Have you started “Extreme Realistic Couponing“, but feel as if it speaks a different language? Well, it does. Here is an easy Quick Reference guide to learn the abbreviations behind your favorite store match-ups.
Print off my Quick Reference Couponing Lingo and Abbreviation Guide and stick in your coupon binder.
Sunday Paper Inserts
- SS: Smart Source (weekly)
- RP: Red Plum (weekly)
- P&G: Proctor & Gamble (monthly insert)
- GM: General Mills (periodic)
Basic Coupon Abbreviations
- BOGO: Buy One, Get One Free
- B1G2: Buy One, Get Two Free
- B2G1: Buy Two, Get One Free
- $/$: Any example of money off purchase. For example: $5/$30 ($5 off of a purchase of $30 or more)
- $1/1: You will receive $1 off of just one item
- $2/1: Receive $2 off of one item
- IP: Internet Printable Coupon
- Q’s: slang for Coupons
- Blinkie: The Coupon Machine that spits out coupons in the grocery aisle. (You know the one where your child grabs 20, and considers it “helping.”
- Peelie – Peel-off Coupons found right on the packaging
- Catalina (also referred to as CAT): This is a coupon that prints out after you check out at the register. Don’t assume that these are all junk. Sometimes they will spontaneously give free product, alert you to upcoming deals, as well as money off of your next purchase. Most stores require you to use them at the store they were printed, but there are stores that still allow competitors coupons.
- WYB: When You Buy
- OOP: Out of Pocket
- PSA: Prices Start At
- Exp.: Expires, Expiration Date on coupon or deal
- Rolling: Roll your store “cash” over to your next transaction
- Overage: When a coupon is more than free, and will take additional $ off your final price.
- Closeouts: Greatly reduced items that the store will no longer carry. Great time to pair coupons.
- Stacking: When you pair or stack a manufacturer’s coupon with a specific store coupon. For example, a Smart Source coupon with a Target coupon. Not all stores allow this, so check store couponing policy.
- Doubling: When stores double a manufacturer’s coupon value. For example. a $0.50 coupon doubles to $1.00
- Fillers: Misc. Items you need to purchase to get to a coupon savings amount, especially when using the $$/$$.
- ECBs: Extra Care Bucks – This term will only be used when referencing CVS’s rewards system. It’s CVS “cash” that you earn to be used on anything in the store. It is attached to the end of your receipt, so do not throw that away.
- RR: Register Rewards Walgreen’s reward system.
- IVC: Walgreen’s Instant Value Coupon found in their monthly savings booklet
- SCR: Single Check Rebate associated with Rite Aid’s Rewards Program
- YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary
Print my Quick Reference Couponing Lingo and Abbreviation Guide here for a nice, clean copy
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am going to link to it from my blog post I’m writing for Friday. In the same line as this, is it possible for you to write a post as to how to decipher store receipts when you use coupons? I know that seems like an undertaking, but when I got my receipt from the grocery the other day, I wanted to decipher it so I could blog about my savings….because I saved 56% on my groceries, my highest ever….but I couldn’t figure it out.
I would like to start couponing, but because I have several food allergies and I avoid any form of sugar (it’s like poison to me) I cannot eat anything that is processed. I buy fresh meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and some frozen vegetables. I will occasionally get frozen meals, canned soup, etc. for my husband. I don’t let food go bad, and our grocery spending is still between $250-300 a month. It’s just the two of us. To be fair, that spending does include pet food (two large dogs and a cat), and paper and health and beauty products.
I never see coupons for fresh produce or meats, which is the majority of what I eat (mostly produce). I already use coupons for HBA products and cat food, but we can’t switch the dog food without creating a mess (sensitive digestion in my dogs). What tips do you have for me?
hi Marlene – I do get asked this often, and you’re right, many things are processed. But from what you shared, there are still many great deals you can get with coupons, especially frozen vegetables. I haven’t paid for frozen veggies in a long time. Most of your health and beauty products can be purchased with coupons. I don’t pay for toothpaste, toothbrushes, Ibuprofen, deodorants etc.
Every once in awhile there are great coupons for produce, nuts, and even meats, but they are much further between. I’ll keep sharing tips that hopefully will help your situation.
I wish that I was organized enough to do this…..and had the space to store all of the surplus!!
Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who uses e-coupons as well as paper. My Kroger used to take one e-coupon and one paper coupon for the same product. I got some amazing deals stacking them that way. But they quit doing it because they were only getting reimbursed for one of the two coupons. I always thought the e-coupons were store coupons, but they’re not!
Yes, I will definitely have to do a whole post on the e-coupon thing. Each store is so different and if you don’t know which ones allow the stacking, it definitely may not be nearly as good a deal.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for providing an abbreviation cheat sheet. There were several abbreviations I had seen but had no idea what the acronym meant.
Hi! I am totally new at this couponing, please HELP! I mean what stores are the best for couponing, how many times a week would need to go to the store. etc, etc,
thanks
Hi a friend of mine and I were interested in getting started but needed a quick jump start to help motivate us any suggestions??