Coupon 101

What is a COUPON? One form of a coupon is the traditional piece of paper you clip and has a bar code that begins with a 5 or 9 and is redeemed for a certain amount off your purchase. It can also be a promotional code you can enter online for additional savings. We are starting to see more and more coupons you can have on your cell phone. A coupon can be from the manufacturer of the product or it can be from the store (ie. Target).

Where can I find COUPONS? Just about anywhere! Get coupons through mail, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, in-store dispenser, peelies found on products, found in products, sent in samples, friends, and mobile devices such as cell phones.

My #1 Coupon magazine is All You! Get your subscription HERE.

Buy Coupons from CouponthingsbyDede.com

Sunday Paper
Paying too much for the Sunday Paper just to get your coupons? Have your Sunday Paper Coupon inserts mailed to you at a great price. Check-out Capri's Coupons here and order your inserts. Make sure to let Kim know we referred you!

Make sure to check your local Dollar Store/Tree and see if they sell the Sunday Paper. If so, it should be a $1!

In Greenville, SC I buy my Sunday papers at Walgreens OR Walmart for $0.98 each. 

Popular FREE Printable Coupon Sites:
Target
Coupons.com
RedPlum
SmartSource



Coupon Policies:
Company Coupon Policies are always good to have with you when you go shopping in case you have any issues. Go HERE to see all current policies.

COUPON JARGON-

• AC: After Coupons
• BC: Before Coupons
• BLINKIE: a machine that spits out coupons.
• BOGO, BOGOF, B1G1: Buy One, Get One Free!
• CAT or Catalina: A coupon that prints out at the register, based on what you buy. 
• DCRT: Dated cash register receipt. 
• ECB: Extra Care Buck (CVS)
• ETS: Excludes Travel Size
• FAR: Free After Rebate
• GC: Gift Card
• GM: General Mills insert found in the Sunday paper
• HTH: Hope that Helps 
• MFR: Manufacturer
• MIR: mail-in-rebate
• MQ: Manufacturer Coupon
• ONYO: On Your Next Order
• OOP: Out-of-pocket expense
• PEELIES: Found on products. Stuck on like a sticker. 
• PG: Proctor & Gamble insert found in the Sunday paper.
• POP: Proof of purchase (like a UPC)
• Q or CPN: Coupon
• RP: Red Plum insert found in the Sunday paper.
• RR: Register Reward (Walgreens)
• SCR: Single Check Rebate (Rite Aid)
  
• SP: Stock Pile
  
• SS: Smart Source insert found in the Sunday paper.
• TEAR PAD: A pad of refund forms or coupons hanging on a shelf at the store.
• TMF: Try Me Free offer
• UPC: Universal Product Code.
• WYB: when you buy
• WSL: while supplies last
• X "date": Expiration date
• YMMV-Your Mileage May Vary (A deal may work for someone else, but may not for you.)

COUPON ORGANIZATION:
Envelopes/Ziploc bags: Some people store coupons in envelops and/or Ziploc bags. This can be very messing and hard to organize your coupons.

Accordion style: You can buy an accordion style file folder and file your coupons by category. You can get these in different sizes from ones that fit in your purse or others that are the size of a notebook. These limit you to how many categories you can have.

Binder Method: 2 different binder methods. 
1. You can clip every coupon you have/want and organize in a 3-ring binder by Category. Put your clipped coupons in baseball card organizer's. This works great if you want to carry your binder with you to the store. I find this to be very time consuming. Plus, not every coupon you clip will be used by expiration date.  


2. If you want to clip coupons as you use them and match them with that weeks ad then get a 3-ring binder with plastic inserts and organize your inserts by alphanumerical order for the Sunday paper inserts. Coupons that are already clipped, I keep a smaller 3-ring binder and organize them accordingly in a plastic baseball card insert. I find this saves me a lot of time. Plus, it requires me to make a list and know exactly what I plan on buying when I go out. Wondering where you can find the coupons that match your weekly grocery store ad... You can find your grocery store under my directory for what blogger does your weekly ad & coupon match-ups here.

*A great coupon organization tool to get you started is the ever popular Coupon Clutch!


COUPON TIPS:

1. Read your coupons and know what they say & specify!
2. Know your store coupon policies! It's always a good idea to bring them to the store with you.
3. If your coupon does not specify a set size. Check the price of the smallest size and possibly score the product for free or really cheap.
4. Don't go to just any cashier unless you have no choice. I always stop, scan the checkouts and try to go to someone I know will not hassle me with my coupons.
5. If you have a coupon that requires the cashier to write an amount in, let them know at the beginning of your transaction. I have found that cashiers appreciate this!

Happy Couponing!!