How to Coupon Series: How to Read a Coupon

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COUPONING 101: HOW TO READ A COUPON

On the surface, a coupon might look like a pretty simple document and, for the most part, it is. But lurking under the colorful product photo and “$1.00 OFF” headline is some very important fine print, and understanding that “couponese” is a critical part of the couponing process.

 

Let’s dive right in by taking a closer look at some common words and phrases you’re likely to encounter on a coupon.

 

• THE PICTURE – Okay, this isn’t a word or a phrase, but it’s important to point out that the picture on the coupon isn’t the specific product you’re required to purchase. Companies will often put the most expensive (or largest) product in the line-up on the coupon in hopes that you’ll buy that one. Unless the coupon says you have to buy it, you probably don’t have to.

 

• EXPIRATION DATE – This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Some coupons say “no expiration date,” but most have a date after which your coupon is rendered useless. You can use your coupon on its expiration date, but not after.

• LIMIT ONE PER TRANSACTION – Your entire grocery trip counts as one transaction. If you have three coupons for Oreos and three packages of Oreos, you can only use one of those coupons. If you want to use the other two, you’ll have to purchase the other two packages of Oreos in separate transactions (i.e. separate receipts) by purchasing the items in your first transaction and then immediately beginning a new transaction to buy the remaining items.

 

• LIMIT ONE PER VISIT – This disclaimer is similar to the one per transaction rule, but it prevents you from doing back-to-back-to-back transactions in order to purchase those three packages of Oreos. In other words, you have to physically leave the store and then return to buy the remaining Oreos. Kind of a pain, yes, but worth the effort if it’s a good coupon.

 

• LIMIT ONE PER PURCHASE – Each item in your shopping cart counts as a single purchase. If your Oreo coupon says “limit one per purchase” and you have three coupons and three packages of Oreos, you can use all three coupons. Don’t forget the milk!

 

• LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER – This one is kind of like the “one per visit” rule but if you have multiple coupons for the same item with this rule on it, you can get around it by using one of the coupons and asking your spouse to use the other one.

 

• REDEEMABLE AT (STORE NAME) – This just gives a shout out to one potential store you can redeem your coupon at, but you don’t have to redeem it there.

 

• REDEEMABLE ONLY AT (STORE NAME) – Unlike the friendly suggestion above, this rule pretty firmly outlines the only store at which you can redeem your coupon.

 

• AVAILABLE AT (STORE NAME) – Like “redeemable at,” this language isn’t telling you where to use the coupon, it’s merely telling you one place where you might find that particular item.

 

• DO NOT DOUBLE/DO NOT TRIPLE – Some stores (though not all) will automatically double or, on special occasions, even triple your coupons. If your coupon states DND or DNT, your store’s generous policy is null and void – at least for that particular coupon.

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