The "Secret" Lingo of Coupons
When you visit websites for coupons, sometimes you can get lost in all of the lingo involved with postings. Below, you can find some of the lingo that is used commonly.
BOGO - Buy One, Get One. Will usually be followed with "Free" or "Half Off", meaning Buy One, Get One Free or Buy One, Get One Half Off.
B1G1, B1G2, B2G1, etc - Another way to write Buy One, Get One. The numbers indicate the number of items you must buy, followed by the number of products you will receive. B1G1=Buy One, Get One. B1G2=Buy One, Get Two. B2G1=Buy Two, Get One, and so on...
Blinkie - refers to manufacturer coupons found in the aisles of your store. The machine produces a blinking red light, and dispenses manufacturer coupons at a certain interval. These coupons can be used at any store, not just the store in which you found the machine.
Catalina, CAT - refers to the machine located at the checkout, which prints coupons at the conclusion of your order. These coupons print out in long strips, like receipts. Catalinas are store coupons, only redeemable at the specified store on the coupon. Some Catalinas are printed for fulfilling a specific store special (i.e. buying two of a certain item, as advertised in their paper) and others are printed based on costumer behavior.
Coupon Insert - Coupon circulars located in your Sunday paper. Also referred to as "Inserts". SmartSource (SS), RedPlum (RP) and Proctor & Gamble (P&G) are often found.
Double Coupons - refers to a coupon that doubles when scanned. Most grocery stores offer Double (and sometimes TRIPLE!) coupons for any coupon that is under 99¢.
ECB - refers to CVS' Extra Care Bucks program, which has since been renamed "CVS' Extra Bucks"
eCoupons - electronic coupons that can be downloaded directly to your store loyalty card. These coupons will automatically deduct at checkout when the item is purchased and your loyalty card is swiped.
EB - CVS' Extra Bucks reward program, formally referred to as ECBs. These coupons print at the bottom of your CVS receipt when you make a qualifying purchase, as advertised in their weekly ad. Be sure to check the bottom of your receipt for EBs.
IVC - refers to Instant Value Coupons at Walgreens. IVCs are store coupons that can be found in the Walgreens weekly ad. These can be stacked with manufacturer coupons.
MIR - refers to Mail-In Rebates. These are traditional rebates that usually require you to mail in a form, along with proof of purchase, to the company. Proof of purchase is usually in the form of the barcode from the product, as well as your receipt. Check the mail-in rebate form for details.
MFR - short for Manufacturer.
Manufacturer Coupon - refers to a coupon that is produced by the manufacturer of an item, or a marketing company on behalf of the manufacturer. These coupons can be found in the Sunday newspaper, on their website or in the store.
OOP - Out of Pocket. This is the amount that you will pay Out Of Pocket on a purchase. Does not include after-savings coupons, rebates or coupons. The price quoted on our website is before taxes are applied to your order.
ONYP - On Your Next Purchase coupons. Some stores offer a discount Catalina coupon at the end of an order, if you have spent a certain amount (i.e. "Spend $50, Get $10 off your next purchase") but this amount will not apply to your current order. These coupons have no minimum purchase, and can be used toward a second purchase or another trip to the store at a later date. You may use this coupon towards any purchase, but if the value of your ONYP coupon is greater than your order's total, you will forfeit the difference. No cash back will be given by the store.
One Coupon Per Purchase - refers to the store's limit for you to use one coupon per item. This is meant to enforce the inability to use two coupons towards one item.
One Coupon Per Transaction - limits your use of a particular coupon to only one per transaction. You may request to do separate orders, although some stores may limit this option as well. (Check your store's policy to be sure) For example, if you had 5 identical coupons, you may request to do 5 separate transactions and pay 5 times.
Peelie - adhesive coupons that can be found on products at the store.
P&G, PG - refers to Proctor & Gamble. Proctor & Gamble puts out monthly coupon inserts filled with coupons for a variety of P & G produced brands, such as Always, Bounty, Crest, Dawn, Gillette, Olay, Pampers & Tide.
PSA - Price Starting Out. Often used when a store has a sale of a percentage off. For example, Nature Valley Products - 25% off. We would list the sale as PSA $2.09, meaning the lowest price for this line of products is $2.09 and the prices go up from there.
Purchase - refers to the buying an item. For example, a transaction of 20 items would be 20 purchases.
Purchase-Based Coupons - coupons that refer to a certain amount off of an order. For example, $2 off your purchase of $10, $5 off your purchase of $25, etc. These coupons may be used in addition to store & manufacturer coupons.
Rainchecks - a written slip issued by the store that is used to ensure that you receive the sale price of an item. These slips are only issued when the store has run out of the particular item. Often times, the raincheck limits the quantity of the item you are allowed to purchase. Rainchecks can be used after the initial sales period has ended.
RR - Register Rewards program at Walgreens. RR's print like Catalinas at Walgreens, These coupons can be used for future purchases. RR's cannot be "rolled" like Catalinas.
Rolling Catalinas - refers to the practice of separating your purchase into several purchases and using Catalinas from Purchase #1 towards Purchase #2, from Purchase #2 towards Purchase #3, and so on. Some stores will not allow this practice - check your store's policy.
RP - RedPlum coupon insert.
SS - SmartSource coupon insert.
Stacking - refers to using any two promotions together. For example, using a coupon for an item that is on sale. This would be referred to as "stacking a coupon with the sales price"
Stacking Coupons - refers to using a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon together towards on item. Most stores allow you to stack coupons. Only one manufacturer coupon can be used on an item.
Stockpile - buying large quantities of the same item and storing them in your home. Some couponers choose to do this when an item is very low cost or free, and "shopping" from their stockpile when they run out of an item.
Store Coupon - a coupon issued by the store to entice consumers to buy a particular product. Store coupons can be found in their weekly ad, on their website or downloaded to your store loyalty card. Store coupons can only be used at the issuing store.
Store Loyalty Card - a card that is issued by the store, which will be scanned at checkout to receive additional savings. After filling out a short application, stores will give you a plastic card (like a credit card) or smaller plastic cards to hang from your keyring, or sometimes both. Cashiers may be able to look up your loyalty card by your ten-digit phone number.
Transaction - refers to your entire purchase.
Tear Pad - refers to a pad of manufacturer coupons that are found in the aisle, near the product. These coupons can be used at any store, not just the store in which the tear pad is located.
WAGS - short for Walgreens.
UPC - Universal Product Code. The bar code printed on packaging used by stores to scan the product.
WYB - When You Buy. Some store sales or coupons specify that you must be a certain amount. This lingo is used when reporting the final price of a specific deal. For example, "Buy 2 Huggies Wipes $3.49 each, use $1.00/2 coupon, Final Price is $2.99 each WYB 2." The coupon states you must be 2, so the final price reflects that stipulation.
$1.00/1, $2.00/1, etc - refers to the amount off of one item.
$1.00/2, $2.00/2, etc - refers to the amount off of two items, or three, or four, etc
BOGO - Buy One, Get One. Will usually be followed with "Free" or "Half Off", meaning Buy One, Get One Free or Buy One, Get One Half Off.
B1G1, B1G2, B2G1, etc - Another way to write Buy One, Get One. The numbers indicate the number of items you must buy, followed by the number of products you will receive. B1G1=Buy One, Get One. B1G2=Buy One, Get Two. B2G1=Buy Two, Get One, and so on...
Blinkie - refers to manufacturer coupons found in the aisles of your store. The machine produces a blinking red light, and dispenses manufacturer coupons at a certain interval. These coupons can be used at any store, not just the store in which you found the machine.
Catalina, CAT - refers to the machine located at the checkout, which prints coupons at the conclusion of your order. These coupons print out in long strips, like receipts. Catalinas are store coupons, only redeemable at the specified store on the coupon. Some Catalinas are printed for fulfilling a specific store special (i.e. buying two of a certain item, as advertised in their paper) and others are printed based on costumer behavior.
Coupon Insert - Coupon circulars located in your Sunday paper. Also referred to as "Inserts". SmartSource (SS), RedPlum (RP) and Proctor & Gamble (P&G) are often found.
Double Coupons - refers to a coupon that doubles when scanned. Most grocery stores offer Double (and sometimes TRIPLE!) coupons for any coupon that is under 99¢.
ECB - refers to CVS' Extra Care Bucks program, which has since been renamed "CVS' Extra Bucks"
eCoupons - electronic coupons that can be downloaded directly to your store loyalty card. These coupons will automatically deduct at checkout when the item is purchased and your loyalty card is swiped.
EB - CVS' Extra Bucks reward program, formally referred to as ECBs. These coupons print at the bottom of your CVS receipt when you make a qualifying purchase, as advertised in their weekly ad. Be sure to check the bottom of your receipt for EBs.
IVC - refers to Instant Value Coupons at Walgreens. IVCs are store coupons that can be found in the Walgreens weekly ad. These can be stacked with manufacturer coupons.
MIR - refers to Mail-In Rebates. These are traditional rebates that usually require you to mail in a form, along with proof of purchase, to the company. Proof of purchase is usually in the form of the barcode from the product, as well as your receipt. Check the mail-in rebate form for details.
MFR - short for Manufacturer.
Manufacturer Coupon - refers to a coupon that is produced by the manufacturer of an item, or a marketing company on behalf of the manufacturer. These coupons can be found in the Sunday newspaper, on their website or in the store.
OOP - Out of Pocket. This is the amount that you will pay Out Of Pocket on a purchase. Does not include after-savings coupons, rebates or coupons. The price quoted on our website is before taxes are applied to your order.
ONYP - On Your Next Purchase coupons. Some stores offer a discount Catalina coupon at the end of an order, if you have spent a certain amount (i.e. "Spend $50, Get $10 off your next purchase") but this amount will not apply to your current order. These coupons have no minimum purchase, and can be used toward a second purchase or another trip to the store at a later date. You may use this coupon towards any purchase, but if the value of your ONYP coupon is greater than your order's total, you will forfeit the difference. No cash back will be given by the store.
One Coupon Per Purchase - refers to the store's limit for you to use one coupon per item. This is meant to enforce the inability to use two coupons towards one item.
One Coupon Per Transaction - limits your use of a particular coupon to only one per transaction. You may request to do separate orders, although some stores may limit this option as well. (Check your store's policy to be sure) For example, if you had 5 identical coupons, you may request to do 5 separate transactions and pay 5 times.
Peelie - adhesive coupons that can be found on products at the store.
P&G, PG - refers to Proctor & Gamble. Proctor & Gamble puts out monthly coupon inserts filled with coupons for a variety of P & G produced brands, such as Always, Bounty, Crest, Dawn, Gillette, Olay, Pampers & Tide.
PSA - Price Starting Out. Often used when a store has a sale of a percentage off. For example, Nature Valley Products - 25% off. We would list the sale as PSA $2.09, meaning the lowest price for this line of products is $2.09 and the prices go up from there.
Purchase - refers to the buying an item. For example, a transaction of 20 items would be 20 purchases.
Purchase-Based Coupons - coupons that refer to a certain amount off of an order. For example, $2 off your purchase of $10, $5 off your purchase of $25, etc. These coupons may be used in addition to store & manufacturer coupons.
Rainchecks - a written slip issued by the store that is used to ensure that you receive the sale price of an item. These slips are only issued when the store has run out of the particular item. Often times, the raincheck limits the quantity of the item you are allowed to purchase. Rainchecks can be used after the initial sales period has ended.
RR - Register Rewards program at Walgreens. RR's print like Catalinas at Walgreens, These coupons can be used for future purchases. RR's cannot be "rolled" like Catalinas.
Rolling Catalinas - refers to the practice of separating your purchase into several purchases and using Catalinas from Purchase #1 towards Purchase #2, from Purchase #2 towards Purchase #3, and so on. Some stores will not allow this practice - check your store's policy.
RP - RedPlum coupon insert.
SS - SmartSource coupon insert.
Stacking - refers to using any two promotions together. For example, using a coupon for an item that is on sale. This would be referred to as "stacking a coupon with the sales price"
Stacking Coupons - refers to using a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon together towards on item. Most stores allow you to stack coupons. Only one manufacturer coupon can be used on an item.
Stockpile - buying large quantities of the same item and storing them in your home. Some couponers choose to do this when an item is very low cost or free, and "shopping" from their stockpile when they run out of an item.
Store Coupon - a coupon issued by the store to entice consumers to buy a particular product. Store coupons can be found in their weekly ad, on their website or downloaded to your store loyalty card. Store coupons can only be used at the issuing store.
Store Loyalty Card - a card that is issued by the store, which will be scanned at checkout to receive additional savings. After filling out a short application, stores will give you a plastic card (like a credit card) or smaller plastic cards to hang from your keyring, or sometimes both. Cashiers may be able to look up your loyalty card by your ten-digit phone number.
Transaction - refers to your entire purchase.
Tear Pad - refers to a pad of manufacturer coupons that are found in the aisle, near the product. These coupons can be used at any store, not just the store in which the tear pad is located.
WAGS - short for Walgreens.
UPC - Universal Product Code. The bar code printed on packaging used by stores to scan the product.
WYB - When You Buy. Some store sales or coupons specify that you must be a certain amount. This lingo is used when reporting the final price of a specific deal. For example, "Buy 2 Huggies Wipes $3.49 each, use $1.00/2 coupon, Final Price is $2.99 each WYB 2." The coupon states you must be 2, so the final price reflects that stipulation.
