Couponing seems to have its own language but don’t let that slow you down! Here is a quick reference list to help you understand couponing!
$1.00/1, $2.00/1, etc- One dollar off one product, two dollars off one product, etc.
$1.00/2, $2.00/2, etc- One dollar off two products, two dollars off two products, etc. You must buy 2 items to receive any savings; you cannot redeem the coupon on one product for half the value.
BOGO/B1G1/B2G1- The numbers indicate how many of a product you must buy to qualify and the number of products you get when you redeem the coupon or offer. B1G1= Buy one, get one. B2G1= Buy two, get one B2G2= Buy two, get two Will usually end with “free” or “half off” meaning buy one, get one half off, or buy one get one free. (if you have a B1G1 coupon and the store has the same item on sale B1G1 you only need to buy 2 items and the sale and coupon will make both items free!)
Blinkie- Coupons dispensed by machines found in grocery aisles next to products. Recognize them by the blinking red light. Manufacturer blinkie coupons may be redeemed at any store, not necessarily the store in which you found them. (most blinkies do not double)
Catalina- Sometimes abbreviated as “CAT”, broad description of coupons printed out of a special machine that dispenses long receipt-like coupons that may be used on a future purchase. (example: Walgreens Register Reward, Money off your next order)
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. There are also different types of coupons:
- Manufacturers Coupons-coupons that is most readily available from the Sunday newspaper and companies websites. These are coupons put out by companies for their products to entice consumers to buy those products. These coupons can be stacked with in- store coupons to increase your savings.
- · Store Coupons-Most stores offer coupons for items they sell in their stores. These coupons can be found in store flyers, company websites such as Target, or a store coupon book such as Walgreens. These coupons can be used at the designated store only. It can be “stacked” with a manufacturer coupon for greater savings.
- E-Coupons- Electronic coupons may be downloaded onto your store loyalty card or cell phone. Grocery coupons must be downloaded to your loyalty card and will be deducted automatically when you swipe your card at checkout.
CellFire- www.cellfire.com E-coupon downloaded onto a store loyalty card. This kind of coupon is only good for one item, is not doubled, but can be “stacked” with an in store coupon or a manufacturer coupon or any combination of the above. (Cellfire is accepted at Shop Rite)
CRT- Cash Register Tape, CRTs print at the bottom of your receipt and are generated based on your purchasing history (seemingly random). CRT is used to describe coupons from CVS. They are usually product specific coupons, example: $1.00 off any deodorant purchase.
DND – Do Not Double (the coupon is not supposed to be doubled)
Double Coupons- Select stores will double coupons up to a certain value, usually $0.99. If your store doubles coupons up to $0.99, any coupon $0.99 or under will be doubled in value. Coupons $1.00 or greater will be worth face value, no doubling. For example, a .50 cent coupon is worth $1, a .75 cent coupon is worth $1.50. The registers are coded to automatically double coupons under their maximum value. Check with your grocery store to find out about their doubling policies. Double coupons can also refer to coupons found in a store flyer that must be cut out and accompanied by a manufacturer coupon
Extra Care Bucks (ECB)- CVS rewards program, ECBs print according to the store’s weekly or monthly advertised deals. When you make a qualifying purchase, you receive the coordinating ECBs value as advertised. ECBs print directly on the bottom of your receipt.
FAR- Free After Rebate. Drugstores often feature products that are FAR each week. Example- Crest TotalCare toothpaste $2.49. Submit for a rebate in the amount of $2.49. This item would be considered free after rebate.
GM- General Mills (usually refers to the quarterly insert)
Handling Fee- Refers to an amount, usually $0.08, paid by the manufacturer to reimburse the store for the trouble of accepting a coupon. The handling fee is usually used to pay a clearing house to sort, organize and bill the manufacturer. If a store chose to sort its own coupons, they will keep the handling fee.
HBA – The health and beauty aid section in the grocery store
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. IVCs are store coupons found in the weekly Walgreens ad. IVCs are store coupons that can 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.
OOP- Out-of-Pocket; refers to the amount of money you will pay a store to make your purchase.
OYNO- On Your Next Order. Store promotions such as Spend $25, save $10 on your next shopping order. OYNO refers to savings that you will not see on your first transaction, but that may be applied to your next transaction.
One Coupon per Purchase- Refers to your ability to use one coupon per item. (this is where most people get confused, a purchase is an item. For example, you can purchase 30 items and use 30 coupons)
One Coupon per Transaction- Limits you to only using one of this coupon per transaction. You may request to do separate transactions. Example: If you have 5 coupons that read “one coupon per transaction” you may request to separate into 5 transactions and pay 5 times.
Peelie- Coupons found on products in the store.
PSA- Prices starting at
P&G- Proctor & Gamble coupon Insert
Purchase- a purchase refers to buying any item. If I buy 30 items on a single shopping trip, I just made 30 purchases.
Purchase-Based Coupon- Purchase-Based coupons specify a dollar amount off a minimum dollar future purchase. Some common values: $2 off $10, $3 off $15, $4 off $20, $5 off $30. Purchase based coupons may be used in addition to store and manufacturer coupons.
Q- Coupon abbreviation.
Rain check- 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.
RP- Redplum Coupon 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. RRs cannot be “rolled” like Catalina.
Rolling Catalina’s- refers to the practice of separating your purchase into multiple transactions in order to use Catalina coupons from your first transaction to pay for your second transaction. Another Catalina prints from the 2nd transaction that pays for the 3rd transaction and so on.
SavingStar-SavingStar is the first national, fully digital, grocery eCoupon service, available for free at www.savingstar.com and on iPhone and Android mobile apps. There’s nothing to clip, nothing to print. Providing exclusive eCoupons redeemable at over 24,000 grocery and drug stores throughout the country, SavingStar’s eCoupons are linked to customers’ loyalty cards and offer a more convenient and eco-friendly way to save on groceries than paper coupons. SavingStar automatically adds the value of each eCoupon redeemed into users’ SavingStar accounts, enabling them to pick their payout from cash to gift cards to charity donations.
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! No clipping barcodes or UPCs, no mailing or stamping an envelope.
SS- SmartSource Coupon Insert
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- 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 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.
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 products 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
+UP Reward- Rite Aid rewards program. Works similarly to the ExtraCare Bucks program at CVS. Instant rewards that print on the bottom of your receipt after you make a qualifying purchase
UPC- Universal Product Code. Bar code printed on product packages that can be scanned electronically.
WYB- When You Buy. Some sales or coupons require purchase of multiple items.
YMMV Your Mileage May Vary. A phrase used to describe that an experience one shopper has may differ from your experience. One store may allow you to stack additional promos and another location may not.