Couponing has a language of its own. If you don't know the abbreviations and terms, you won't understand how to get the best deals. Here's a list of the most commonly used couponing abbreviations.
$/$ - this means dollar off your total order. For instance, you may receive a coupon for $3 off a $30 purchase
BOGO — buy one get one free
B1G1 — buy one get one free
B1G1F – buy one get one free
B2G1F — buy two get one free
B & M - Brick and Morter (as in an actual storefront and not an online store)
Blinkies - Smartsource in-store coupon containers that are on the shelves. They are red and sometimes have a blinking light to draw attention. Most don't blink anymore, but we still call them blinkies. And they are few and far between because most stores no longer have them.
BTFE - Box Tops for Education (which are now totally digital on the Box Tops website and no longer involve Box Tops that need to be cut off the newer qualifying Box Tops products)
CSM - customer service manager
CSR - customer service representative
DND - Do Not Double. This is sometimes found on coupons, although most coupons will write out the actual words "Do Not Double" or "Not Subject To Doubling."
Double coupons - store will double the face value of the coupon (usually up to the price of the product)
EB - Extra Care Bucks at CVS. This is their instant rebate program where the reward prints out at the end of the transaction to be used on a different transaction.
ECB - Extra Care Bucks at CVS. This is their instant rebate program where the reward prints out at the end of the transaction to be used on a different transaction.
ETS - Excludes trial size
FAR - Free after rebate
Filler - Item used to make sure you have enough items (like at Walgreens) or enough money to use a specific coupons (like a $3 off $30 order)
FS - free shipping
GC - Gift card
GDA - Good deal alert
IP — Internet printable coupon
IVC - Instant Value Coupon. The Walgreens store coupons found in the month coupon book in Walgreens stores.
LFE - Labels for Education, Campbell's reward program, send your labels with school kids so schools can earn rewards
MFG - manufacturer's coupon
MIR — mail in rebate
MQ — manufacturer coupon
MVP - Food Lion rewards program
NED - no expiration date (very rarely found on some coupons)
OOP - out of pocket. This is amount you actually pay at the register after all coupons and deductions.
OYNO - on your next order. This often refers to the Catalina coupons that you receive at the register that are for an amount off your next order. For example, there may be a deal that if you buy 3 packages of Old El Pasotortillas, you will get a Catalina coupon for $1 good on your next order (OYNO).
P&G — Procter & Gamble Sunday supplement coupons
Peelies — coupons found on outside of package that can be peeled off and used to buy that item
PM - price match
PSA - prices starting at
Q - coupon
RR — Register Rewards from Walgreens. This is their instant rebate program where the reward prints out at the end of the transaction to be used on a different transaction.
SS— Smart Source Sunday supplement coupons.
Stacking coupons - when you can use more than one coupon on the same item. Some stores will let you use a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon on the same product.
Super Doubles - when a store doubles the value of a coupon, often above and beyond the amount they normally double every day of the week. For instance, when Harris Teeter offers Super Doubles, they usually double coupons that are $2 or less face value. On normal double days, they only double coupons worth .99 face value. They have not offered Super Doubles since the pandemic began and we do not know if they will ever offer the promotion again.
Tear pad coupons - pad of coupons or rebates on displays in stores. These are few and far between these days.
TMF — try me free offer
WYB — when you buy
UPC - Universal Product Code, also known as the bar code
YMMV - your mileage may vary (what happens at one store may not happen at the next or what happens at the same store may vary depending on the cashier or manager on duty)
