Coupons have stayed in trend for good reasons; they have been one of the most popular ways to save money. But many get scared away because they seem more complicated than they are.
One way to make couponing easier is knowing all the terms and coupon lingo. Below we discuss all the coupon terms and what they mean to get you started.
How To Read Coupon Lingo
This page is dedicated to all of the Coupon “Lingo” you might see here or other places online when referring to coupons and things having to do with couponing.
You might here it called: A coupon lingo cheat sheet or coupon lingo chart, whatever you want to call it, it will help you more than you know.
ALA:
As Low As – depending on which coupon you use and what the sale price is the price will be as low as…
AR:
After Rebate is the cost of an item after you receive your rebate.
Blinky(ies):
Blinky or Blinkies are a coupon found in a box on the shelf next to an item with a blinking light. Once you remove the coupon it “spits” out another.
BOGO:
BOGO refers to a Buy One Get One free Sale or Coupon
For more information on BOGO coupons and sales check out -> How To Use BOGO Coupons With BOGO Sales Includes Free Printable
B1G1F:
B1G1F refers to a Buy 1 Get 1 free sale or coupon!!
BTFE:
BTFE refers to Box Tops For Education Go here for more info on these.
CRT:
CRT refers to Cash Register Tape
DH:
DH refers to Darling Husband
DND:
Means Do Not Double or Does Not Double, Sometimes found on specific manufacturer coupons.
ECB:
Refers to Extra Care Bucks, a CVS Pharmacy Buyer Rewards Program. Learn more here.
You Might Also Like: Coupons.Com App: Everything You need To Know
FAR:
Means free After Rebate, meaning this item will be free after you get your rebate.
FF:
Refers to the internet browser FireFox
GM:
General Mills
IE:
Refers to the internet browser Internet Explorer
ISO:
In Search Of
K or KB:
Refers to the Kellogg’s Sunday Newspaper Insert
MIR:
Means Mail-In Rebate
NAZ:
NAZ means Name Address and Zip Code
NED:
NED means No Expiration Date
OOS:
OOS means Out Of Stock
OYNO:
OYNO means On Your Next Order
PG:
PG refers to Proctor & Gamble Company, or Proctor & Gamble Sunday Newspaper Insert
You Might Also Like: Does Walmart Take Competitor Coupons?
POP:
POP means Proof of Purchase
PP:
PP means Purchase Price
Q:
Q or Q’s are Coupons
RC:
RC means a Rain Check
RP:
RP refers to the Red Plum Sunday Newspaper Insert
RR:
RR means Register Reward what Walgreen’s calls their Catalina’s
SMP:
SMP means a Specially Marked Package
SS:
SS Refers to the Smart Source Sunday Newspaper Insert
TMF:
TMP refers to Try Me free, some products have a mail-in rebate that refunds the money you spent to purchase an item, so you can “Try It Out”.
UFT:
Up For Trade
V:
V or Valassis also known as Red Plum (see above)
WYB:
WYB means When You Buy
YMMV:
YMMV means Your Mileage May Vary, which means you may or may not get the same results at a store in your area.
If you come across any more or think we should add something, just email us and we will continue to update the list. This will get you going for now though
Ellen says
Hi! One term I see you use periodically is “bricks” but that’s not listed here. What does it mean?
Thanks!
Ellen
Dian says
Ellen,
Thanks for pointing that out! I will fix it! Bricks is a term for an internet printed coupon that can only be printed twice. You print the first one and then hit the back button on your browser to print a second and usually it won’t let you print any more. I try anyway, just to be sure. Where the term bricks came from, I don’t know…
Thanks again,
Dian
Ellen says
Thanks! This is a great website – I’ve been clipping coupons for ages but am saving much more now with the help of your site.
Dian says
Ellen,
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words!
Dian
Kathleen says
I see Q’s sometimes. example: $1.50/1 Q’s – Final FREE.
Jamie says
If catalinas are actually manufacturer’s coupons, can you use them at any store or do they have to be used at the store where they were printed?
Dian says
@Jamie: In theory, yes but YMMV! Sometimes when the cashier sees another store name…they just won’t take it. It should run without beeping, but occassionally you get a cashier that wants to challenge every Q they see!
Dian
sheila says
Just read GM after a coupon. What’s that?
Thanks!
Dian says
@sheila: General Mills I will add it thanks!
Dian
Johanna says
if the sale says $10 for 10, does that mean you need ten coupons to get for free, or can you use on coupon?
Johanna says
$1.25 off on any two packages of LEAN POCKETS® Brand Sandwiches, Does this mean you have to buy two in order to get the discount off? How is that a savings? Sorry, still learning. thanks
Dian says
$1.25 off of any 2 means you have to purchase 2 to get the savings.
That’s over $.60 per item.
You have to choose the best coupon for the best sale to make your savings the best. So, sometimes a coupon will look good, but you may find another one that makes it a better deal.
I am always here if you have questions!
Thanks!
Dian
Amanda says
What does HEB mean on all these websites? also what does DH mean?
Thanks 🙂
Dian says
H-E-B is the name of a particular Grocery Store chain in Texas.
DH means – Darling Husband
DS – Darling Son
DD – Darling Daughter!
Hope that helps!
Dian
Melissa says
I am new to couponing and have a question. I have a coupon for $0.75 off a Dole salad blend or salad kit. My local grocery store (Winn- Dixie) is currently running a buy one get one free on this item. Am I allowed to use a coupon for each item even though one is for free? The coupon says: one per purchase, and not valid in combination with other offers.
Dian says
Melissa » Nope, you can’t take $ off FREE – just keep that in mind. Now some drug stores will allow you to use a buy one get one free coupon with a buy one get one free sale to get both free but, you can’t take $ off FREE.
Hope that helps!
Dian
Sue says
Great list of coupon lingo. Very helpful to those new to couponing – I’m sure.
Dian says
Sue » Thanks!
Dian
Nora says
What’s the definition +ups on the Rite Ain page?
Dian says
Nora » I don’t have a Rite Aid here. So, I don’t know alot about their stuff, but Ann of Coupons, Deals and More knows more about Rite Aid than anyone! Trust me! You can email her, here: admin@couponsdealsandmore.com
She will definitely answer all your Rite Aid questions – it is her favorite store!
Thanks!
Dian