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How To Read Coupon Lingo

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.

A person cutting a piece of paper that has the word savings on it
Before you head to the store with your coupons, you need to know the basics.

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.

Scissors on top of coupons
There is no need to feel intimidated by coupons. They’re easier to use than it may seem.

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

BOGO Chart

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.

A woman working on a cash register
Always collect your Catalina coupons; you’ll want to take advantage of every deal.

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

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

A man reading a news paper
Your local newspaper is an excellent resource for finding coupons.

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?

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

Sale ads in a pile
Signing up for your store’s rewards program is a smart way to get free coupons.

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)

A key on a computer keyboard has the word coupons on it
Did you know you can get coupons for free products to try them?

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

How To Read Coupon Lingo

Comments

  1. Ellen says

    at

    Hi! One term I see you use periodically is “bricks” but that’s not listed here. What does it mean?
    Thanks!
    Ellen

    Reply
    • Dian says

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      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

      Reply
  2. Ellen says

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    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.

    Reply
    • Dian says

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      Ellen,
      Thanks! I appreciate the kind words!
      Dian

      Reply
  3. Kathleen says

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    I see Q’s sometimes. example: $1.50/1 Q’s – Final FREE.

    Reply
  4. Jamie says

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    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?

    Reply
    • Dian says

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      @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

      Reply
  5. sheila says

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    Just read GM after a coupon. What’s that?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Dian says

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      @sheila: General Mills I will add it thanks!
      Dian

      Reply
  6. Johanna says

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    if the sale says $10 for 10, does that mean you need ten coupons to get for free, or can you use on coupon?

    Reply
  7. Johanna says

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    $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

    Reply
    • Dian says

      at

      $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

      Reply
  8. Amanda says

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    What does HEB mean on all these websites? also what does DH mean?
    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Dian says

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      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

      Reply
  9. Melissa says

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    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.

    Reply
    • Dian says

      at

      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

      Reply
  10. Sue says

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    Great list of coupon lingo. Very helpful to those new to couponing – I’m sure.

    Reply
    • Dian says

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      Sue » Thanks!
      Dian

      Reply
  11. Nora says

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    What’s the definition +ups on the Rite Ain page?

    Reply
    • Dian says

      at

      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

      Reply

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Welcome to GSFF! I’m Dian, a wife of over 20 years, Mom to 4 grown kids… Read more about Dian, Shopping, Finance, & Family

Dian is a mom of four grown children, Nana to 6 beautiful grands, wife to an amazing husband, social influencer, and blogger. I love all things gardening, saving money, tips & tricks to make life easier, ANY cool new gadget, and feeding my Reality TV addiction (it's real y'all, you have no idea!) Dian has been featured in person, in print, and on sites like Huff Post, CBSNews, Blog Talk Radio, NBC DFW, Babble, Woman's Day, All You Magazine, Super Market News, Clark, & Pinner's Conferences. Want to know more? Check out the full bio here!

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