My Coupon Journey: Welcome Friends!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Welcome Friends!

Greetings! Many of you know that I have spent the last year or so becoming a savvy coupon shopper. This is a far cry from where I used to be. I was your typical grocery shopper, spending upwards near $700-800.00 monthly buying the food that looked good. I don't think I even looked at the prices! Well, those days are behind me. Those were my BC days (before coupons). Now, I save over 50% -80% on every shopping trip,taking my budget to $200.00 for a family of four. I even coupon at the mall! My hope is that this blog will teach you to save and take some of the leg work out of couponing for you so that you may enjoy the same savings for your household. Please share the word about my new blog! I'm new so bear with me, I'm learning.
Welcome to My Coupon Journey! Journey with me as we save at the grocery store, so we can achieve financial freedom or just free up money in your budget to spend on yourself!

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Coupon Lingo

For anyone new to couponing, there is some lingo that you need to get familiar with. Below is a list that you can reference as you read this blog.

$$/$$ – This means $ off when you spend $ amount. Example: $5/$30 is $5 off your purchase when you spend $30. (Check to see if the amount has to be before or after coupons to apply.)

$/# – This means that you get $ off for every # you buy. Example: $5/2 would mean that you get $5 off every 2 that you buy.

B1G1 = Buy One Get One Free (B1G2 is Buy One Get Two Free etc.)

Blinkie = A coupon that prints out at a machine in the store. They are located by the product associated with that particular coupon.

BOGO = Buy One Get One Free

Cash Register Tape = Your Receipt. Also refered to as CRT.

CAT = Catalina. A coupon that prints out at the register that is either $$ off your next purchase or $$ off a certain product. You typically have to use them at the store they printed, but some stores will take “competitor’s” coupons. Note: These are sometimes delayed in printing so wait a minute before walking away from the register. If you think you were supposed to get one and didn’t, talk to the cashier/manager and explain.

Catalina = Also refered to as CAT. A coupon that prints out at the register that is either $$ off your next purchase or $$ off a certain product. You typically have to use them at the store they printed, but some stores will take “competitor’s” coupons. Note: These are sometimes delayed in printing so wait a minute before walking away from the register. If you think you were supposed to get one and didn’t, talk to the cashier/manager and explain.

Closeouts – These are typically greatly reduced items that the store does not plan on re-stocking.

Competitors – This is the term meaning “of related chains.” For example, grocery stores will take other grocery store’s coupons and drug stores will take other drug store coupons. Always check with each store on what their couponing policy is and whom they consider to be a competitor.

Couponing Policy – This is the statement that each individual store abides by, in relation to coupons. What is typically included in their policy is whether they: take competitor’s coupons, take coupons past expiration dates, “double” or “triple” coupons, accept Internet Printables or if they even accept coupons.

Coupon Insert – These are “packets” of coupons found in Sunday papers and also sometimes in the ads mailed to you during the week. These are typically sent out by Smart Source (SS or S), Red Plum (RP) and Proctor & Gamble (PG)They are also refered to as inserts, S, SS, RP and PG.

CRT = Cash Register Tape, or your receipt

Discontinued – This means that a store has depleted their inventory of an item and does not plan on re-stocking it.

Double Coupons = This is the term used when stores will double a coupon’s value. Example, if you have a $1 off coupon, they’ll take $2 off. Stores vary on how often they do this ranging from never, always, on occasion or specific days of the week. Some stores may also set a maximum value limit. Example, no coupons over $2 and only 10 per transaction/day.

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. Exclusive to CVS. They work like cash on your next order. (Some restrictions do apply.)

ES =Easy Saver. This is Walgreens’ monthly rebate program. You can find the books by their ads in the store.

EXP = Expires or Expiration Date

FAR = Free After Rebate (See Rebate for explation)

FAE = Free after Extra Care Bucks (See ECB or Extra Care Bucks for explanation)

FARR = Free After Register Rewards (See RR or Register Rewards for explanation)

Inserts = These are “packets” of coupons found in Sunday papers and also sometimes in the ads mailed to you during the week. These are typically sent out by Smart Source (SS or S), Red Plum (RP) and Proctor & Gamble (PG) They are also refered to as coupon inserts, S, SS, RP and PG.

Internet Printable = A coupon that can be printed online. Also refered to as IP or Printable.

IP = Internet Printable Coupon. Also refered to as “printable.”

IVC = Instant Value Coupon. These are found at Walgreens in their weekly ads.

MFR = Manufacturer

MIR = Mail In Rebate. These are checks or coupons that the manufacturers/stores will send you if you meet the requirements on the rebate form.

OOP = Out-of-Pocket. This is the amount of money that you have spent after coupons, ECBs, RRs, Catalinas (See terms for explanations)

OOS = Out-of-Stock. This means that the store is temporarily out of an item but plans on getting in more inventory. Sometimes they will offer a raincheck in cases like these.

OYNO = On Your Next Order. Used when refering to coupons that you can use on your next order at that store. (Sometimes Competitors will take them.)

OYNP = On Your Next Purchase. Used when refering to coupons that you can use on your next purchase (order) at that store. (Sometimes Competitors will take them.)

Peelie = Coupons found on products in the store. (Don’t forget to pull these off and hand them to your cashier when you check-out. Don’t rely on the cashier to notice them for you. It will only aggravate you later when you come home to find it’s still there!)

PG = Proctor & Gamble. A big chain of brands that also puts out a coupon insert.

Prinables - These are coupons that you can print online. Also refered to as IP or Internet Printables.

Q = Coupon

Raincheck = A slip you can ask for in the store when an item’s on sale and out-of-stock. Some sales will specifically say “No rainchecks” and some stores will put an expiration date on their rainchecks

RP = Red Plum. This is a coupon insert that you’ll either find in your paper or the mail.

Register Rewards = Exclusive to Walgreens. They work like cash on your next order. (Some restrictions do apply.) Also refered to as RRs.

Rolling Catalinas – This means that you can use a catalina (see definition) as payment on another transaction of equal merchandise and another catalina will still print. Example, if you buy 5 “name brand items,” a $5 catalina will print. If you then buy another set of those same 5 “name brand items,” you can use the previous catalina you received as payment towards the order and another $5 catalina will print.

RR = Register Rewards. Exclusive to Walgreens. They work like cash on your next order. (Some restrictions do apply.)

S or SS = Smart Source. This is a big name coupon source. They not only send out inserts in the papers but they also have an online site with printables.

Stacking Coupons = This is the term used when stores will let you use their own store coupons along with a manufacturer’s coupon for the same item. Example: Most Targets would let you use their $ off “specific brand” product coupons along with a manufacturer’s coupon for that same “specific brand” product.

Triple Coupons = This is the term used when stores will triple a coupon’s value. Example, if you have a $1 off coupon, they’ll take $3 off. Stores vary on how often they do this ranging from never, always, on occasion or specific days of the week. Some stores may also set a maximum value limit. Example, no coupons over $2 and only 10 per transaction/day.

UPC = Universal Bar Code. This is the bar code that’s scanned on products for pricing/info at the stores. Several companies will ask you to mail these in on rebates

WAGS = Abbreviation for Walgreens

WT = Wine Tag. These are coupons that you’ll find hanging on the wine bottles in the stores.

YMMV = Your Mileage (Manager) May Vary. This is what you’ll see when someone finds a deal but they want you to know that your store branch may not offer the same deal.

WYB = When You Buy

Disclosure

This policy is valid from 04 May 2010 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest. To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

My Coupon Journey

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Welcome Friends!

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