Coupon 101

Welcome! If you are just starting to save money with coupons or if you have been around for awhile you have come the right place. Using coupons saves a lot of money.

 

Why use coupons?

Coupons add up over time.  By combing coupons with sales you are maximizing your savings.  A $0.50 tissue coupon applied to an item that is not on sale is a savings of $0.50, but when you use that coupon during a sale you have saved even more. Tissues go on sale for $1.25 a box (normally $2.50 a box).  By shopping during the sale with your coupon you just saved $1.75.

Shopping during sales is the best way to boost your savings.  You will find that you don’t have to pay for certain necessities again.  Items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and deodorant are often free with coupons.  My initial thought when I heard that people got basic necessities for free was “No way.  Who gives away toothpaste and deodorant?”  There are many stores who allow us to buy these items for free with our coupons and their sales.

Where are coupons located?

Here are 8 ways to get coupons for free.  You can also print coupons from the Following Sites:

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Basic Coupon Lingo

Insert Terminology: These inserts come in the Sunday newspaper.  There are regional variations to coupons, not all areas get the same coupons (which can be a huge bummer)
P&G:  Procter & Gamble Sunday insert
RP:  Red Plum
SS:  SmartSource

* When I post store match-ups I put the coupon in parentheses.  If a post says (10/10 SS) that means the coupon should be found in the October 10th Smart Source coupon insert.  Remember, there are regional variations so your area may not have received that coupon.

Coupons Lingo:
$1/1, $2/3: One dollar off one item, two dollars off three items, etc.
2/$3, 3/$1: Two items for three dollars, three items for one dollar, etc.
BOGO: Buy one item get the second item free (interchangeable with B1G1)
B1G1: Buy one item get the second item free (interchangeable with BOGO)
B2G1: Buy two items get one item free
Beep: Sometimes the register will beep when a coupon is scanned to indicate that the intervention is necessary.  Some coupons beep for the price to be manually entered, while other coupons may beep if you used on an incorrect item.  To be perfectly fair
Blinkies: Grocery/drugstore coupon dispensers with blinking lights
Catalina: Catalina coupon, prints from a separate machine when your receipt prints.  You will find catalina machines at Walgreens, Target, and many grocery stores
ECB’s: ExtraCare Bucks – loyaly card rewards for shopping at CVS
Exp.: Expires
GC: Gift card
IVC: Instant Value Coupon, Walgreens’ store coupons found in ads and monthly booklet
MIR: Mail-in rebate
OYNO: On your next order (typically referred to when talking about Catalinas)
OOP: Out of pocket
Peelie: Peel-off coupon found on product packaging
RR’s: Register Rewards – Walgreens’ Catalina coupons
Q: Coupon (I felt so awkward using this very short abbreviation the first few times)
SCR: Single Check Rebate – Rite Aid monthly rebates program (this is a check that Rite Aid mails to you)
Stacking: Using both a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon on one item
UPC: Universal product code, bar code
Tearpad: Pad of coupons attached to a display, shelf, or refrigerator door.
+UP: Rite Aid reward program
WYB: When you buy
YMMV: Your mileage may vary, meaning some stores may allow you to do a certain deal while others may not

 

 

What to Know Before You Go

Coupon 101 – All your couponing questions answered!