As you read a coupon blog, you'll notice a lot of lingo and abbreviations. It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but give yourself a little time and remember that the answer to everything is a Google search away. Here's a list of the most common terms and abbreviations you'll come across to help you get started.
$1/1 or $2/1: $1 off of one item or $2 off of one item
$1/2 or $2/4: $1 off of 2 items or $2 off of four items
BOGO--Buy one get one: Sometimes it's buy one get one free and sometimes it buy one get one 1/2 off. Be sure to read the terms of the sale in the store ad.
Cat--Catalina: The Catalina company has machines at the registers of some stores that dispense coupons that can be used on a future purchase. Some are store coupons (like Walgreen's Register Rewards) and some are manufacturer coupons that you could use at any store. Sometimes the coupons print based on a store promotion in it's weekly ad (again, like Walgreen's Register Rewards) and sometimes they print based on consumer behavior. I buy a lot of organic milk and yogurt at my local grocery store, so I often get coupons for those products.
Coupon Insert/Inserts: Coupons inserted into Sunday newspapers. Smart Source, Redplum, Proctor and Gamble and General Mills put out coupon inserts. Bloggers often refer to an insert and the date it came out in the paper to help you find a specific coupon. (Example: 1/8/12 SS) The date for the insert is usually in very small print on the spine of the insert.
CRT - Cash Register Tape: CRTs are usually associated with CVS. They are coupons that print at the end of your receipt or at the coupon center. They are only good at the store where they are printed.
EB/ECB--Extra Bucks/Extra Care Bucks: These are store coupons that print on your receipt at CVS according to the store's weekly or monthly advertised deals. When you make a qualifying purchase, you receive the coordinating Extra Bucks.
EXP/EX/X: Expires on or expiration date
FAR--Free after rebate: You can send a rebate form into the manufacturer and receive a full rebate on a product.
IP--Internet Printable: A coupon that can be printed from your home computer. Bloggers often link to IPs at Coupons.com, Smartsource.com, and Redplum.com among other sites.
IVC--Instant Value Coupon: Store coupons found in the Walgreens ad. You can stack an IVC with a manufacturer coupon.
MIR--Mail in Rebate: A traditional manufacturer rebate. You'll usually have to mail in a receipt and proof of purchase.
MFR--Manufacturer: The company who produces a product
MFR Q/MQ--Manufacturer Coupon: A coupon created by the manufacturer of a product
OOP--Out of Pocket: The dollar amount you'll pay at the store, not factoring in coupons or store rewards you'll receive.
OYNO--On Your Next Order: Some stores may offer a special such as "Spend $50 and save $5 on your next order" This means that after you make your $50 purchase you'll receive a coupon for $5 off your next purchase.
One Coupon Per Purchase: You'll see this term on most coupons. It means that you may use one coupon per item. For instance, you may use one $.55 off coupon on your coffee creamer. You may not use three $.55 coupons on one creamer to get it for free.
One Coupon Per Transaction: Limits you to using only one of that particular coupon on your shopping trip. For instance, if you have a $5 off of a $25 purchase coupon that states "one coupon per transaction" you could only use one no matter how much you spent. (In other words, you couldn't buy $50 worth of products and use 2 of the $5 off $25 coupons.) If it's okay with the store (and your cashier) you could split your $50 worth of products into 2 transactions totaling $25 each and use one $5 off $25 coupon for each transaction.
PSA--Prices Start At: When a group of items is included in a sale (for instance, all Huggies products 25% off) the sales ad may note that the the lowest priced item is $3.99 and the prices go up from there.
Purchase: A purchase refers to any one item. If I buy 25 items, I've made 25 purchases.
Q: Coupon
Raincheck: When an item is on sale, but no longer in stock while the sale is still going on, you can often go to customer service and request a rain check that will allow you to buy that product when it comes back in stock at the sale price. Terms of a rain check vary by store.
RR--Register Rewards: Walgreen's rewards program
SCR--Single Check Rebate: A rebate program at Rite Aid that allows you to request a single check for any rebate items you purchased during the past month.
Stacking: Using 2 promotions together, usually using a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on one item to increase your savings.
Transaction: A transaction refers to your entire purchase. If you buy 25 items and pay the cashier, that is one transaction.
+Up--Rite Aid rewards program: +Ups print according to Rite Aid's weekly or monthly advertised sales. When you make a qualifying purchase, you receive the coordination +Up reward which prints on your receipt.
Wags: Walgreens
UPC--Universal Product Code: The bar code printed on products that's scanned at the register
WYB--When You Buy: Some sales or promotions require the purchase of multiple items. For example, a store may advertise "Get a free bag of marshmellows when you buy a box of graham crackers and a pack of Hershey bars"
YMMV--Your Mileage May Vary: This means that a coupon deal that worked for one person may not work for another person or at another store or with a different cashier.
There you go! That doesn't cover eeeevery term in the couponing lexicon, but it's plenty of info to decode a coupon match up on any coupon blog.
