4
Couponing 101

Understanding the How

All right, before we jump headfirst into a shopping trip, we’ve got to cover the basics. Are you ready for this? After all, there is much more to a coupon than just snagging X amount off of an item or two. Knowing how to read a coupon, as well as knowing how to put it to good use, is a big deal because it can save you quite a bit in terms of both money and headaches.

In this chapter we are going to look at the how of couponing. As in, how do you differentiate between types of coupons? How do you know what the different parts of a coupon mean? How do you stack coupons together to get the best deal? How do you understand all the couponing lingo that everyone is slinging out? And how do you use these little treasures in the first place?

It’s a lot to cover, I know that! Remember, I’m the girl who was completely stoked about a super cheap bottle of ketchup. But I also know that you can do it. And once we are done with these next few pages, you will be well ahead of where I was when I first got started. You’ll know the basics. You’ll have the tools. All that will be left is putting them to good use.

What Is a Coupon?

What is a coupon? Is it a little slip of paper printed to save you money? No, but we know that already. We know that a coupon represents a sale directly from the manufacturer to the consumer. What we haven’t covered is how to capitalize on that sale so you can get the best possible price for your family. The first step is understanding the parts of a coupon. The second step is being able to tell the difference between store and manufacturer coupons. Seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? In this section we will explore the parts and types of coupons as we learn how to maximize our savings and use them to the fullest.

Parts of a Coupon

Coupons have a lot to say. They’re tiny but loud! I mean, seriously, those manufacturers manage to pack quite the punch onto a few scant inches of print. We’re talking expiration dates, discount amounts, purchase requirements, redemption addresses, and bar codes. And that’s before we even touch on the pictures. Who knew a coupon had so much to say?

I know this may seem like a small piece of the puzzle, but if you don’t understand each part of a coupon and the role it plays, then you are dooming yourself to fail before you ever really get started. Yep, it’s often the little things that matter. So let’s take a minute to dig in and dissect a coupon.

Item

The first thing to look at is the item listed on the coupon. And this means both the picture and the title. Why does this matter? Because these two facets tell you what the coupon is for. They outline what product or products this particular coupon can be redeemed on and they help you to quickly identify what you have. One thing to keep in mind: the title matters more than the picture. I tell you this because sometimes the picture and the wording will not match exactly.

For example, let’s say that the picture shows one large 64-ounce bottle of Strawberry Banana V8 Splash juice drink. At first glance you might think that this picture fully represents the coupon. But when you read the wording you notice that this particular coupon is for “$1.00 off any V8 Splash juice drink.”

Big difference. And one that you might miss if you don’t take a moment to read what the coupon has to say. So you know how they always tell you to read the fine print? This is one time when that habit will definitely work to your advantage.

Value

What is it worth? That’s what we all want to know, right? The value of a coupon lets us know how much that particular coupon saves us. It’s pretty straightforward and will look something like this:

• $0.30 off 1 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
• $0.40 off 2 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
• $0.40 off 2 Pillsbury Crescent or Sweet Rolls

If you look at these examples you will notice that they vary slightly. Remember, the wording matters. In a sense, the wording outlines just how good the value will be. In the first example you would receive $0.30 off any one Pillsbury Crescent Roll. Meaning that this coupon could be redeemed for any Pillsbury Crescent Roll you could find. Easy, right?

The second coupon could only be used if you bought two Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Where before you just needed to pay attention to a general brand category, now quantity comes into play.

Value matters for a couple reasons. First off, not all coupons are created equal, and this depends greatly on the stores in your area and their own unique coupon policy. If you shop at a store that doubles coupons up to a certain amount, then some coupons will end up being much more valuable than they first appear. For example, in my area Publix doubles all manufacturer coupons up to $0.50. This means that a $0.40 coupon that doubles to $0.80 will end up being more valuable than a $0.55 coupon that will not double at all.

How do you know if your store doubles? You ask. Coupon policies have a tendency to change without warning, and the only way you can stay on top of the latest and greatest deals is to check with customer service or research their policy on the store website. Plus, it’s always good to have a printed version of the policy with you when you shop. This helps a ton if you ever have any issues or questions at the register.

Barcode

The barcode is the bit of the coupon that makes the whole thing work. In most cases, if the barcode won’t scan, then the coupon gets the boot. Now, I will admit that there are a few exceptions to this rule with store coupons, but it is always a good rule of thumb to take care of your barcodes and keep them whole.

I won’t get into a long spiel about what a barcode looks like; we’ve all seen our share. What you need to pay attention to is how many barcodes are on a coupon. We will cover this more in-depth once we start talking about different types of coupons, but just know that manufacturer coupons always have at least one barcode, while store coupons might not have a barcode at all.

Expiration Date

The expiration date is crucial. Why? Because they simply won’t work if you try to use them after that magical date has passed.

Confession time: this isn’t something I used to pay much attention to. My thought was that the register would catch it if I didn’t and let me know. It wasn’t until much later that I learned how many coupons would still scan far beyond their expiration date.

The reality is that stores can’t redeem expired coupons. They may scan at the register, but the store ends up taking a hit and it’s money lost for them. So let’s do the right thing here. We don’t need to rely on the register or the cashier to be our moral compass. That’s something we should take care of all on our own. These types of savings come with an expiration date, one that is clearly marked and that we all need to pay attention to.

Redemption Address

Right smack in the middle of most coupons you will find a fairly large section of teeny, tiny print that no one cares to read. And you don’t have to. You just have to make sure that the store can read it because this section outlines where they have to send the coupon as well as how much they will receive for it. If a coupon has a redemption address, it’s always a manufacturer coupon.

In the next chapter we are going to ice this cake as we look at different ways to organize our coupons. Trust me, there’s a system out there for everyone. Even my ants-in-the-pants, ADHD, can’t-sit-still-to-save-my-life self! For now, let’s just say that depending on which organization method you choose, stapling might be part of the system and you’ll need to be careful not to staple the redemption address. Why? Because your coupons can tear a bit at the spot where they’re stapled. If this happens to be the redemption address, then the store will not be able to read it and they may not accept the coupon. So just be mindful and know that the tiny print has big importance.

Types of Coupons

In the world of coupons there are two types: store and manufacturer. The difference is who distributes the coupon. Store coupons are printed by individual stores and, barring specific coupon policies, can only be used at that store or chain of stores. Manufacturer coupons are distributed by manufacturers and can be used anywhere that accepts coupons and sells that specific product.

How can you tell the difference between the two? First, most store coupons will be labeled with the store name and will state that the coupon can be redeemed only at BI-LO or Publix or Walgreens, for example. You get the picture. But the real test is the redemption address. If a coupon has a redemption address, it’s always a manufacturer coupon. This is the most simple way to differentiate between a manufacturer and a store coupon. Unlike manufacturer coupons, stores are not reimbursed for the value of a store coupon. Instead it comes out of their marketing budget.

So it’s really a simple test. No redemption address? Store coupon. Redemption address? Manufacturer coupon. Even if it says otherwise.

This is important because (1) you need to know if specific coupons will be accepted at your favorite store; and (2) many stores will permit you to stack store and manufacturer coupons, allowing you to score an even better price on certain items.

A quick note on store coupons and store policy. When you shop, make sure to ask about your store’s policy on store coupons. The reason I point this out is because some stores will allow you to use a single store coupon multiple times. You can hand them one coupon and tell them that you would like to use it three times. It is a policy that varies from store to store, but it is very handy when it pops up.

Where Do Coupons Live?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to talk about where to find them. See, coupons often hide in plain sight and couponers have created a lingo all their own. One that can make it a bit difficult for the average newbie to figure out what they are talking about! I mean, it’s not uncommon to hear people rattling off about IPs, peelies, blinkies, BOGO, WAGS, SS, RP, and even PG.

Makes total sense, right?

Let me break it down for you:

IP—Internet printable

Peelie—Peelable coupon found on an individual product

Blinkie—Flashing (or blinking) box attached to grocery store shelves that dispenses coupons

BOGO—Buy one, get one sale

WAGS—Walgreens

MFR or MQ—Manufacturer coupon

SS—Smart Source

RP—Red Plum

PG—Proctor & Gamble

And this is just the start. In the next chapter we are going to break this down big-time by looking in-depth at each type of coupon and where to find it. (By the way, if you flip to the back of this book you will find a handy dandy appendix stocked with a ready-made couponing glossary.) Before we’re through, we’ll have you speaking coupon lingo like a pro.

Couponing Basics

At this point you know how to read a coupon like the back of your hand. You know what it’s for, when it expires, and even where you can use it. So now we need to talk about how to use it. This is the part that can trip people up, and the main reason it can feel so confusing is that every store is different. Literally, each store will have its own coupon policy.

Clear as mud, right? Actually, it’s not that bad. It’s just a matter of asking the right questions before you start. And the best place to find answers and guidance is at the customer service counter of your favorite store. Want to know the store’s coupon policy? Ask. Need help understanding that policy? Ask. Want someone to clarify the language in the sale ad? Ask! It won’t bother them. Stores love couponers who make the effort to understand the policy and abide by it. It makes them happy. So be that couponer, step out of your comfort zone, and ask for help if you need it. It will definitely be worth it.

Just ask my friend Amy. Amy loves to talk about one of her first coupon trips. She knew that she had all the right coupons, she just wasn’t sure how to use them. What did she end up doing? Well, the store wasn’t crowded that day, so she spread out all her coupons right there at the checkout stand and asked for help. And if you knew Amy, you would know that she is just so sweet and so innocent that you can’t help but love her on sight. The cashiers laughed as they explained about the different types of coupons and how she could use them to get the best deal. Amy walked out that day with a great price on her groceries and two new friends at the store. She now looks for these ladies every time she shops and to this day they are still happy to see her.

That is what I hope for you: that this process will enrich your life, not make it harder. It can!

Shorthand

As you read through the rest of this chapter, and throughout the rest of the book, you will notice a type of couponing shorthand being used. The same shorthand is sprinkled throughout the Time 2 $ave blog and just about any place you find people talking about coupons. Remember when I said that couponers have their own language? This is just one more example. Only now we have mastered a written as well as a spoken form!

But what does it all mean? Simple! I’ll be happy to break it down for you as we decode the lingo once and for all. Here is our first example.

Let’s say your local grocery store has Vitamin Water on sale 10 for $10. If this were the case, then you might see a note on the blog that looked something like this:

Vitamin Water 10/$10

Use $0.50/1 Vitamin Water, tear pad

(makes it $0.50 each or FREE if store doubles)

Now let’s break it down. The first part is easy, Vitamin Water is on sale 10 for $10, or $1.00 each. (Quick note: with 10 for $10 sales, most of the time you don’t have to buy a set amount to get the price. Just look at the items as if they are on sale for $1.00 each.) Next, we have the coupon. When you see a price followed by a forward slash and a number, this is shorthand for the value of the coupon. This particular coupon is worth $0.50 off one Vitamin Water. The last section of the line tells you where you can find the coupon. In this case it was a tear pad. The notes in parentheses let you know the final price after coupons.

Here’s another example:

Jolly Time Popcorn BOGO $1.99 ($1.00)

Use $0.50/1 Jolly Time Popcorn, RP 01/12

(makes it $0.50 each or FREE if store doubles)

In this case we are talking about a BOGO sale for Jolly Time Popcorn. The popcorn is regularly $1.99, but because it’s buy one, get one free, it’s $1.00 each when you buy two (wyb 2). The second line tells us that you can find a coupon for $0.50 off one Jolly Time Popcorn in the Red Plum insert from January 12.

The good news is that this type of shorthand is pretty standard. Once you have the hang of it, you can cruise your way through the internet and make yourself right at home no matter what couponing site you happen to come across. (And if you get lost, just pull out this book. Appendix C is stocked with all the shortcuts you could ever need.)

BOGO

One of the most common types of sales in grocery stores is buy one, get one free, or BOGO. Now, I’m pretty sure you know what this is. But what you might not know is that many times grocery store BOGO’s are quite different from the more traditional type of BOGO that we are used to.

A traditional BOGO requires that you buy one item for full price and receive the second item for free. So you could buy a pair of shoes for $19.99 and then pay zilch for the second pair. In this type of sale, because the second item is already free, you could only use one coupon. It would look something like this:

First box of cereal	$4.00
Second box of cereal	FREE
Use (1) $0.50/1 MFR	-$0.50
Final price	$3.50 ($1.75 each wyb 2)

However, many grocery store BOGOs are more like a 50 percent off sale. In this type of sale no item is actually free; instead, everything would ring up as half price. Now you can use coupons on each individual item you buy. A grocery store BOGO would then look something like this:

First box of cereal	$2.00 (BOGO price)
Second box of cereal	$2.00 (BOGO price)
Use (2) $0.50/1 MFR	-$1.00
Final price for both	$3.00 ($1.50 each wyb 2)

This type of BOGO allows you to double your coupon savings. If you’re not sure what type of BOGO your store uses, just ask. It’s always good to know the rules.

Doubling

After you have the store coupon policy in hand, you need to know how to make it work for you. The first thing to check is whether or not your store doubles or triples manufacturer coupons.

Doubling refers to a practice where the store will “match” the value of your coupon up to a set amount. So a $0.50 coupon would be worth $1.00 if your store doubled coupons up to $0.50. A $0.75 coupon would still be worth $0.75 in this case if they only double up to $0.50.

Most Publix stores, for example, will double all manufacturer coupons up to $0.50 while BI-LO will double up to $0.60. Other stores won’t double at all, and others only double on certain days of the week or only during special “double events” or “super doubles.” I know this sounds like a lot, but here’s the deal: you do not have to know about every store. You don’t. It doesn’t matter what a store’s policy is unless you want to shop there. Those are the only stores you need to worry about. So what would that be? Two, possibly three stores? That, my friend, is a manageable number!

If your store doubles this can increase your potential savings and it is definitely something to take advantage of. If it doesn’t, don’t be discouraged. After all, as we showed in the last chapter, you can still save a huge amount on your weekly bill without ever doubling a coupon.

Stacking

The next thing to check is whether or not your store will allow you to “stack” coupons. Stacking refers to the practice of using both a store and a manufacturer coupon on the same item, thus doubling your savings and stepping up your coupon game.

Okay, so we know that there are two different types of coupons floating around out there—store and manufacturer. A manufacturer coupon is created and distributed by product manufacturers to increase sales of a particular product. Consumers can use these coupons in pretty much any store. When you use this type of coupon the store will send it back to the manufacturer and get reimbursed for the value of the coupon plus a few extra cents. A store coupon is created by a specific grocery or drugstore as part of an in-house marketing campaign. When you use this type of coupon the store does not get reimbursed for it, but instead accounts for it in their marketing budget. Also, some chain stores submit their store coupons back to their corporate office for credit.

Here is where things start to get good! If you have a store and a manufacturer coupon for the same item, many stores will allow you to use both. This is called stacking. For example, if Target distributes a store coupon for shampoo, the first thing I would do is check my binder or coupon file (more on this in the next chapter). It might just be that I also have a manufacturer coupon for that very same shampoo. Combine the two and you get a double whammy.

Example 1 of Stacking

Herbal Essences on sale	$2.50 per bottle
Buy 2 bottles	$5.00
Use (1) $1.00/1 store coupon	- $1.00
Use (1) $1.00/2 MFR	- $1.00/2
Price after all coupons	$3.00 for both ($1.50 each wyb 2)

Note: In this example we needed to buy two bottles of shampoo to get the best deal. Why? Because our manufacturer coupon was for $1.00 off two. Buying two bottles allowed us to stack both coupons and get a better price.

Let’s look at another example:

Example 2 of Stacking

All® Laundry Detergent on sale	$5.00 each for Small and Mighty
Buy 1 bottle	$5.00
Use (1) $2.00/1 MFR	-$2.00
Use (1) $1.00/1 store coupon	-$1.00
Price after all coupons	$2.00

In this example we only had to buy one bottle of laundry detergent to get the best price. The deal could be done multiple times if you had enough coupons, but both the store and the MFR were off single items.

Competitor Coupons

Yeah! The basics are done and now it’s time for us to kick things up a notch or two. This time I’m talking about competitor coupons.

Competitor coupons are store coupons from a competing store. Many stores will allow you to use store coupons from other nearby, competing stores (competitor coupons), but there are limits. For example, some BI-LO stores will accept competitor coupons but only from specific stores. Also, most Publix stores will accept competitor coupons but you have to pay close attention to their policy. They only accept one “like” competitor coupon per transaction and only from stores they consider to be their competitors. Whom do they consider to be such a competitor? That varies by store and will depend on what other stores you have in your area.

I tell you this not to confuse you but to point out one more time how important it is to be familiar with store policy. It really is true that every store or chain is different, and it’s up to you to know the guidelines. Many stores have a printable copy available on their website. When possible, print a copy to have on hand and get acquainted with the customer service counter. Stores love couponers who make an effort to be courteous and follow the rules.

The reason competitor coupons are so exciting is that they are still considered a store coupon, which means you can still stack them. So while BI-LO may not have a store coupon on an item they have on sale, Target might. If your BI-LO accepts competitor coupons, you can use that to your advantage and grab a really great deal.

Example of Using Competitor Coupons

Quaker Oatmeal on sale at BI-LO BOGO	$3.98 ($1.99 after BOGO)
Buy 2 boxes	$3.98 total price for both
Use (2) $0.50/1 MFR (doubled)	-$2.00
Use (1) $1.00/2 competitor coupon	-$1.00
Price after all coupons	$0.98 for both, or $0.49 each wyb 2

And that’s it! You have made it through Couponing 101 and are ready to move on to the next level: organization. Don’t be discouraged if you have to read through this chapter more than once. Couponing can be tricky when you first get started, and no one knows that better than me. But don’t be afraid to try. Start small if you want to—one coupon, one item. Just start somewhere. Each shopping trip will leave you more self-assured, and that’s the goal. You’ll soon be able to walk confidently into a store and learn something new with each experience. If you can do that then you’re already far ahead of the curve.

Know your store’s coupon policy.

Take a second and think about your favorite place to shop. Do you know their coupon policy? If not, then this is a great time to find out. You can check the store website, give them a call, or even stop by the customer service counter. Whichever way, this is great information to have on hand before you ever build your first list.