The Lingo
Sometimes frugal shoppers and couponers sound like they are speaking another language. And, if you’re going to hang out in a foreign country, you have to learn the language or you’ll just be muddling around in utter confusion.
To help you navigate though the land of couponers here is a translation guide in alphabetical order for often used abbreviations, terms, and other couponing lingo. When in Rome…
$/$$: This abbreviation stands for a money off money coupon (e.g. $5/5 which means $5 off your purchase of $25 or more).
$1/2: This abbreviation represents a coupon (e.g. $1/2 which means $1 off wyb 2 of the products).
2/$1: This abbreviation represents a sale (e.g. 2/$1 which means 2 products listed for $1 or $0.50 each).
$5/$25: This abbreviation represents a $/$$ coupon (e.g. $5 off yoru purchase of $25 or more).
BOGO or B1G1: Buy one, get one (can also appear with other numbers such as B2G1, B2G0, B7G2, etc…).
Catalina: Similar to a CRT, RR, or ECB, this is a coupon that prints with your receipt (See CRT).
Cellfire: A virtual coupon site that loads paperless coupons onto your shoppers loyalty card.
Couponing: The art of using coupons with ‘cents’ to cut your out of pocket down dramatically.
CRT: A CRT or Cash Receipt Ticket is a coupon that prints with your receipt. It may be a manufacturer or store coupon (See Store Coupons and Manufacturer Coupons).
CVSing: The art of rolling ECB at CVS to cut your out of pocket down to pennies and sometimes even nothing (See Rolling and The Drug Store Game).
Double/ Double Coupon: Often stores advertise double coupons and some stores (e.g. Kroger, Meijer, Marsh in my area) always double coupons. Read your stores policy closely. Some stores double coupons up to $0.50, while others double coupon up to $0.99 or $1. DND coupons should not double. (See DND and Rounded Coupon)
DND: DND stand for do not double or does not double in reference to coupons. e-coupons do not double (See e-coupons). Some coupons marked DND do double. You may see the term DND-5. This means the coupon barcode starts with a 5. Even though it’s marked DND, these coupons often double at most stores that offer double coupons. DND coupons should not triple or round either. (See Triple Coupon and Rounded Coupon)
The Drug Store Game: The drug store game is the art of rolling rewards, often offered at pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid, to lower your out of pocket and snag free products. (See CVSing, ECB, RR, and Rolling).
ECB: An ECB or Extra Care Buck is a reward given out in the form of a CRT by CVS for purchases made. It acts like money and can be used to lower your out of pocket (see Rolling and CRT).
e-Coupon: A virtual paperless coupon that is loaded onto your shoppers loyalty card and is automatically taken off at the time of purchase. e-Coupons do not double. (See Cellfire, Shortcuts, and Upromise) (for more information see e-coupons).
Freebie: A freebie indicates any free item. It may be a free sample, an absolutely free product from a try-me-free coupon, or a product that is free after coupons, rewards, MIR, and discounts available.
G or GM: This abbreviation represents the newspaper insert provided by General Mills entitled the General Mills Everyday Saver. It appears in deal listings with a date meaning the coupon appeared inside the General Mills insert on the date listed (e.g. GM 1/1/10).
MIR: This abbreviation stands for mail-in-rebate. A MIR often gives you money back on purchases (e.g. get $10 wyb 10 Naked Juice singles via MIR). You will have to mail in your receipt and UPC codes, along with the form. Read the fine print and follow directions carefully.
OOP or Out of Pocket: Out of Pocket is the final cost you pay to the store after coupons, sales, and other rewards.
OYNO or OYNP: OYNO stands for On Your Next Order, while OYNP stands for On Your Next Purchase. It is often used for CRT or Catalina coupons, because they are often only good OYNO or ONYP and can not be used in the same transaction in which you received them (See Rolling).
PG or P&G: This abbreviation represents the newspaper insert provided by Proctor & Gamble. It appears in deal listings with a date meaning the coupon appeared inside the Proctor & Gamble insert on the date listed (e.g. P&G 1/1/10).
Printable: A printable is a coupon that you can print straight from your computer to your home printer. Watch out though. Fraudulent coupons appear on the internet way too often. If your coupon is missing a remit to address, expiration date, or scannable bar code, it’s most likely a fraud. Some stores require you to print your coupons in color or in high quality, but most will accept a regular black & white printable coupon.
PSA or psa: This abbreviation indicates “prices start at”. It is often used in deal listings when a sale encompasses many products of different prices (e.g. Olay Products 10% off (psa $3.99).
Rounded Coupon: Some stores offer more than just double coupons (e.g. Meijer in my area) by rounding coupons. Stores may offer double coupons (See Double Coupon) up to $0.50, then round coupons $0.51 to $0.99 up to $1. This means if you have a $0.55 coupon, it will be with $1 at these stores. DND coupons should not round. (See DND)
RP: This abbreviation represents the newspaper insert provided by Red Plum, also known as Valassis in some regions. It appears in deal listings with a date meaning the coupon appeared inside the Red Plum insert on the date listed (e.g. RP 1/1/10).
Rolling or Roll: Rolling is a term used to indicate receiving a reward, then turning around and using that reward on another purchase to lower your out of pocket. At times, you can roll ECB, RR, single rebate checks, gift cards, Catalina coupons, CRT coupons, rebates, and more.
RR: A RR or an Register Reward is a reward given out in the form of a CRT by Walgreens for purchases made. It acts like money and can be used to lower your out of pocket (See Rolling and CRT).
SCR: A SCR or Single Check Rebate is a reward given out by Rite-Aid for purchases made. It acts like money and can be used to lower your out of pocket (See Rolling)
Shopper Loyalty Card: A card required by the store to receive discounts, rewards, and other member exclusives (e.g. CVS Extra Care Card, Marsh Fresh I.D.E.A. Card, Kroger Plus Card, Sams Club Card, etc…). Often registering your card online with the store and e-coupon sites gets your more discounts and exclusives via e-mail and/or mail (See e-Coupons, Cellfire, Shortcuts, and Upromise).
Shortcuts: A virtual coupon site that loads paperless coupons onto your shoppers loyalty card.
Stacking or Stack w/: Stacking is the art of using two coupons together on a single item (e.g. a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon).
Stock Up or Stockpiling: Buying multiple products when they are extremely cheap, so you won’t have to buy them at full price later. Just remember to be a courteous couponer and leave some on the shelf for others.
Triple/ Triple Coupon: Often stores advertise triple coupons for special sales (e.g. K-Mart in my area). Often these stores have a maximum amount (e.g. triple coupons up to $1). Read your stores policy closely. Coupons marked DND should not triple. (See DND and Rounded Coupon)
Try-Me-Free: Try -me-free coupons are coupons for an absolutely free item or product. They state “Free” on them and often have an “up to” amount which you can not exceed if you do not want to pay anything out of pocket. Tax may apply where applicable.
UPromise: A virtual coupon site that loads paperless coupons onto your shoppers loyalty card. Coupon amount is deposited into your UPromise account to help you save for education expenses (for more information visit Upromise).
V: This abbreviation represents the newspaper insert provided by Red Plum, also known as Valassis in some regions. It appears in deal listings with a date meaning the coupon appeared inside the Red Plum insert on the date listed (e.g. RP 1/1/10).
WYB or wyb: This abbreviation stands for “when you buy”. It is often used in deal postings to indicate how many products you have to buy or what products you have to buy to get the discount (e.g. Final Price: $1.00 each wyb 2 after coupons and gift card).
Now, hopefully you won’t be too confused when I say, “I’m going to head to the BOGO sale at CVS to stack my BOGO coupons and roll my ECB, so I can stock up on a few freebies.” Sigh… couponing is wonderful.
