FAQ's

FAQ’s

Couponing Lingo-Acronyms and Definitions:

• blinkie – in-store manufacturer’s coupon near the product, usually from a red blinking box
• BOGO – buy one, get one free
• Catalina (cat) — coupon you get with your receipt at the register; usually triggered by a specific item that you purchased
• filler – item purchased for the sole purpose of making a deal work
• GM – General Mills Sunday coupon insert packet
• Insert- coupon booklet found in Sunday’s papers.
• MIR- Mail in Rebate.
• MM- Money Maker
• MQ- Manufacturer’s Coupon
• NLA – no longer available
• OOP – out of pocket
• overage – the amount of money made on buying an item (profit)
• OYNO – on your next order
• P&G — Proctor & Gamble Sunday coupon insert packet
• peelie – coupon attached to an item that you can peel off & use immediately
• rolling – using a CAT or RR to pay for an item that produces a CAT or RR
• RP – Red Plum Sunday coupon insert packet
• RC- Rain Check
• RR – Register Rewards (Walgreen’s catalina)
• SS – SmartSource Sunday insert packet
• stacking – using a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon on one item
• tearpad – pad of coupons next to an item in the store

What are catalinas?
Catalinas are the coupons you sometimes get at the register along with your receipt at Safeway or  Walgreens (Register Rewards).  Remember to research catalina promotions prior to shopping to maximize your savings. There a few types of catalinas:

1. Advertisements — they have no value to you, throw them away
2. Manufacturer’s coupons — file them in your coupon organizational system.  I keep mine in my binder.
3. $$$$ off your next purchase coupons (Register Rewards or $__ off your next shopping trip) — keep these!
4. Target will often have deals that will give you a Target Gift card in place of catalinas.

Depending on the promotion,  catalinas print when you purchase a certain number of a specific item or a certain dollar amount of a family of products.

For promotions that give you a catalina for spending a certain amount of a family of products (example: Spend $20 in participating products, Get a $5 catalina), the target amount ($20) is almost always before the cashier scans your manufacturer’s coupons, so you will almost never actually spend $20 out-of-pocket.  A good sale combined with the right coupons and a good catalina promotion is a couponer’s dream.

What is “Coupon Fraud?”

Coupon fraud is real and very serious.  Be sure that you are following the rules on each coupon as well as the general rules you can find here:

http://www.couponinformationcenter.com/faq.php


What is Coupon Stacking?

Coupon Stacking:

When I first started couponing, this was something I had heard about but feared ever trying. It seemed so overwhelming and I was so afraid of getting it wrong. It really seemed like an art of its own and I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to try it. But once I understood the basics of it, I kicked myself for not using this amazing art sooner.

What is coupon stacking?

When you stack coupons, you are using 2 or more coupons, depending on the scenario for the best deal on your purchase. In order to stack coupons, you must have 1 store coupon and one Manufacturer coupon.

For example, let’s say there is a product on sale for $3.00. You can use 1 manufacturer’s coupon, in this example, let’s say $1 off, AND you may use 1 store coupon with that, let’s say it is also $1 off. By Stacking the store coupon AND manufacturers coupon you save $2.00 off of the $3.00 item making this item just $1.00.

ABC shampoo- $3.00 Sale Price

Use 1 $1/1 MQ AND Use 1 $1/1 Store coupon

Pay $1.00 OOP

Easy right?

This is an example of an easy stacking scenario. We will go over more complex forms later as well as in the coupon parties.

While you are able to stack a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon, you must never use 2 manufacturer coupons on one product. This would be coupon fraud and the store would not get reimbursed.

I have run into the problem that some cashiers have confused coupon stacking with doubling.  They are not the same thing.  Know your store policy and familiarize yourself with the terminology and rules before shopping.  Double coupons (not stacking) are coupons that stores come out with on the mainland in their ads that will match the price of manufacturers coupons.  From what I have found, no Hawaii stores offer double coupons.

Not all stores allow stacking so be sure you are familiar with your store’s policy. It is a good idea to keep a copy of the policy in your binder as well. You can find links to each of the store coupon policies on Couponhawaii.blogspot.com home page to the right.

Rethink Shopping

Why coupon? That’s easy, to save your hard earned money. There is a difference in couponing than just using a coupon or two at checkout. While $1 or $2 saved is $1 or $2 saved, by incorporating a strategic shopping plan with well-organized coupons, you will save more than you ever imagined and it will become a way of life.

Most people who I talk to about couponing ask me if I really save as much as those people they see on TV. Well, it depends. The idea of couponing is to purchase a lot of a particular item when it is at its lowest price. This is referred to as “stocking up” or “building your stock pile”. Each week, different items go on sale and new coupons come out. Your stock pile will grow week by week and slowly but surely you will find yourself not having to make those awful last minute store runs anymore. The thought of paying retail for toothpaste makes me cringe. The idea is to have about 6 weeks of product at any time so you have enough to get you to the next sale cycle.

Your stockpile will not build overnight but it doesn’t take long. When my stockpile was fully stocked before our move, yes, my store runs were often like those you would see on TV but that was because I had everything I needed at home, I was just purchasing the rock bottom deals to add to my stock pile.

A good idea is to familiarize yourself with the store sale cycles. Sale Cycle list

By knowing when the next rock bottom price will be, you will not be using your coupon on a deal that you are paying too much for.

Also, while it may be difficult at first, for those of you who are brand loyal (I was one of you too) try new products… especially when they are at stock up price. Make sense? You never know, you may find that the new product you have been putting off finding is better than the one you have stuck to for so long.