If you are just learning how to use coupons, or have been thinking about getting into, I am sure you have a million questions. I think back to when I started and it was really kind of scary with all of the “what if’s” I could think of and things I didn’t know about. Here is one thing I can hopefully help you clear up: Stacking Coupons!
Stacking coupons is when you take a Store Coupon (ie Target Coupons) and ‘stack’ them with a manufacturers Coupon. Here is an example:
Buy (1) Pack of Mentos Up2U Gum $1.59
Use (1) $1/1 target coupon (STORE COUPON)
AND use (1) $1/1 manufacture coupon
Final Cost FREE
In this case there is no “overage” (money in excess because the coupons came to $2 and the gum was only $1.59) because target coupon automatically adjust down making the item free without any money left over. Target does NOT allow overage, but they do allow stacking of coupons.
A list of stores that I know of that do allow stacking are:
Target (coupon policy)
Wal-Mart (coupon policy)
Rite-Aid (coupon policy)
Walgreens (coupon policy)
CVS (coupon policy)
K-Mart (coupon policy)
Maceys
(if you have a store that DOES allow stacking, and it’s not listed, please leave a comment and I will add it)
Another question I get asked a lot is about digital coupons and stacking them with paper coupons. This is NOT allowed. A digital coupon is still a manufacturer coupon and is not supposed to be used with another manufacturer coupon. Sometimes it does happen, but try your very best to be aware what coupons are on your card so that you are not trying to use a paper coupon for an item that already had a digital coupon discount.
There are four important things you need to look for to get a HOT deal on items when you have the chance:
(1) SALE PRICE
(2) MANUFACTURER COUPON
(3) STORE COUPON
(4) CATALINA REWARDS (+Up Rewards, Register Rewards, ECB, etc…)
These four items will combine to get your cheap, free, and overage on a regular basis.
You can also take you store coupon, manufacturer coupon, and the catalina (+up reward, register reward, etc) and use all three coupons to pay for an item. See this example that has two transactions. The first one, you will GET the Catalina, and the second one, you will USE the catalina.
TRANSACTION 1:
Buy (2) Old Spice Body Wash $3 each
Use (2) $1/1 manufacture coupons
Use (1) $1/2 store coupon
Pay $3
Get back a $2 catalina when you buy 2 items
Final Cost $1 ($0.50 for each body wash)
TRANSACTION 2:
Buy (2) Secret Deodorant $3 each
Use $1/2 manufacture coupon
Use (2) $1/1 in-ad store coupons
Sub-total $3
Use the $2 catalina from transaction 2
Pay $1
Get back a $2 catalina when you buy 2 items
Final Cost $1 ($0.50/each deodorant)
Overall you would have spent $4 out of pocket and got back a $2 catalina for your next shopping trip. That means you only paid $2 for all four items.In transaction 2, when we calculate the final total, we do not use the $2 from the first transaction to calculate the final cost, because we already use it to calculate the final cost in the first one. So we add it back in when calculating how much we “actually” paid. Then we take off the new catalinas that we receive, out of that transaction total, to get our new final cost. It is really not as confusing as it sounds. 🙂
To learn more about using coupons, you can visit our Getting Started Guide.
Hah, you’re right, when you’re just starting to use those coupons there are so many what ifs. But as they say, mistakes are great lessons. And if you hear beeps with an angry look from cashiers, don’t worry that’s just part of this whole thing.