Coupon 101: From Beginner to Expert!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
If the thought of Extreme Couponing overwhelms you and you have no idea where to start or how to really use coupons, then you have come to the right place! I’ve got all of the tips you need to learn the very basics from how to even clip a coupon to how to use them to get some incredible deals! Just check out each article below to learn more!!!
HOW TO START USING COUPONS
Not sure where to even being when it comes to using coupons? You can learn out how to actually use a coupon at the store and some basics you need to learn before you hand over your first on.
COUPON ABBREVIATIONS DECODED
GM? FAR? CRT? CAT? What do these acronyms mean? Read up here to learn how to understand the codes that blogs and stores might use.
READING AND UNDERSTANDING COUPONS
One per transaction? What is a purchase? Read the picture or the word? If the language on the coupons leaves you scratching your head, then this post will help. We break down all of the coupon lingo so that you can make sure you use the coupons correctly – and to help you save at the register.
HOW TO USE YOUR COUPONS
Learn how to match with sales, stacking and how to just get the most out of your coupons
KEEPING YOUR COUPONS ORGANIZED
Have a pile of coupons that is just out of control? No worries! Read this post to learn some easy tips to keep your coupons organized! Organized coupons = more savings!!!
WHERE TO FIND COUPONS
From newspapers to your mailbox, we share all of the resources you can use to find great money saving coupons!!
Tracie is a stay at home mom to three young children; ages 4, 6 and 8 in Raymore, Missouri. In November 2007, she and her husband decided to eliminate their debt and made many changes in their lifestyle to do just that.
In 27 months, they eradicated over $37,000 in debt through both budgeting and learning how to live a frugal life. She now shares her knowledge in order to help you stretch your hard-earned dollars so you can live the life you want.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
hi! i just wanted to say that your website has definetly inspired me to dive into the coupon world! i really had no clue of how to even get started. i was also wondering if there is a limit of coupons i can use for one particular item when i am shopping at walmart? my sister says i can only use one in store coupon and one manufactures coupon. since ive printed off 5 or 6 coupons for a particular item i would like to use them so that my purchase will be as close to ‘free’ as possible.
thank you !
colleen m
Glad I could help! You can only use one coupon per item as noted. It works as follows (examples of coupons are listed here):
$1/1 — can use one coupon on one item
$1/2 – can use one coupon for every 2 items purchased
So, if you have 5 coupons which are for $1/1 (for example), you would need to purchase 5 products.
If you have a store coupon, you can use one store coupon PLUS one man coupon on a single item. That would mean if you have 5 manufacturer’s coupons, you would need 5 store coupons to stack with them (assuming each one is for a single purchase, like $1/1).
Does that make sense?
Hi,
I have been working on getting this whole couponing thing down, but i have Been wondering… How do people get so many of 1 item. Like for example 100 sports drinks? Can you use that many coupons at a time? Im lost when it comes to that.
If the coupon does not have limits and the store would allow it, yes they can. Most stores and coupons have limits, like 4 of the same coupon in any one transaction.
In that case, it would be like having 4 – $1 off of 1 coupons and buying 4 items and saving $1 off each one of them.
I have a question regarding buy 1 get 1 free manufacturer coupons. When using the buy 1 get 1 free manufacturer coupon can you also use a another manufacturer coupon for so much off since you have 2 products or just the one buy 1 get 1 coupon?
That is a grey area and one that I leave up to each person to determine themselves.While it might scan, some say it is unethical and others say it is OK.
That is up to you to do it or not. Here is a link which explains this:
http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/reader-question-can-you-stack-bogo-coupons-with-another-coupo/
hi one question i’m not very good at math but i was wondering if i’m getting an item for 6.58 and i have a coupon for save 1.00 would i have to have to get six coupons to match the price of the item?
You can only use one coupon on a single item. In this case, if the item is $6.58 and your coupon is to save $1 off of the purchase of 1 item, you would pay $5.58.
If the coupon was for $1 off of the purchase of 2, you would have to purchase 2 of them at $6.58 and would pay $12.16 out of your pocket or $6.08 each.
thank you
My husband and I were wondering how exactly the “Buy 1-Get 1 free” coupon works. Where is the money purchasing the product in order to get the other free? Out stores were we live are some what “mean” when it comes to using coupons, and most of the employees don’t know their own coupon policy, so I want to make sure we understand it completely before trying it out for the “Free Pads” deal, using the buy 1 get 1 offer.
The store is covering the cost of the free item from the promotion. The manufacturer will reimburse the store for the cost of the free item from the coupon.
Basically the way it works is that the one that the store gives you for free is deemed to be the one that you pay for, it is just that the price is $0.00.
You can find this written out on the CVS coupon policy. If your store is rather rude about it, print and take along this policy to show to them — and maybe even include the link from their site on your smart phone to show them that it is the policy.
An important thing to note is that it states that stores can do their own thing for policies NOT outlined within the policy, which this exact scenario is outlined within the policy that they are to do it. If you have problems, I would contact corporate with the store name and manager information as they are not adhering to their own written policy.
It seem many of these cashiers are extremely un-educated when it comes to coupon redemption or even as to their store’s coupon policy, so we end up paying the price for their ignorance.
Link to the Q&A about the coupon policy:
http://www.cvs.com/help/contact-us-faqs.jsp?type=store&topicid=200018
The coupon policy itself – from that link:
http://www.cvs.com/bizcontent/general/help/coupon-policy.pdf
Thank you! I actually went last night, to their website to look at the coupon policy and seen that there. My husband is printing it out today while he is at work to take it a long with us. I just wanted to make sure we had it, before arguing with them about it lol. Thanks again, Tracie, much appreciated!
You are very welcome – good luck!
I went to Target a while back and bought 2 packs of Gillete disposable Razors @ $6.19 each, and used a B1G1 coupon (said up to $11.99). The coupon took off the whole $11.99 instead of $6.19. Is this normal for Target?
That does happen. The stores can either allow it to deduct the maximum amount, or reduce it to the item price. Those are nice little money makers and ones you like to enjoy when they happen!
Hello, i have seen in the stores 10 smart ones for 10.00 and I have a coupon for $2.00 off any 10. If i have 6 coupons that say $2.00 off any 10 do i need to buy 40 smart ones to use these coupons if it is not transaction limited?
Thank you
Vicki
If a coupon says save 50 cents on any 4 products, does this mean you save 50 cents on each but you have to purchase 4 or do you save 50 cents on the total of all 4 products?
You save $0.50 off of all 4 items. So you must buy 4 and then you will save $0.50.
one coupon i am throughly confused about, please explain…..”save up to $20.00 on one product”….now, can i get 4 of the same item if the item sells for $5.00 each? It does specify ONE product, NOT one item. ……PLEASE HELP. THANKS, RUSS
You can purchase only one item and save up to the amount listed on the coupon. If your product happens to be $5 and the coupon will save you up to $20, the store will deduct $5 off your purchase.
You would not be able to purchase 4 products at $5 each and get all 4 for free with that coupon, as the coupon is limited to one item.
Hope that helps!
What does it mean when a coupon says; cannot be combined with any other coupon?? Does that mean store coupons as well??
You can not use another manufacturer’s coupon with it. You can always stack a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon.
Okay!! I found a coupon in my local grocery store ad… The coupon does not say anywhere that it is a manufacture coupon. But it does say In-Ad Coupon and Redeemable At Times Market.. Is this a stores coupon?? I wanted to use my manufacture coupon on top of this because I’m assuming that it is a store coupon… Can you please assist me with this..
Thank You
It would depend upon the barcode. If it starts with a 4 or 0 (they very, very first small number) then it is a store coupon.
If it is in your ad, it could be a manufacturer’s coupon that you can redeem only at that store, which is different.
It all hinges upon what the barcode says.
Okay! I checked the coupon and it actually starts with a 5, so is that a In Ad Manufacture Coupon?
Yep it sure is. That means you can’t stack it with another manufacturer’s coupon though. Bummer for you — stacking is fun!
I wanted to know, How many coupons can you print from a facebook page??
Sometimes one, sometimes two. It depends upon the way that the coupon print it set up and whether you can go back and hit print more than once.
hey what does buy any four and save a dollar mean.
It means that you would purchase 4 items and they will deduct $1 from your purchase price at checkout.