There are a lot of things that you need to know when you first start couponing, and one is all of the abbreviations and terms/lingo that come along with the territory!
When texting was first getting popular, I remember everyone freaking out about the abbreviations and "text slang" - heck, I still have to google what people mean sometimes when they send me "ROTFLMAO". Uhhhh what?
But no need to worry! When you see a breakdown and the couponer is talking about their "MM" purchase, or their "ECBs" and "OOP", you will know right where to come to! Your trusty coupon dictionary! Here I have put together a list of the most common and frequent terms, abbreviations, and codes that you might find on coupon forums, facebook, or even here on my blog. If there are some I missed, let me know!
COUPON DICTIONARY
Don’t get lost in translation!
$1/1, $2/1, etc.:
One dollar off one product, two dollars off one product, etc.
$1/2, $1.50/3, etc.: One dollar off two products, one dollar and
fifty cents off three products, etc.
Balance Rewards: The Balance
Rewards program is Walgreens’
rewards program. Earn points when making qualifying
purchases and then redeem them as a Walgreens gift
card.
rewards program. Earn points when making qualifying
purchases and then redeem them as a Walgreens gift
card.
BOGO: Buy one, get
one. Will usually end with “free” or
“50%”, buy one product get one free or buy one product
get one 50% off.
“50%”, buy one product get one free or buy one product
get one 50% off.
B1G1, B2G1: Another variation of
BOGO, with numbers
specified. The “B” stands for buy, the “G” for get, the
numbers indicate numbers of products included.
specified. The “B” stands for buy, the “G” for get, the
numbers indicate numbers of products included.
Blinkie: Manufacturer coupons
dispensed by coupon machines
in the grocery aisles next to products—dispenses coupons
one at a time in intervals.
in the grocery aisles next to products—dispenses coupons
one at a time in intervals.
Breakdown: Detailing a shopping trip by listing products purchased,
the quantity, sales specials, and coupons used to help others
achieve the same savings
the quantity, sales specials, and coupons used to help others
achieve the same savings
Catalina: Abbreviated at
“CAT”, Catalina coupon machines are
located at the register and dispense long receipt-like
coupons that may be used on a future purchase.
Catalinas refer to the coupon themselves which may be
store or manufacturer coupons. Some are advertised,
some are based on consumer behavior.
located at the register and dispense long receipt-like
coupons that may be used on a future purchase.
Catalinas refer to the coupon themselves which may be
store or manufacturer coupons. Some are advertised,
some are based on consumer behavior.
Coupon Insert: Coupon
circulars sent in (primarily) the Sunday
newspapers amongst other advertisements.
newspapers amongst other advertisements.
Coupon: Abbreviated as “Q”
or “CPN” A note from a store or
manufacturer that entitles shopper to a discount on
specific product. Coupons may be clipped from the
newspaper, printed from the internet, or even
downloaded to your store loyalty card.
Couponer: A person who collects and saves coupons to redeem
them on products, such as groceries.
manufacturer that entitles shopper to a discount on
specific product. Coupons may be clipped from the
newspaper, printed from the internet, or even
downloaded to your store loyalty card.
Couponer: A person who collects and saves coupons to redeem
them on products, such as groceries.
Couponing: The practice of redeeming discount coupons in
order
to save money.
to save money.
CRT: Cash Register
Tape. Usually used when talking about
CVS, CRTs print at the bottom of your receipt and are
generated based on your purchasing history (seemingly
random). CRTs are specific to the store they were printed.
DND: Do Not Double
DND '5': Do Not Double, but UPC starts with a '5' (to understand why
this matters, read about doubling coupons here)
CVS, CRTs print at the bottom of your receipt and are
generated based on your purchasing history (seemingly
random). CRTs are specific to the store they were printed.
DND: Do Not Double
DND '5': Do Not Double, but UPC starts with a '5' (to understand why
this matters, read about doubling coupons here)
Double: Select stores always
double coupons up to a certain
value (usually 50¢), other stores may double on a particular
week day or during a special promotion.
ECB: Extra Bucks (previously Extra Care Bucks) CVS pharmacy
program where CRTs are used for store credit.
value (usually 50¢), other stores may double on a particular
week day or during a special promotion.
ECB: Extra Bucks (previously Extra Care Bucks) CVS pharmacy
program where CRTs are used for store credit.
eCoupons: Electronic coupons
may be downloaded onto your
store loyalty card of through your cell phone.
store loyalty card of through your cell phone.
EXC: Excluding or
excludes in reference to product restriction on
a specific coupon.
a specific coupon.
EXP: Expires or
Expiration Date
Handling Fee: Refers to the
amount paid by the manufacturer to
the store as reimbursement for processing a coupon.
IVC: Instant Value Coupon. IVCs are store coupons found in
the weekly Walgreens ad. IVCs are considered store
coupons and may be stacked with a manufacturer coupon.
the store as reimbursement for processing a coupon.
IVC: Instant Value Coupon. IVCs are store coupons found in
the weekly Walgreens ad. IVCs are considered store
coupons and 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 POP in the form of UPC.
by mail. These are the traditional rebates that require you
to mail in both your receipt and POP in the form of UPC.
Manufacturer: Abbreviated
MFR. The company who produces
the brand items: Dove soap MFR, Pace Salsa MFR.
the brand items: Dove soap MFR, Pace Salsa MFR.
MFR coupon: A coupon created by
the manufacturer, typically
to entice a consumer to buy their product.
OOP: Out-of-Pocket; refers to the amount of money you will pay
to the store to make your purchase. Does not include any
after-purchase savings, coupons or rebates.
OYNO: On Your Next Order—can only be used at issuing store.
to entice a consumer to buy their product.
OOP: Out-of-Pocket; refers to the amount of money you will pay
to the store to make your purchase. Does not include any
after-purchase savings, coupons or rebates.
OYNO: On Your Next Order—can only be used at issuing store.
One Coupon per Customer:
Limits you to using only one “Like”
coupon per customer or person, per shopping trip.
coupon per customer or person, per shopping trip.
One Coupon per Day:
Limits you to only using one “Like:
coupon per 24 hour period.
coupon per 24 hour period.
One Coupon Per Purchase:
Refers to your ability to use one
coupon per ITEM—meant to enforce the point that you
may not use two of the exact same coupon for one item.
coupon per ITEM—meant to enforce the point that you
may not use two of the exact same coupon for one item.
One Coupon Per Transaction:
Limits you to only using one of
this coupon per transaction. You may request to do
separate transactions.
this coupon per transaction. You may request to do
separate transactions.
Peelie: Adhesive
manufacturer coupons found on products in
the store.
P&G: Proctor & Gamble—manufacturer that produces a wide
range of consumer goods. Monthly insert in newspapers.
the store.
P&G: Proctor & Gamble—manufacturer that produces a wide
range of consumer goods. Monthly insert in newspapers.
PSA: Prices starting at;
when a group of items is on sale, such as
25% off Tide. May be written “PSA $2.09” and list a
group of Tide coupons—this means the cheapest product
is $2.09 and prices go up from there.
25% off Tide. May be written “PSA $2.09” and list a
group of Tide coupons—this means the cheapest product
is $2.09 and prices go up from there.
Purchase: a purchase refers to
buying any item. If I buy 30 items
in a single shopping trip, I just made 30 purchases. NOT
to be confused with transaction.
in a single shopping trip, I just made 30 purchases. NOT
to be confused with transaction.
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 the sale price. Issued at customer
service.
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 the sale price. Issued at customer
service.
Rolling Catalinas:
Refers to the practice of separating your
purchase into multiple transactions in order to use register
Catalina coupons from your first transaction to pay for
your second, etc.
RP: Red Plum—manufacturer that produces a wide range of
consumer goods. Weekly insert in news papers.
purchase into multiple transactions in order to use register
Catalina coupons from your first transaction to pay for
your second, etc.
RP: Red Plum—manufacturer that produces a wide range of
consumer goods. Weekly insert in news papers.
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 info online. Request
your monthly check to be mailed to you and cash it!
SS: Smart Source—manufacturer that produces a wide range of
consumer goods. Weekly insert in newspapers.
Stacking Coupons: Refers to using both a store coupon and a
manufacturer coupon on one purchase. Nearly all stores
will allow you to stack. Only one manufacturer or store
coupon may be used per item.
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 info online. Request
your monthly check to be mailed to you and cash it!
SS: Smart Source—manufacturer that produces a wide range of
consumer goods. Weekly insert in newspapers.
Stacking Coupons: Refers to using both a store coupon and a
manufacturer coupon on one purchase. Nearly all stores
will allow you to stack. Only one manufacturer or store
coupon may be used per item.
Stockpile: a storage of food and
non-food items. Stockpiling is key
to most couponing methods, the size of the stockpile
depends on the person. To goal is to buy items when they
are on sale and you have a coupon, buy products before you
need them—when you run out of an item, you “shop” from
your stockpile.
to most couponing methods, the size of the stockpile
depends on the person. To goal is to buy items when they
are on sale and you have a coupon, buy products before you
need them—when you run out of an item, you “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—they may be found in
weekly ads, printed online, or downloaded as eCoupons.
certain product at their store. Stores receive no
reimbursement from store coupons—they may be found in
weekly ads, printed online, or downloaded as eCoupons.
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.
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 a product in
shopping aisles.
WYB: When you buy. Some sales or coupons require purchase of
multiple items. For example, buy 4 Mint Milano cookies at
$2.00 each, use 2 $1/2 coupons, Final Price $1.50 each
WYB2.
shopping aisles.
WYB: When you buy. Some sales or coupons require purchase of
multiple items. For example, buy 4 Mint Milano cookies at
$2.00 each, use 2 $1/2 coupons, Final Price $1.50 each
WYB2.
YMMV: Your mileage (or manager) may vary. A phrase used to
describe that store policies and pricing varies. Be sure you
know your store before you shop.
describe that store policies and pricing varies. Be sure you
know your store before you shop.