Step 2: Know your coupons!
Types of coupons: To start off, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the different types of coupons. Manufacturer coupons, Store Coupons and eCoupons.
Manufacturer Coupons are issued by the companies of the product themselves.
Types of coupons: To start off, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the different types of coupons. Manufacturer coupons, Store Coupons and eCoupons.
Manufacturer Coupons are issued by the companies of the product themselves.
Store Coupons are issued by the individual stores themselves.
eCoupons are usually found on the store websites and can be 'loaded' onto your loyalty card.
The way to maximize your savings is by stacking these coupons together for the best deals.
Catalinas are another type of coupon, they can be either store or manufacturer's coupons, so make sure to read them. They usually print out at the register if you have fulfilled a certain promotion that the company or the store is running.
Here are two examples/ways to maximize your Catalina coupons:
Wording is very important on coupons. Always match your coupons to the items you are buying. Some coupons will specify a specific size. Others will state you need to buy a certain quantity. Read all coupons carefully.
When a coupon says $1.00 off ANY Tide product. This means there is no size or quantity restriction, so buy the smallest and cheapest so that you can get that item for free. Many coupons will state no trial or travel sizes, however, there are those that don't and that's when you head to the travel section.
Rules to note:
You can only use one manufacturer coupon per product. When a coupon says one per purchase, that means that one item. So if you purchase 2 items, you can use 1 coupon per item on both items. If the coupon says one per transaction, that means that if you purchase 2 items, you can only use 1 coupon on both items.
A transaction is the full process of buying and paying at checkout.
Some stores will allow you to make transaction after transaction and others will not. For example, CVS will allow you to make 4 transactions one right after the other (if there's no one in line!) but Shoprite will only allow you to make one transaction and then you may have to get back in line or visit another Shoprite.
Back to Stacking...
So, when you have an item, you can almost always combine a manufacturer coupon, store coupon and ecoupon on 1 item. However, you cannot use 2 manufacturer coupons on 1 item or 2 store coupons on 1 item.
Please note that we will go further into depth later on on various ways you can roll or stack or combine coupons for the best outcome. This is our general primer. :)
- Stack with manufacturer coupons. Recently, Shoprite was running a Catalina promotion to receive $10 off your next order when you buy $30 of frozen food. Make sure your total before tax and coupons is at least $30, then use manufacturer coupons to bring down your out-of-pocket expense. You might pay only $20 for all that frozen food after coupons, and you’ll still get the “$10 off your next order” Catalina!
- Rolling Catalinas. This refers to separating transactions and redeeming the Catalina coupon that printed in your first transaction to offset your out-of-pocket expense on your second transaction. Say you buy four cans of mandarin oranges, knowing that you will receive a “$0.50 off your next order” Catalina. Buy your first four cans (using manufacturer coupons to bring down your out-of-pocket costs), pay for your oranges, take your Catalina from the cashier, and then start the process over again, using your newly-minted Catalina on the next transaction.
Wording is very important on coupons. Always match your coupons to the items you are buying. Some coupons will specify a specific size. Others will state you need to buy a certain quantity. Read all coupons carefully.
When a coupon says $1.00 off ANY Tide product. This means there is no size or quantity restriction, so buy the smallest and cheapest so that you can get that item for free. Many coupons will state no trial or travel sizes, however, there are those that don't and that's when you head to the travel section.
Rules to note:
You can only use one manufacturer coupon per product. When a coupon says one per purchase, that means that one item. So if you purchase 2 items, you can use 1 coupon per item on both items. If the coupon says one per transaction, that means that if you purchase 2 items, you can only use 1 coupon on both items.
A transaction is the full process of buying and paying at checkout.
Some stores will allow you to make transaction after transaction and others will not. For example, CVS will allow you to make 4 transactions one right after the other (if there's no one in line!) but Shoprite will only allow you to make one transaction and then you may have to get back in line or visit another Shoprite.
Back to Stacking...
So, when you have an item, you can almost always combine a manufacturer coupon, store coupon and ecoupon on 1 item. However, you cannot use 2 manufacturer coupons on 1 item or 2 store coupons on 1 item.
Please note that we will go further into depth later on on various ways you can roll or stack or combine coupons for the best outcome. This is our general primer. :)