Wednesday, July 1, 2009

{ Couponing 101 }


New to couponing? 

Coupon Policies – It is always a good idea to be knowledgeable about your store’s coupon policy.  Some cashier’s are very apprehensive about accepting certain coupons, very possibly because the store may have accepted fraudulent coupons in the past.  I have printed the coupon policies of the stores I visit most often and carry them in an envelope in my purse in case a problem were to arise.  The biggest thing to remember is to BE POLITE at all times.  If all else fails, you can always ask to speak to the manager and, if necessary, call the Corporate Office.

 

Target Stores Coupon Policy




Internet Printable Coupons
If you haven’t started printing internet coupons yet, you are really missing out!  These coupons generally offer a bigger savings than the coupons you clip from the Sunday inserts.

Some things to keep in mind with these type of printable coupons:

  • Most printable coupons may be printed twice (or more!) before they are reset.  So if you are looking to buy more than one of these products, go ahead and hit your “go back” button and try to print it again!
  • If you think you might ever use them, print them right away!  Most of these coupons are set to print only so many times and are pulled as soon as they have a designated number of prints.  These are the questions I ask myself when deciding whether or not to print a particular coupon:
    • “Would my family use this product if I could purchase it for next to nothing?”  If so, I print the coupon in hopes of pairing it up with a sale.  If not, I ask myself the following question:
      • “Would I like to donate this product to my Local Food Shelf if I could purchase it for next to nothing?”  If so, I print the coupon in hopes of pairing it up with a sale and save my purchase receipt for tax purposes.
  • Some grocers now require that coupons be printed in COLOR to make it easier for them to spot fraudulent coupons so check with your local grocer to find out if they have this requirement.
  • Worried about using too much paper?  If you print more than one at a time, they will print 3 to a page.

 


Common Abbreviations – I am sure that your head is spinning with abbreviations right now.  Before long, they’ll be like second-nature to you and will require little thought, if any.  Here is a list of the most common abbreviations:

 

Sunday inserts.  These are few different inserts that can come inside your Sunday paper.  Here are some abbreviations and the corresponding insert:

 

F4S

Kellogg’s Fuel for School
  GM General Mills
  PAR Parade
 

PG

Proctor & Gamble brandSAVER
 

RP

Red Plum
  REL Relish
 

SS

SmartSource
 

USA

USA Weekend
 

V

Valassis
 

When I refer to these inserts in my posts, I use the abbreviation followed by the date of the insert.  If you look closely on the spine of each insert, it will list the name of the insert, the date, and the circulation area.  I really notice a difference in the various inserts here in northern Minnesota compared to the inserts in the Twin Cities area.  For that reason, I always try to get my hands on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune inserts every Sunday.

 

  Magazines.  Some of the best coupons are printed within your favorite magazines!  Here are some abbreviations and the corresponding magazine:
 

AY

All You Magazine.  This magazine is a must-have for anyone wanting to save some serious money by couponing!  It is available for purchase only on the Walmart news stand for $2.49 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 6-month subscription to All You for $10.00 ($1.67 per issue) , a 1-year subscription to All You for $19.95 ($1.66 per issue), a 2-year subscription to All You for $34.00 ($1.42 per issue).
  B+S Body & Soul Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $4.99.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Body + Soul for only $15.00 ($1.50 per issue).
 

BHG

Better Homes & Gardens MagazineThis magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $3.49 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription Better Homes and Gardens for $14.97 ($1.25 per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens for $22.00 (92 cents per issue).
  CKE Cookie MagazineThis magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $3.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Cookie for $15.00 ($1.50 per issue).
 

COS

Cosmopolitan Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $4.25 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Cosmopolitan for $15.00 ($1.25 per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Cosmopolitan for $20.00 (83 cents per issue).
 

DET

Details MagazineThis magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $3.75 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Details for $8.00 (67 cents per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Details for $12.00 (50 cents per issue).
 

D&Y

Diabetes & You.  This is free magazine that is offered at your local Walgreens in the Pharmacy area.
  EL Elle Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $4.00 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Elle for $14.00 ($1.17 per issue).
 

FC

Family Circle Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $2.49 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Family Circle for $14.97 ($1.00 per issue).
  FIT Fitness Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $3.85 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Fitness for $13.97 ($1.40 per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Fitness for $16.97 (85 cents per issue).
 

GLM

Glamour Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $3.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Glamour for $10.00 (83 cents per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Glamour for $15.00 (63 cents per issue).
 

KFF

Kraft Food & Family Magazine.  This magazine includes many coupons as well as simple time-saving recipes, new ideas for quick and nutritious meals, and affordable new ways to serve family favorites.  Purchase a 1-year subscription for $13.98 or a 2-year subscription for $17.98.  All subscribers get a copy of Kraft’s Best-Loved Recipes Cookbook.
  KIW Kiwi Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase at the news stand for $3.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Kiwi for $11.95 ($1.99 per issue) .
 

LAT

Latina Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $1.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Latina for $9.97 ($1.00 per issue).
  MC Marie Claire MagazineThis magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $3.50 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 2-year subscription to Marie Claire for $10.00 (42 cents per issue).
  MSL Martha Stewart Living Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $5.00 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase  1-year subscription to Martha Stewart Living for only $28.00 ($2.33 per issue).
  OW Optimum Wellness Magazine.  I could not find any information how to subscribe to this magazine.
 

PAR

Parents Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $3.50 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Parents for $9.97 (83 cents per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Parents for $12.00 (50 cents per issue).
 

PTG

Parenting Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $3.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Parenting for $9.97 (91 cents per issue).
 

RED

Redbook Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $2.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Redbook for $8.00 (67 cents per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Redbook for $10.00 (42 cents per issue).
 

RLS

Real Simple Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $4.50 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 6-month subscription to Real Simple for $11.82 ($1.97 per issue), a 1-year subscription to Real Simple for $23.68 ($1.97 per issue), or a 2-year subscription to Real Simple for $42.96 ($1.79 per issue).
  ROU Rouge Magazine.  This magazine is available for free.  Get a free subscription to Rouge.
 

SET

Sunset Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $4.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Sunset for $16.00 ($1.33 per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Sunset for $30.00 ($1.25 per issue).
 

SHP

Shape Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $4.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Shape for $15.97 ($1.33 per issue).
 

SLF

Self Magazine.  This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for $3.99 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription to Self for $13.00 ($1.08 per issue) or a 2-year subscription to Self for $23.00 (96 cents per issue) .
 

WD

Woman’s Day Magazine. This magazine is available for purchase on the news stand for only $2.79 per issue.  Otherwise, purchase a 1-year subscription for $9.99 (59 cents per issue).

 

  Manufacturer Coupon Booklets.  Many manufacturers publish their own coupon booklets that are mailed to you at your request. 
  CAG ConAgra Foods.  This is a home mailer that includes coupons for many great brands.  Request your ConAgra Foods coupon book from Simple and Delicious.
  FLD Farmland FoodsRequest to be added to the Farmland Foods Coupon Mailing List.
  HMS Home Made Simple.  This is a home mailer that includes coupons from many of your favorite brands including Cascade, Dawn, Febreze, Mr. Clean, Swiffer, etc.  Request your Home Made Simple coupon book that includes more than $27 in savings
  KSS Kraft Smile Savings Booklet & Calendar.  This home mailer includes two $20 rebates and $50 in coupons on Kraft favorites including Capri Sun, Easy Cheese, Nabisco, Planters, and Ritz Bitz.  Register at Nabiscoworld.com to receive your booklet.
 

NPC

Nestle Planning Calendar.  This home mailer includes many money-savings coupons on all your Nestle favorites.  Request your Nestle Planning Calendar for the 2009/10 School Year

 

  Store Coupon Booklets.  Many stores publish their own coupon booklets and offer them for free.  When used correctly, these can really boost your savings!  If the coupon is a store coupon – in other words, it has the store logo or name on it and it does not say “manufacturer coupon”, then you can use that store coupon along with (or stacked with) another manufacturer coupon! 
  CAS Co-op Advantage Savings.  This booklet is mailed to members of various natural foods co-ops.  Check with your local natural foods co-op to see if they participate in this coupon program.
 

WB2S

Walgreens Back-2-School Coupon Book.  This coupon book is available at the front of the stores where the weekly ads are located. 

 

  Other Abbreviations.  Wow, there are enough abbreviations in the couponing world to make your head spin!  Here are some of the most popular ones:
 

B1G1

Buy 1, Get 1 Free.
 

BOGO

Buy One, Get One Free.
 

BTFE

Box Tops for Education.
 

CAT

Catalina Coupons.  These are the coupons that print out at the register.
 

GC

Gift Card.
 

MIR

Mail in Rebate.
 

NPL

No Print Limit.  This means that you can print as many of these coupons as you would like.
 

OOP

Out of Pocket.
 

RR

Register Rewards.  These are actually Catalina coupons that print up separately from your register receipt after you purchase a qualifying item at Walgreens.  Register Rewards can be used like cash on your next purchase.
 

WAGS

Walgreens.
 

WYB

When You Buy.

 

  Other Lingo.  There is some other lingo that is used from time-to-time in regard to couponing.  Here’s a few that will be a little less confusing:
  Blinkies Blinkies are small coupon machines that are found in many stores that automatically print off coupons.
  Hangtags Hangtags are coupons that hang from the product.
  Peelies Peelies are coupons that are found on the product itself.
  Stack Use more than one coupon together.
  Tearpads Tearpads are pads of coupons that usually hang on the shelf near the product.

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