$1/1, $2/1, $0.50/1, etc.: One dollar off (1) product, Two dollars off (1) product, Fifty cents off (1) product, etc.
$1/2, $2/2, $0.50/2, etc.: One dollar off (2) products, $2 off (2) products, Fifty cents off (2) products, etc. In this example, (2) products must be purchased in order to take advantage of the offer/coupon.
B1G1 or BOGO: Buy One, Get One. The ‘B’ always stands for ‘BUY’ and the ‘G’ always stands for ‘GET’. ‘O’ will always mean ‘ONE’. The numbers will vary depending on the particular offer (i.e. B2G1 = Buy 2, Get 1). This will typically be followed by ‘FREE’, ‘50% Off’, or something along those lines.
Blinkie: These are manufacturers coupons that are dispensed from the small automatic machines that are found in stores on the grocery aisles, etc. The dispensers are usually affixed to the shelves, or attached to the refrigerator/freezer cases, near the product they are advertising. We call them ‘Blinkies’ because they usually have a flashing red light on them that flashes as it dispenses the coupons, one at a time. Since these are manufacturer coupons, you can use them at ANY store, not just the one you found the coupon in!
Catalina: Catalina machines are found at many (but not all) stores near the cash register. These are square, box-like machines that dispense long, receipt-like coupons that may be used in a future transaction. These coupons are called Catalina Coupons, also abbreviated as ‘CAT’s. Some Catalina coupons are advertised offers, and others are generated based on your purchasing trends. They can be tied to a specific product (similar to a regular manufacturer coupon) or they can be a flat amount to use like cash, off of your next purchase.
CRT: Cash Register Tape. Sometimes used to describe the coupons printed from the Red Magic Coupon Printing machine at CVS.
DVC: Double The Value Coupon – Offered on a promotional basis at Albertsons. Use one of these along with a mfg coupon to double that coupon, up to $1.00.
ECB or Extra Care Bucks: These are the rewards you receive from the drugstore chain, CVS as part of their loyalty program.
E-Coupons: These are electronic coupons that can be loaded directly to your store loyalty card(s). These will be deducted from your total automatically during checkout, once your loyalty card is scanned. You will need to refer to each store’s individual coupon policy as to how they work with paper coupons. Most stores do NOT allow you to combine paper and electronic coupons together on the same item. Each store will also vary as to which coupon type prevails over the other, should both types be presented at checkout.
EXP: Expires, Expiration Date. Used to describe the last day that you can use a coupon or redeem an offer.
FF: Abbreviation for the browser FireFox
GM: Abbreviation for General Mills
IE: Abbreviation for the browser Internet Explorer
IP or Internet Printable Coupons: These are the coupons that you print from your home computer. These are usually limited to (2) prints each, per computer.
MFG, MFR, or Manufacturer: The company which produces the product. Manufacturer Coupons are coupons that are released by the manufacturer to encourage consumers to purchase their products. The manufacturer reimburses the retail outlets for the value of the coupon, plus a handling fee.
MIR: Mail in Rebate
OOP: Out of Pocket costs. This is the amount you have to pay the retail outlet for your purchases, net of coupons but before rebates and before factoring in any program rewards.
OYNO: On Your Next Order. Refers to promotions where savings are not instant, but can be redeemed in a subsequent transaction. (For example, Buy 2 items, get back $2 coupon for use OYNO. In this instance you can use the $2 coupon to pay for items in a subsequent transaction.)
Peelie: These are manufacturer coupons that are attached to a product’s packaging. You will need to ‘peel’ the coupon off of the package in order to redeem it. However, you do NOT have to redeem it right away (you may have a better coupon in your binder), or even on the specific product it was attached to. Read the coupon terms and use it as you would any other coupon type. Often times it is best to purchase the smallest size that the coupon allows in order to maximize your savings.
PG or P&G: Proctor & Gamble, one of the largest manufacturers in the world. They release an coupon insert each month highlighting their extensive line of products, i.e. Tide, Gain, Bounty, Charmin, and more.
PSA: Prices Start At. Used when the exact price is unknown, or if it varies by variety, etc.
Purchase: Refers to each item you buy. For example, if you buy 10 boxes of cookies, you made 10 purchases.
One per Purchase: You may use ONE COUPON per ITEM purchased, i.e. you can not use MORE THAN ONE manufacturer coupon on the same item. If you buy (4) of the same item in a single transaction, you can use (4) of the same coupon.
RA: Abbreviation for Rite Aid.
Rain Check: When a store is sold out of a particular advertised product, you can request a rain check. This is as simple as a written form stating the advertised price. The store may also limit the quantity or include an expiration date. In any case, it allows you to purchase the item at a future date (when it is back in stock), at the previously advertised price.
Rolling: Typically refers to the act of splitting your purchases up into multiple transactions so that you can use Catalina coupons from your 1st transaction to pay for the next, and so on, in order to minimize out of pocket costs.
RMN: Retail Me Not (NOW CALLED SAVE): One of the leading sources for manufacturer coupons. Formally known as Retail Me Not, formally known as Red Plum coupon inserts are found in the Sunday newspapers almost every week.
RR or Register Reward: These are the rewards that you receive from the drugstore chain, Walgreens. You do not need a loyalty card to receive these. RRs are similar to Catalina Coupons, but they can not be rolled, whereas Catalinas can. (If you use a Register Reward that you received for buying Tide detergent, to pay for the second box of Tide detergent, a 2nd RR will not print.)
SCR: Single Check Rebate. Refers to Rite Aid’s Single Check Rebate Program. Rite Aid has monthly rebate offers on selected products each month. These are submitted electronically, not via mail.
SS: Smart Source. One of the leading sources for manufacturer coupons. Smart Source coupon inserts are also found in the Sunday paper almost every week. There is also a Smart Source website with printable coupons.
Stacking: Using 2 promotions together. For example, using (1) store coupon AND (1) manufacturer coupon on the same item would be stacking coupons. Using coupons when a store is running a sale would be stacking a coupon with a sale.
Stockpile: The act of stocking up on items when they are priced low and when you have a coupon. When you build a stockpile, you are purchasing items before you need them. (The term Stockpile also refers to the physical ‘stash’ of food and/or toiletries and household items, as a result of Stockpiling.)
Tear Pad: A pad of manufacturer’s coupons found near the product being advertised. Since these are manufacturer coupons, they may be used at any store for the product referenced in the coupon.
Transaction: Represents your entire order for which you pay for. If you purchase 15 items and then pay for them with one total and one method of payment, you have made ONE Transaction.
One per Transaction: Restricts you to use (1) of the particular coupon within a single transaction. If you plan to use MORE THAN ONE of the SAME coupon, you will need to do a separate transaction.
UPC: Universal Product Code. This is the barcode printed on each product packaging that is scanned at checkout.
+UP: Rite Aid’s Wellness program rewards. You do need to have a Wellness loyalty card to participate.
VV: Video Values. Also related to Rite Aid. You can watch short videos online each month related to manufacturer products. These are powered by Adperk. In return for watching the videos, you are rewarded with money saving store coupons that can be stacked with manufacturer coupons at Rite Aid.
WAGS: Slang abbreviation for Walgreens.
WYB: When You Buy. You’ll see this in coupon match-ups, etc. For example, $2.oo Each wyb (2).
YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary. A phrase used to clarify that what one person experiences may not translate to your same shopping experience. Some stores with loose or informal coupon policies have a tendency to lack consistency from store to store, or even customer to customer.