Online Coupon Course Part 1 : Getting Started Couponing
To get started couponing you first need to know where to find the coupons! There are many different places you can find them including Sunday paper inserts, Internet Sites (Facebook, manufacturer sites and more), Store Flyers/Ads, Tear Pads, Blinkies, Catalinas and straight off the products!
What types of coupons are there?
Manufacturer Coupons- Coupons that that offered through the manufacturer. These are valid at any store that accepts Manufacturer Coupons.
Store Coupons– Coupons that are redeemable only at the store they are offered through
Where do I get coupons?
Sunday Paper inserts : All papers are different and coupons can be regional, inserts can range from Redplum, Smartsource, P&G and/or General Mills. During Holiday weekends, however, you will most likely not find any inserts in the paper. (Buy you local paper at a discount here)
Internet Sites : Online coupons can be found in various places including Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, Redplum.com, SavingStar, Hopster, Manufacturer websites and even Facebook. Many brands will send you coupons by mail when you ask, all you need to do is email them and give it a shot, what does it hurt?
Store Flyers/Ads : These can be found in the Sunday paper and at the front of most stores. These coupons will say “Publix Coupon” or whatever store they pertain to on the top of them.
Tear Pads : These are post-it type pads that are usually in the store aisle near the product or on promotional stands throughout the store.
Blinkies : These are from the small machines found in the aisles of the stores, typically by the product. They have a little blinking light on them, hence the name blinkies.
Catalinas : These are printed out at the register with your receipt, coupon printed out typically depends on what product you purchased.
And make sure to snag a local newspaper (or a few copies) for all the coupons to match up with sales!
Products : A few products come with a coupon attached to them or on the inside of the box. Plus if you request free samples you find on my site, most of them come with high value coupons.
Coupon Lingo
You may also notice some coupon lingo or terms used on my site and others that you may or may not be familiar with, here are a few of the most common ones used so you understand what people are talking about when discussing match ups.
$1/1 or $1/2, etc: One dollar off one item, one dollar off two items, etc.
2/$1 or 3/$2: One dollar for two items, $2 for three items, etc.
B1G1 or BOGO: Buy one item get one item free
Beep: Sometimes the register will beep when a coupon is scanned to let the cashier know they need to take action or it denies the coupon and it must be entered manually (this happens quite a bit with coupons for “ANY” product)
Blinkies: Store coupon dispensers with blinking lights typically found in the aisles
Catalina: Catalina coupon – these print from a separate printer/machine at the end of your purchase
CRT: Cash register tape – typically used when referring to CVS or Rite Aid rewards
DND: Do not double
Ea: Each
ECBs: ExtraCare Bucks – CVS rewards system. You get these back on select purchases are are spent like cash in store.
ETS: Excludes trial size
Exp.: Expires
GC: Gift card or Gift Certificate
IVC: Instant Value Coupon, Walgreens’ store coupons found in ads and their monthly coupon booklet found at the front of the stire
MIR: Mail-in rebate
OOP: Out of pocket
Peelie: Peel-off coupon found on product(s)
RRs: Register Rewards, Walgreen’s Reward Program. You get these catalinas back on select purchases are are spent like cash in store.
Q: Coupon
CPN: Coupon
SCR: Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid monthly rebates program
Stacking: Using both a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon on a single item
UPC: Universal product code – bar code found on products
Tearpad: Pad of coupons attached to a display or shelf, typically located near the product
+UP Reward: Rite Aid reward program. You get these back on select purchases are are spent like cash in store.
WYB: When you buy
YMMV: Your mileage may vary – meaning that a deal that works in one region/area may not work in yours
These are the beginner basics, to get started couponing you first need to know where to find them and what kind of terms are associated with them when you’re checking online sites or forums. Why don’t you start emailing some of your favorite companies and see what kind of responses you’ll get? Even the companies who never issue coupons in the papers are sometimes happy to send out some to loyal and new customers!
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