. Now THAT is awesome!

You are also able to give your friends 20% off coupons to use toward your registry items, and whatever items are not purchased you get 15% off if you end up purchasing yourself.

15. Get (and open) Their App

While shopping in-store, use their wi-fi and open their app. You’ll often get a coupon for your purchase, AND you get 10 Yes2You Rewards points just for opening it up.

16. Know Which Items are Excluded

Certain items/brands are not eligible for extra discounts. Such brands include Nike, Under Armour and Dyson and more. See a complete list of excluded items here.

17. Shop Clearance 

You can earn and use Kohl’s Cash on clearance items, as well as some coupons. Always check their clearance section to see what they’ve got.

Use those 30% coupons on top of clearance, baby! Cha-Ching!

18. Know You’re Spending a Bunch?

If you know you’re buying a bunch (and spending a bunch) consider buying gift cards at discounted rates on websites such as Raise.com. You’ll typically save about 5% on your gift card purchase, and then use that like cash.

Many of the gift cards available on Raise.com are egifts, meaning that they will email the voucher for you to print and use – typically delivered within 24 hours or less.

19. Over 55? Shop on Wednesdays 

If you are over age 55, you’ll want to shop on Wednesdays for their additional 15% off for seniors.

See more money saving tips:

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Love shopping at another store? Let me know your favorites and I’ll get ALL of my top tips posted for saving online and in-store.