Coupon Lingo

BOGO, $1/2, Blinkies...What does it all mean?   When you are reading here at Money Saving Mode/Dual Income Need Coupons or are other places online, you might see an acronym that you aren't familiar with.  This list is here to help you decipher the couponing lingo. 

$1/1, $1/2: One dollar off one item, one dollar off two items, etc.

2/$1, 3/$2: Two items for one dollar, three items for two dollars, etc.


B1G1: Buy one item get one item free
B2G1: Buy two items get one item free 
Blinkie – SmartSource machine with a red blinking light on it. Coupons from those machines are referred to as ‘Blinkies’
BOGO: Buy One, Get One

Catalina/CAT: Catalina coupon machines located at register, dispense long receipt-like coupons that may be used on a future purchase. Catalinas, refer to the coupons themselves which may be manufacturer or store coupons. Some Catalina coupons are advertised and some are generated based on consumer behavior.
Coupon: a note from a store or manufacturer that entitles shopper to a discount on specific product.  Coupons may be clipped form the newspaper, printed from the internet
or even downloaded to your store loyalty card.  
Couponing: [koo-pon-ing, Kyoo-] (v.) the practice of redeeming discount coupons in order to save money.
Couponer: [koo-pon-er, kyoo-] (n.) A person who collects and saves coupons to redeem them on products, such as groceries. 

DND: Do not double
Double Coupon - Value of the coupon can be doubled. For example, if you had a coupon for dog food for .50 cents off,  the coupon would be redeemed for $1.00 off or double of face value of the coupon. (Kroger Delta doubles up so $0.60!)
ECB: Extra Care Buck CVS pharmacy program; now renamed Extra Bucks.
E-Coupons: Electronic coupons may be downloaded onto your store loyalty card or cell phone. Download from your PC or go mobile and download to your loyalty card through your cell phone. Grocery coupons must be downloaded to your loyalty card and will be deducted automatically when you swipe your card at checkout. E-coupons may be downloaded to your cell-phone for other retail items such as movie rentals. Download a coupon using the mobile ap and show your discount code to your cashier.
Extra Bucks: CVS rewards program, formerly called ECBs. Extra Bucks print according to the store‟s weekly or monthly advertised deals. When you make a qualifying purchase, you receive the coordinating Extra Bucks value as advertised. Extra Bucks are similar to catalinas or register rewards, but they print directly onto the bottom of your receipt.
ETS: Excludes trial size
Exp.: Expires

Inserts: Coupons found in the Sunday paper
IP: Internet Printable coupons may be printed right from your home computer. Usually limited to 2 prints per computer, download quick and safe printing software to be able to print securely from home.
IVC: Instant Value Coupon. Walgreens store coupon, found in Walgreens Easy Saver Catalog and on in store tearpads. IVCs may be stacked with a manufacturer coupon.

 

MIR: Mail in Rebate, refers to rebates which must be submitted by mail. These are the traditional rebates that require you to mail in both your receipt and proof of purchase in the form of UPC barcodes. Manufacturer: The company who produces the brand items: Dove soap manufacturer, Pace Salsa manufacturer, etc.
MFR:  abbreviation for manufacturer
Manufacturer Coupon: A coupon created by the manufacturer, or by a marketing company on the manufacturer‟s behalf. Manufacturer offers a discount to shoppers in order to entice them to buy their product. When a coupon is redeemed the manufacturer reimburses the store for the entire value of the coupon, plus a handling fee, aprox $0.08.

OOP: Out-of-Pocket; refers to the amount of money you will pay a store to make your purchase. Does not include and after-purchase savings, coupons or rebates.
OYNO = On Your Next Order

Peelie: Adhesive manufacturer coupons found on products in the store. Peelies are often good on a wider selection of products than the one it is stuck to. Be sure to read the fine print on the peelie to discover if the coupon may be used on a smaller size or different variety of the same product, to allow you to maximize savings.
PG or P&G = Proctor & Gamble Insert
PSA: Prices starting at

Q: Abbreviation for coupon

Raincheck: A Rain Check is a written slip that you can request from a store when a sale item is out of stock. When the store restocks the item, after the sale period is over, a rain check entitles you to purchase for the previous sale price. Store may include an expiration date as well as a quantity limit on your rain check. Rain checks are usually issued at the customer service desk.
Rebate: A rebate is a refund of part or all of the amount paid. Rebates are sponsored by a store or a manufacturer. Either clip and mail UPC barcodes or enter receipt proof of purchase online, then wait for your rebate check in the mail.
RP:  Red Plum Insert
RR: Register Rewards. Walgreens drugstore rewards program, and version of the catalina coupon. Look for the same machines located at register, dispensing long receipt-like coupons that may be used on a future purchase.

SCR: Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid Drugstore monthly rebate program. Each month pick up your rebate booklet to see hundreds of dollars in possible rebate savings. Shop with coupons, save your receipts and enter quick information online. The SCR system stores all your rebates and totals them each month. Request your monthly check be mailed to you and cash it like any other check!
SS: Smart Source Insert
Stacking: Stacking may refer to using any two promotions together. When a coupon coincides with a promotion, we say “stack the coupon with the sale or promotion”.
Stacking Coupons: Stacking coupons refers to using both a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on one product. Nearly all stores will allow you to “stack”. Only one manufacturer coupon may be used per item.
Stockpile (v.): to buy many items at a time in order to build your stockpile.
Stockpile (n.): a food storage or stash of food and non-food items.  Buy items when they‟re on sale and you have a coupon. Buy products before you need them and build up a stockpile of food and toiletries. When you run out of an item, shop from your stockpile.
Store Coupon: A coupon created by the store to entice you to buy a certain product at their store. Stores receive no reimbursement from store coupons. Store coupons may be found in the weekly ad, printed online or downloaded as e-coupons.
Store Loyalty Card: A free card which you present at checkout to receive additional savings. Fill out a short application to receive a loyalty card at your local grocer. If you don‟t want to carry the card, the cashier can look up your preferred card by entering your ten digit phone number.

Transaction: a transaction refers to your entire purchase, especially the payment you make for that purchase. If I buy 30 items and then pay the cashier, I just made one transaction.
Tear Pad: A pad of manufacturer coupons found near product on shopping aisles. Tear pad manufacturer coupons may be used at any store, not just the one where you found the coupon.

WAGS: Abbreviation for Walgreens Drugstore

UPC: Universal Product Code, barcode on the product

WYB - When You Buy 

YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary - This is often seen in a couponers post on a forum and it means that depending on your store's policies, the deal posted may or may not work.

Baby Steps Towards Making a Stockpile.

I read about a sweet deal on Free Starburst Easter Eggs from Walgreens over at Money Saving Mom and I had to go and see if I could make this deal work for me too!

I ended up doing this in 2 transactions since the scenario only talked about doing 2 eggs, but I had 2 printable coupons, and I didn't want to "do it wrong." 

I bought 2 Starburst Easter Candy Eggs for $0.75 each.  I then used a printable coupon for $0.50/2 Skittles/Starburst coupon.  I stacked it with the $0.50/1 Skittles/Starburst Easter coupon from the Walgreens coupon booklet that came off twice since I was buying 2.  My total OOP for this transaction was $0.11.  So I did it again.  Total for 4 Easter Candy eggs -  $0.22!!

I headed to Kroger next and scored another GREAT deal!  This week (our sale week is from Wednesday-Tuesday)  the Krogers in my area were running 2 great deals that I had gotten coupons for.  Suave Deodorant was $0.88 each and Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables were $1.00 each.

I ended up with 9 bags of Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables and 10 Suave Deodorants for #6.98 OOP!

One thing I did was to confirm what my local Kroger's coupon policy was.  (Kroger Delta Region Coupon Policy, link from My Memphis Mommy)  They did confirm that I could only use "up to Eight (8) coupons will be "Doubled" per Identical or "like" item per shopping visit. Any additional manufacturer coupons for that "like" item will be redeemed at face value."  I had 10 coupons for the deodorant, so I knew that I would be doing 2 transactions.


Transaction #1 

(2) Suave Deodorant @ $0.88 each
Used (2) - $0.50/1 Suave Deodorant Product, exp. 4-17-11 (RP 03/20/11) (My Kroger doubles!)
Total for transaction #1 - $0.07


Transaction #2

(8) Suave Deodorant @$0.88 each
Used (8) - $0.50/1 Suave Deodorant Product, (RP 03/20/11) (exp. 4-17-11)
(9) Bags of Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables @ $1.00 each
Used  (3) -$1/3 Birdseye Steamfresh (RP 3/6/2011)  (exp 4/30/2011)
Total for Transaction #2 - $6.91

Little by little, I'm starting to develop a stockpile of things that my family uses.  I might have to make more room if I keep getting these deals!