Coupon Basics: What Every Couponer Needs to Know
Have you never used a coupon before? I remember what it was like the first time I used a coupon – it was pretty scary. Would the cashier refuse it? When do I give them the coupon? Am I doing this right? I vividly remember being scared stiff!
Sometimes I forget that a lot of my readers are brand new couponers! Here are some coupon basics that will hopefully ease the coupon panic on your first couponing trip!
A manufacturer’s coupon is a piece of paper with a discount for a specified product printed on it. The coupon can be used at most stores that carry the specified product. To receive your discount you must purchase the product and give the cashier the coupon. The cashier will scan the coupon and the coupon amount will be deducted from your purchase. You then pay for the remainder of the purchase.
Coupons may only be used once. You may not buy ten boxes of cereal and scan the coupon for $1 off cereal ten times. The store will only be reimbursed for the single coupon you scanned – they will then lose $9 for the nine additional times you scanned the coupon.
You may use one coupon per indicated items purchased. If you have two coupons to save $1 on one box of cereal, you can buy two boxes and use both coupons. The coupon will say “one coupon per purchase.” This means you may not use both $1 coupons on one box. If you purchase two boxes then you may use two coupons.
You may not use two coupons on one item. You may not buy one package of diapers and use ten coupons on it. You may only use one of your coupons on the diapers. You may, however, use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon on one item.
Coupons may not be copied. Copying coupons is illegal. You can however obtain multiples of coupons in legal ways. You can buy multiple papers or order multiples from a clipping service.
Read the wording of the coupon and ignore the picture! Manufacturer’s usually put a picture of their most expensive product on the coupon to make you think that is what you have to buy. If you actually read the terms of the coupon, it will usually say “save on ANY brand xyz product.” That means you can buy even the least expensive product and still save with the coupon!
You can use a coupon on an item that is on sale or clearance too! Occassionally I will have a store clerk tell me otherwise, but it is usually cleared up with a chat with a manager or a call to corporate.
If a product rings up higher than advertised or they miss one of your coupons, let them know! I always read over my receipt before I leave the store to make sure everything is correct. Any mistakes over $1 are pointed out to customer service. $1 may not seem like much, but let me put it in perspective. I visit roughly 3 stores per week. If each store overcharges me “just $1″ at each visit then I am being overcharged $156 per year. It is usually more than $1 though, and rarely takes more than a minute at customer service.
Stand up for yourself! If you are using coupons correctly then shop with confidence. Many times the cashiers are just misinformed. Be calm and confident when you explain why you CAN use the coupon. If the cashier still doesn’t accept it, ask nicely to speak to a manager. It is your money and you should not feel bad about being a smart shopper!
There are no stupid questions! If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I would be happy to answer!
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I loved this post, thanks so much. I am brand new to this, just about one week in, and I’ve already had to speak with an LOD…and I even asked to call corporate right there in the store…I was shaking though, and still get scared sometimes that they are going to reject my hard work…b/c it really is work huh?? Anyways, I love your blog, thanks for all your help. I was wondering, do you ring everything up and then just give the cashier a stack of coupons? And do you have a system to quickly double check your receipt at the end?
THANKS!
Sheila
sheilacapell(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Hi Sheila,
Yes, I let them ring up all of my items and tell me my total. Then I hand over my big stack of coupons and watch to make sure none stick together, fall, or don’t scan. I usually count my coupons before I go up to the register then count the number of coupons that were rung up on the receipt. If the 2 numbers match then all is good!
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Hi, thanks for your post and your site!
I have a question… a few weeks ago I purchased some feminine products at Walgreens and got a catalina for $1.50 off playtex with the words…redeem at Walgreens.
I wanted to use this with the Target deal of buying 2 boxes playtex, get a $5 gc, but the cashier refused the coupon because it said redeem at Walgreens. I explained that is was a mfq catalina but she said she works in the cash office and this is a Q they will not take.
Did I misunderstand or is the cashier wrong?
Thanks and thanks for all you do! I have only be couponing for 4 weeks and feel like a pro because I found your site
~Kathleen,
Central FL
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I’ve been doing this for a year now, and the only downside is you get way tense when the cashier starts to scan the coupons, because you want all of them to be scanned properly and want to avoid the hassle of arguing over a couple of dollars. When you’ve gone through the trouble of gathering coupons and sorting your list, you sure want your effort to pay off! I’ve had the most trouble at Target with this.
I love how at Kroger they take time to carefully scan them one by one.
I hope I can get over the anxiety soon….:)
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Kathleen,
Those catalina coupons are definitely confusing! Is it a man. Q or a store Q? I’ve found that it is a manufacturer’s coupon BUT it can only be redeemed at the store you received it from. The manufacturer will only reimburse the store that the coupon was intended to be used at. I sure wish it was different sometimes!
Claire,
I agree – Target still stresses me out! Every time one of my coupons beep I turn bright red! I absolutely hate dealing with it, but it definitely pays off!
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Great tips! Thanks for sharing and recognizing that not all your readers are veteran couponers.
I still can’t figure out how to make the most of the drug store coupons, but then again, I can’t come up with a quarter of the deals most coupon/frugal bloggers blog about. How to pay less than $1 for over $50 or more for stuff – how? And consistently, really?
I think the last time I went shopping I saved about $40. Most of that was from buying the Kroger brand items that were on sale – not much in MQ {yes, I’m learning the lingo – finally}. Then I realized later that shortcuts.com and cellfire.com coupons don’t go together. Meaning, if I buy an item and have a coupon from both accounts loaded to my Kroger card… only the higher coupon would be used – it is so confusing.
Anyway, thanks again, sorry for the long comment.
Shanna’s last blog post..A Break from the Rain
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What a great post! I wish I had come across something like this when I started. Very clear cut, and straight forward!
coupon kim’s last blog post..Walgreens Weekly Deals 5/24 – 5/30
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This is SO helpful. I am going on my first grocery trips using coupons at Albertson’s and Safeway tomorrow and I’m totally stressed out and feeling silly about it. I’m glad to know I’m not alone though. I really appreciate the information on when to give the cashier the coupons. I couldn’t find that tidbit anywhere else!
Thanks again!
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What if I buy one box of cereal and I have a $1 off and .50 off coupons. Can I use them both?
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AmyLoves Reply:
August 30th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Hi, Leigh! If you have one box of cereal, you can only use one coupon on it.
The only exception is if you are at a store (Target, for example) that has *store* coupons, meaning they are store-specific and made by that store. Then, you can “stack” the store coupon with a regular manufacturer coupon.
But, you cannot use 2 manufacturer coupons on 1 item.
- Amy
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Thank you thank you thank you for posting this. I am exactly the picture you described above. I have no CLUE about what legitimately counts as a coupon or the difference, but you really cleared that up for me. Now to tackle the “double coupons” thing.
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We have a laser black and white printer. I am afraid if I print off all of my coupons online in black and white then the stores might think I copied them. Do you always print your coupons in color? Are there any stores that are better than others on taking coupons. I get freaked out about these things. Thanks.
Alishia´s last blog ..A new addition to the Boscos
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Alishia,
Stores will scrutinize your printables whether they are in black & white OR color. Coupons make it pretty easy to tell if they have been copied or not though. The coupon printing companies put all kinds of verification on there like unique codes and special ink that won’t show up if copied. There is nothing wrong with printing in b&w, some coupons even read: This coupon may appear in color or black & white. If a store questions the legitimacy of the coupon – you can point out any of those factors on the coupon to show them that it could not have been copied.
-Stephanie
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i had a coupon that was 55cents off a reeses cup. then i also had a buy 1 get 1 free coupon. it was double coupon day at this store. the price for the reeses cup was 89 cents. i think i should have gotten 2 for free. am i correct?
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Stephanie Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Anne,
That is debatable. Some people say a B1G1 coupon is like a $$/2 product, and since you can only use one coupon per item, using a B1G1 Q in addition to another coupon would be considered stacking. Others say that a B1G1 Q is a coupon only for the “free” item and that buying another item is just a stipulation. Therefore it would be okay to use another coupon on the item that is not free. So, really, I’ll leave it up to you to determine if you should be able to use both coupons or not.
- Stephanie
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I enjoyed buying groceries before I felt I needed a Master’s Degree in Couponing to write my grocery list! Recently I notice that what appears to be a Manufacturer’s Coupon sometimes has a Target Logo printed on it! Is this coupon to be used at Target only, or can I use it at any major grocery ‘outlet.’ The suggestion of checking out all items purchased BEFORE LEAVING A STORE I find rediculous. Check four bags of groceries, and possibly getting into an argument? This seems to get rediculous! PS I don’t even know what a Gravatar IS, and I’ve been at computers for over twenty years!!
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Stephanie Reply:
November 18th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Shirley,
A manufacturer’s coupon with a Target logo can be used anywhere unless the coupon specifically says it can only be used at Target.
Checking over your receipt before leaving the store is always a good idea. I find a price or coupon mistake nearly every single time I go to the store. Stores are usually more than happy to correct the mistake. Even when I have an overflowing cart of groceries, this only takes a minute or two.
A gravatar is a picture that is tied to your email address. You create an account with gravatar (free and only takes a minute) and upload a picture of your choosing. Then, when you comment on blogs, your picture will appear instead of the “mystery man” pic.
-Stephanie
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