Know your Coupons!

Read this post to learn what all this gibberish (if you are new to this sport) on your clipped coupon means!

Do not double

This means that the store won’t double your coupon. Here’s a tip I learned from an article: if a coupon states “Do Not Double” but the UPC starts with a 5, then the register will not know not to double. If you shop at a store that consistently doubles coupons up to 99c, the cashier actually has to void the doubling when she puts the coupons through. So, how can you get around it?  Take your coupons to the Self-Checkout lane. However, if the UPC code starts with a 9, then it won’t automatically double.

Do not triple

Some stores occasionally triple coupons. If the coupon states that it can’t be tripled then your coupon will only go through with its original value.

One Coupon per Purchase or one Coupon per Item purchased

This means that you are not allowed to use more than one manufacturer coupon per item. This doesn’t mean that you’re only allowed to use one coupon per transaction. I fact, if you have 5 items and 5 coupons you are good to go! You can still double them up with store coupons. So to be clear, if you have 5 items you can use 5 manufacturer coupons and 5 store coupons for those items.

One Coupon per Transaction

This means that you can only use one of the same manufacturer coupons during one transaction. This is to limit the product purchase of that specific item. However, you can get around it by doing multiple transactions or even multiple trips. Just a tip: make sure you ask your cashier first if you’re allowed to do multiple transactions.

One Coupon per Customer (or Family)

I haven’t seen this very often. Again, this is to limit the product purchase of that specific item. However, you can get around it by doing multiple transactions or even multiple trips. Just a tip: make sure you ask your cashier first if you’re allowed to do multiple transactions.

Expiration Date

Some of the stores actually take expired coupons. As for an example, I usually keep my 20% off one item or $5 off $15 from Bed Bath and Beyond. Whenever I get invited to a Bridal Shower and the Bride and Groom are actually registered at that specific store, I’ll get all my coupons out. They always let me use all the 20% off one item and the $5 off $15.  The cashiers are usually very helpful getting you the best deal possible.

Pictures on Coupons

I usually like when coupons are nice and pretty with a picture of the product. However, sometimes it doesn’t exactly match the products you could be getting with the coupon. Especially, Target coupons (A Full Cup Target Coupon Generator) sometimes show e.g. a specific Kellogg’s brand item but it is actually good for all other Kellogg’s items too. Hence, make sure you always read what the coupon is for. Sometime you are required to buy a certain size or quantity of that specific product for the coupon to be valid.

I hope this post helps to make more sense of some of the gibberish on your coupons.