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Coupon Lingo Quick Reference Guide

December 27, 2008 by Tara Kuczykowski 143 Comments

Probably one of the most frequent emails I receive is in regards to all those abbreviations that we “couponistas” use when posting store deals, so this list has been a long time in the making.

Sunday inserts:

P&G = Procter & Gamble Sunday insert
RMN = RetailMeNot Sunday insert
SS = SmartSource Sunday insert

:: Coupon Insert Schedule

When I list the store deals and refer to a coupon from a Sunday insert, the information on where to find the coupon is in parentheses. For example, (SS 12/2/18) would indicate that a coupon came from a SmartSource insert that was distributed in the 12/2/18 Sunday newspaper.

Coupon 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
Beep: Sometimes the register will beep when a coupon is scanned to indicate that the cashier need to take an action, like entering a price.
Blinkies: Grocery/drugstore coupon dispensers with blinking lights
Catalina: Catalina coupon, prints from a separate machine when your receipt prints
CRT: Cash register tape, usually used when referring to CVS coupons that print with receipt
DND: Do not double
Ea.: Each
ECBs: ExtraCare Bucks, CVS loyalty rewards system
ETS: Excludes trial size
Exp.: Expires
GC: Gift card
IVC: Instant Value Coupon, Walgreens’ store coupons found in ads and monthly booklet
MIR: Mail-in rebate
NLA: No longer available
OYNO: On your next order
OOP: Out of pocket
OOS: Out of stock
Peelie: Peel-off coupon found on product packaging
PSA: Prices starting at
R: Regional coupon, will be listed after insert date as applicable
RRs: Register Rewards, Walgreens’ Catalina coupons
Q: Coupon
SCR: Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid monthly rebates program
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 Reward: Rite Aid reward program
WYB: When you buy
YMMV: Your mileage (or manager) may vary, meaning some stores might give you a deal but others might not

Filed Under: coupons Tagged With: back to basics, coupon basics, coupon lingo, how to use coupons

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beth

    July 15, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    Emily – I get the best deals by what I call “rolling” my CVS and Rite Aid rewards. At first, you have to pay full price for the products and at the end of your transaction you will get what they call either extra care bucks or +UP rewards. Then you save these and the following week, you buy things with extra care bucks, and use the ones you have from the previous week. Combined with coupons and things, you pay just a few dollars for $40-$50 worth of things, depending on how good the sales are. I have also rung things up in 2 seperate transactions to make sure I can roll my rewards coupons into one transaction, then take those that just printed, and roll them into a second transaction and still pay just a few dollars. Also, doubled coupons is a great way to get a good deal if you have a local store that will double. My local grocery store does and often things will be on sale for say 10 for $10. Rings up at $1 each. If I have a 50 cents coupon on that item which gets doubled, the item is free. Plus, stacking coupons, such as using a Target specific coupon for an item, and then using a manufactuer coupon on the same item, saves you sometimes half to 3/4 of the price of the item.

    Cristina – I used to subscribe to the Sunday paper but they don’t have coupons on holidays and stuff so it was SUCH a waste of money. Now, I check taylortownpreview.com on Thursday or Friday and see if the coupons are for any high dollar amounts or for anything I will definitely use. If so, I spend the $2 to buy a paper. I try and make sure I will save more than $2 in coupons from that paper or else to me it’s not worth it. If not, I don’t buy the paper. If a sale comes up and I think “Dang it that was in the paper I didn’t buy that week”, you can always use sites like couponmaster.com or ebay to purchase the coupons for the sale. OR you could potentially find someone who deals in selling the paper and ask for them to give you the inserts from the papers they don’t sell, which is what a lot of people do.

    Reply
  2. Beth

    July 15, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    In response to Robin from her response to Molly: The coupon was for buy a BODY WASH, get a LOTION free. It specifies that the lotion is the free item, and since there is no dollar amount, she is right, the lotion should be the free item, even though it’s a higher price. If it were for buy one body wash get a second body wash free, then you are right, the lower priced item would be rang up as the freebie.

    Reply
  3. Felicia

    August 7, 2010 at 10:49 am

    I have a question. Can you use coupons that say Target at Walgreens and CVS? For example in this weeks deals listed for CVS there is a $3/1 Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers printable available and it has (target mfr)

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      August 7, 2010 at 10:55 am

      Felicia, technically you should be able to, but it varies greatly by store. You can find more informatoion n this here:

      https://dealseekingmom.com/back-to-basics-reading-coupons-and-barcodes/

      Reply
  4. Roger

    September 28, 2010 at 8:46 am

    I hope someone can help me. I’m starting to get the hang of everything but i’m still confused on what i can use. I included one of the deals from the daily email and i’m trying to figure out if I can use all these coupons for this purchase. I thought outside of a store coupon or ecoupon that you could only use 1 manufacture coupon per item. On this example it looks like you have $1 off on 5 but then the way i get it your still using other coupons on the same items. Also do all Krogers do the double coupon?

    Totino’s Pizza, $1.25
    $1/5 Totino’s Crisp Crust Party Pizza Product printable
    $0.50/2 Totino’s Product printable
    $0.50/1 Totinos Crisp Crust Party Pizza, exp. 10-30 (SS 08/08/10 #2)
    $0.50/1 Totinos Product, exp. 10-9-10 (SS 07/18/10)
    $1/5 Totinos Crisp Crust Party Pizza Products (Kroger eCoupons)
    As low as $0.25 ea. after double coupon!

    Thanks,
    Roger

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      September 28, 2010 at 8:52 am

      Roger, when you find a sale listed on DSM, you’ll often find all of the coupons available for that product and not necessarily just the coupon that makes the best deal. In this case, your best scenario would be to use a $0.50/1 coupon at a store that doubles, so you’d receive $1 off making the pizza rolls $0.25.

      Reply
  5. Amber N

    October 6, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Dollar Tree sells the local news papers daily and Sundays at a discounted price, under a dollar and cheaper then I can subscribe. I go get them on Wednesdays and Sundays when the coupons are in our paper. Also fast food places, BugerKing for sure, gives you a free paper, so if you are looking for a morning coffee stop and grab it at BK for under a dollar and get your free Sunday paper!

    Reply
  6. Nadine Huard

    February 3, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Hi all, I am not new to couponing. I did it all the years my kids were growing up. They always said I nevr bought anything without a coupon. I do find it harder now though to save big. Its pretty much a full time thing and I have my grandbabies all day so its hard to do much with coupons Anyway kuddoes to you all that make it work and I won’t stop and my husband does it too.

    Reply
  7. beth

    February 21, 2011 at 10:29 am

    I’m new 2 coupons but I am having trouble in the 35768 zip code can you help?

    Reply
    • karen

      April 14, 2011 at 3:12 pm

      beth, try a different zip code and see that helps. just keep trying other zip codes, too. happy couponing.

      Reply
  8. Cathy

    February 26, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    I use coupons all the time but a few months ago I found the ShopatHome toolbar and coupons.com site. My concern is, it seems that no matter what site I go to they all have the same coupons. What am I doing wrong? Are there sites that have different coupons? Plz help, Trying my best to save and no matter how many coupons I can never get the deals I read about.. I have been putting in alot of hours reading and searching and trying to learn the coupon business…. Thanks, Cathy in Apex, NC

    Reply
  9. alice

    March 2, 2011 at 11:44 am

    can someone send me link for the Free Tylenol patch at walgreens?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • julie

      May 1, 2011 at 3:02 am

      Hi Alice if you go to the top of thispage, it will give you the $5 coupon link and then you need to go to Walgreens and get the coupon book there for May. Good luck

      Reply
  10. sharon

    March 22, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    i 2 am wonondering if i am doing something wrong all the coupons seens to have the same coupons help

    Reply
  11. Jenny

    April 18, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    My Meijers store is limiting my use of coupons lately – found out they have that right. Anyway, if the coupon says “per purchase” does that mean per item or per transaction? They’re literally reading all my coupons and deciding at checkout what I can use and what I can’t.

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      April 18, 2011 at 6:31 pm

      Per purchase is the same as per item. If they intend for it to be per transaction the coupon will explicitly states one per transaction.

      Reply
      • Jenny

        April 18, 2011 at 7:02 pm

        Tara: Thanks. That’s what I thought, too. I guess they’re confused because they’d only allow one coupon per “purchase” which was interpreted by them as “per transaction” AND they would only allow me two orders max. I spent over $50 and was only saving half off so I’m pretty surprised at their actions. Said they have to begin somewhere and I’m it. Lol.

        Reply
  12. nacolemans

    May 5, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    I was wondering if you have a B1G1 coupon, you also use a discounted coupon for that item. Say you buy 2 shampoos for the B1G1, can you also use another coupon to get the one you are buying at a discounted price? I know, sounds confusing.

    Reply
    • TAMMY

      May 24, 2011 at 12:34 pm

      I tried using B1G1 coupon at WM and they said no, but if Rite Aid or Walgreens has a sale for B1G1 you can use 2 coupons. It just depends on the store policies. The store policies you can get online for some, but they really don’t explain a whole lot I feel.

      Reply
  13. Charlene

    May 9, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    New to couponing–and confused!!
    I think there may be a deal here somewhere; can anybody help? Family Fare Supermarket has Ken’s SteakHouse dressings BOGO and I have a coupon for $1.00 off any two. Price for one is $2.32.

    Reply
    • TAMMY

      May 24, 2011 at 12:39 pm

      So the price for two with coupon would make it 1.32. That would be like paying .66 for each. You would have saved 70% on the two.

      Reply
  14. Juanita Hobbs

    May 24, 2011 at 10:17 am

    Don’t know if you guys know it but they have save $5 on any one flexamin product coupons. This is the highest coupon I have ever seen for these. They really work. I can tell a difference in my knees when I run out of these. I am saving 2 of these coupons for when they go are on a bogo sale because they r expensive. http://www.couponNetwork.com

    Reply
  15. Christine

    June 12, 2011 at 12:31 am

    I too am new to couponing. Walgreens Ad has coupons in there Ad for Ban deodorent for like $1.49 and I have a mf coupon for .75 cents off on 1. Can I use that coupon making the cost for one .74 ….I hope that was not too confusing

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      June 12, 2011 at 9:51 am

      Yep, you should be able to use it!

      Reply
  16. Jess

    July 4, 2011 at 1:02 am

    Ebay Ebay Ebay. If you want 10 or 20 of the same item, you can usually score them for under $1, and usually free shipping! I seel coupons on ebay, and I buy coupons on ebay! You can also get 100 random grocery coupons for under a $1. Just thought I would throw the suggestion out to anyone looking for a great deal! I usually receive the coupons 3 days after I purchase them. I have yet to be dissapointed with this!

    Reply
    • Jess

      July 4, 2011 at 1:03 am

      Sorry for all of the typos, its late! I’m referring to 10-20 of the same COUPONS.

      Reply
  17. Aimee

    July 11, 2011 at 7:47 am

    In the coupon database it might say SS 06/19/11 R – what is the “R” for?

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      July 11, 2011 at 10:48 am

      The R indicates that it’s a regional coupon that some areas may not have received or may be a different value than other areas.

      Reply
  18. Nikki

    July 12, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    This is a fanstastic list and has been very helpful. Thank you so much for the info.

    Reply
  19. Linda Wilson

    July 16, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    Thanks everyone…great help!

    Reply
  20. Megan

    July 31, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    I was reading above… Walmart would not accept my target coupons… are they suppose to???

    Reply
    • Rhonda

      January 19, 2013 at 10:01 pm

      I would like to say that I have found a lot of times that the Cashier does not always know the exact or correct answer to coupon questions. I havevfound that if you take the printed coupon policy for lets say Walmart and talk to the manager, with the product or products in hand, they are app to understand what you are asking…remember they are always running around and putting out fires all day long, so if you can make the decision easy for them to decide then by all means do it. I would also recommend this to be done either early morning or late at night because it is not as early. One other thing, I would bring a suggestion or recommendation to the managers attention that would better help or service the people. After all in the end the suggestion is going to help you as well, especially since you shop there often….

      Reply
  21. Lisa Bowman

    August 1, 2011 at 3:55 am

    there is another new policy for walmart..i had a lesson from the mngr today..cause what they use to do, they don’t anymore…if you have a doubt about something or a ?, call and talk to a mngr!!!! get there name. the cashiers here in lexington tn are so frusterated because the rules change off the time..on cust svc mng will say one thing and another will say something else. so be sure to print those policies and bring with you..cause this guy, he has something totally different what i printed off the computer. i calling corporate tomorrow!!!!!

    Reply
  22. Janet

    August 19, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    Why on all these sites am I seeing the same coupons? I’m confused on the purpose of going to RedPlum and Smartsource for example and seeing the same coupons over and over. Also, when do these websites change their coupons? Thanks!!

    Reply
  23. mary nranham

    September 8, 2011 at 9:42 am

    Does Target stores accept cpns?

    Reply
    • Jen

      September 26, 2011 at 10:00 pm

      Target does accept coupons. They also allow you to stack their store coupon with a manufacturers coupon.

      Reply
    • ScoreBig promo codes

      April 10, 2013 at 12:06 am

      Nice article, good amount of important information.

      Reply
  24. Paula Little

    September 15, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    I’m starting to figure out how to coupon, but i still dont understand the walgreens and rite aide +up reward and walgreens SCR and monthly rebate. Could you explain. and how do you sign up?

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      September 15, 2011 at 5:09 pm

      Hi Paula! Check the drugstore pages at https://dealseekingmom.com/rite-aid and https://dealseekingmom.com/walgreens for detailed information on getting started shopping at these stores.

      Reply
  25. Angie

    October 27, 2011 at 12:03 am

    I am trying to figure all this out so I can start using coupons. I have a large family of 2 adults and 4 children…which comes to a large grocery bill and often times I end up going over my budget no matter what I do. Can anyone give any suggestions to a newcomer in this? I don’t want to think I know what I’m doing to find out I have no idea. Where should I even start with this? And I’ve signed up with Coupons.com but I’ve seen signs at my local grocery store that says they won’t be taking internet coupons anymore. I don’t shop there much so I’m not too concerned about that but I do know many stores are having a fit about this. Are the coupons from these websites actually from the manufacture? And if not, how can I get my hands on a stack of them? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

    Reply
  26. Melissa

    November 5, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    On the printable coupons, are you only allowed to print one or can you print numerous of same coupon. Example: on $.50/2 Totino pizza’s. Can i print 3 and use them on 6 pizza’s?

    Reply
  27. sue

    November 21, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    what does ss mean. for instance in the aveeno offer. 3/2 ss

    Reply
  28. jessica

    January 12, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    hello, how can y have a copy of the lingo list???

    Reply
    • Tara Kuczykowski

      January 12, 2012 at 4:08 pm

      If you look in the upper left corner above the title, you’ll see a small link to print the post!

      Reply
  29. Passed In at Auction

    February 20, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    Excellent post, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!|What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Good job.

    Reply
  30. marisol

    March 21, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    I’m new 2 coupons but I am having trouble in the 98439 zip code can you help?

    Reply
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Hey there — nice to meet you!

I'm Tara: mom of 5 teens/tweens and one 80-lb. Weimaraner, who fancies herself a lap dog. Born and raised in Ohio (GO BUCKS!!!), my fave things include cooking + baking, my JEEP Rubicon, the 4x4 beaches at OBX, and checking out the local craft beer scene...
 
As you can imagine, all of this puts a good dent in my monthly budget. So I've learned how to save on the things I NEED, so I can spend on the things I WANT. Read more.

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