Basics

Welcome to the wonderful world of couponing!  I know what you are thinking...why should I waist my time clipping coupons when a coupon can only save me $1 at most?  When you use your coupons wisely and match them up with store sales and promotions, that $1 can multiply to a much greater savings.

Create a Stockpile 

As you search for great deals, remember that you are trying to build a stockpile of nonperishable foods such as can goods, toiletries, etc.  By creating a stockpile you are saved from having to buy things out of necessity.  You will already have the items on hand, which you of course purchased at a great savings.  If you wait to buy things until you absolutely need them, you will find yourself paying regular price for items that you could have bought on sale with coupons at 60-80% off the regular price.  If you create a stockpile of toothpaste, you'll be able to wait a few months before toothpaste comes on sale again at rock bottom prices. 

Stacking Coupons 

Did you know that you could use a Manufacturer Coupon (MQ) and a Store Coupon to purchase a single item?  For example: There is a Walgreens coupon for $2 off any size Huggies Diapers, and there is also a Manufacturer Coupon for $3 off...you can use both coupons on 1 pack of Huggies Diapers...that's $5 off!

Match Coupons With Sale Prices

Let's take the deal above, one step further. You could use the Manufacturer Coupon with the Store Coupon on a pack of Huggies that is on sale for $7.99.  That would make your Out Of Pocket Expense (OOP) just $2.99.  Subscribe to my blog, of course its always free, to receive the match-ups that I find.

SS, RP, and P&G

These refer to the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts.  Each insert is from a different company.  SS stands for Smart Source, RP stands for Red Plum, and P&G stands for Procter & Gamble.  SS and RP usually come weekly, and P&G is usually a monthly insert.  So if you see on my blog, SS 4/11, that means I found the coupon in the Smart Source coupon insert from Sunday, April 11th Honolulu Advertiser.

Coupon Wala'au

MQ stands for Manufacturer Coupon

Blinkies are those little boxes with the blinking light that you find in the aisles of your grocery store.  Get your kids to watch for those as you go through the store.  My son loves to find them, then grab the coupon from the box.  These are usually available while the item is at regular price, so just remember to hold on to that blinkie until the item comes on sale.  Blinkies are MQs, so you can use it at any store, not just at the store you got it from.   

Catalina is a coupon that prints our at the register along with your receipt.  Don't throw these away, its like throwing away money.  Sometimes it's a coupon for a specific product, and sometimes it's a dollar amount off your entire purchase.

Peelie These are those little stickers that are placed right on the product.  They are usually MQs that can be used right then and there at checkout.  Keep in mind that you cannot use an additional MQ that you clipped from the paper on this item...only 1 MQ per item is allowed.  Make sure that the cashier is aware of the peelie, sometimes they don't see it, and you would hate to miss out on your savings.  Sometimes the peelie is a mail in rebate, so read it before you checkout. 

BOGO or B1G1 refers to Buy One Get One Free, or B1G2 means Buy One Get Two Free and so on...

OOP is your Out Of Pocket expense or the amount you end up paying for the item after coupons, sales, rebates, register rewards, and gift cards.

RR or Register Rewards is Walgreen's catalina program.  Read my Walgreens section for more info.

ECB or Extra Care Bucks is the reward system for CVS.  Read my CVS section for more info. 

MIR is a Mail In Rebate. You mail in a rebate application with proof of purchase to receive a rebate check in the mail.  It takes 8-10 weeks to receive the check.  Remember to make a photocopy of everything you mail in, as well as contact phone numbers to keep track of the rebate.  If after 8 weeks you haven't received your rebate, call to check on your rebate status.  Deposit or cash your check right away, before you forget to do it.

FAR is Free After Rebate.  You pay up front $3.99 for a product, then later receive a rebate check for $3.99, making your OOP $0 or FREE. 

Rolling refers to using a gift card or catalina to purchase a product which will give you yet another gift card or catalina.  For example, you buy two razors at Target and you get a $5 gift card back, you might want to roll that gift card by buying two more razors...use that gift card to pay for them, and receive another $5 gift card.