One golden rule of getting deals on groceries and household items is matching rock bottom sale prices with coupons (see all Golden Rules here). Pocket Your Dollars publishes shopping lists for a number of stores, local to the Minneapolis/St Paul area and national chains each week to help you do that.
This is a quick tutorial on how to read a basic list by way of an example:
The list says:
(Line1) Yoplait Yogurt $.50 each ($3 for 6)
(Line 2) Use $.40/6 from 2/8 GM or 3/22 SS inserts = $.37 each after doubled coupon
(Line 3) Use $1/8 here = $.25 each after doubled coupon
Translation:
(Line 1) Yoplait Yogurt is on sale for $.50 each this week (its advertised as 6 for $3.00)
(Line 2) To make this a better deal use the $.40 off of 6 yogurt cups’ coupon from the Sunday, Feb 8 General Mills insert or the Sunday, March 22 Smart Source insert. Your price after the value of the coupon is doubled by the store $.37 each. In this example the value of the coupon is doubled. The list will specify whether it is using the face value or a doubled value for the coupon. See section below for details on the SS, RP, GM, PG abbreviations in the lists
(Line 3) To make this a better deal use the $1.00 off 8 yogurt cups coupon at the following website (click here). Your price after the value of the coupon is doubled by the store $.25 each. Note: in this example the value of the coupon is doubled. The list will specify whether it is using the face value or a doubled value for the coupon.
Walgreens and CVS have customer loyalty programs that have their own terminology and rules. Read about Walgreens’ program here and CVS’s here.
What do RP, SS, PG, and GM means?
These abbreviations reference the publisher’s name of the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper. Instead of clipping all the coupons, simply label the front of the flyer with the publisher’s initials, write the date and file away until the shopping list references a coupon you need. I will let you know which coupons you need to get the best deals each week.
The major publishers are:
- RP = Red Plum
- SS = Smart Source
- PG or P&G = Procter & Gamble
- GM = General Mills
On occasion a publisher will include two or more different inserts in one Sunday paper. When that happens the publisher’s name is followed by a number 1, 2, 3, etc. to represent the unique insert and I will let you know how to label your inserts.
What about other abbreviations?
- B1G1 = Buy one, get one free
- B2G1 = Buy two, get one free
- Doubled coupon = When a retailer allows the coupon to be worth twice as much off as stated on the coupon itself. For instance, a $1 off coupon becomes like a $2 off coupon.
- Stack with = Use this coupon and the previously mentioned coupon or deal together on the same item
If you still have questions about how to read the shopping lists, please leave a comment.
What does B1G1 mean? I couldn’t find it in the abbreviations.
Thanks
Great question! B1G1 means “buy one, get one free”. Likewise, B2G1 means “buy two, get one free.” –Carrie
I printed a bunch of coupons for Rainbow. After I printed them and took them to the store on a Wednesday, I noticed half of them were not eligible for double discount. Is there a way to know that before I print the coupons? Thanks, Donna
Great site! First time visitor (saw your special on the news), but I’ll definitely soon be a regular. I’ve got some great stories of free food collection from my college days!
Could you please expand more on the doubled coupons? Do I need to request that the coupon value be doubled, will the register automatically double the discount, or will the clerk recognize specifically that certain coupon types should be doubled?
Thanks!
Dan – Check out the post here on Rainbow Foods double coupon policy. They are the only store I know of in the Twin Cities that doubles the value of coupons. Does that help? –Carrie
I have really enjoyed using your web site. I just found out tonight that Target now expects price comparisions for like product and same size. So, for example, Walgreens had a 14oz box of Cheerios on sale for $1.99. Then I printed of a Target coupon for $1.00 off General Mills Ceral and a manuacture coupon for a $1.00 off General Mills Ceral and ended up getting a 14 oz box of cearal for free at Target. WHAT a DEAL!!!
Thanks for helping me to save so much money.
Sheryl
Carrie,
Great info…my sister Terri, who lives in Mpls area, introduced me to your system yesterday. Great stuff. I can use it for CVS and Target…but we don’t have the others.
Do you know anyone doing this for the Indianapolis area stores?
Thanks for the info.
Deb
Two of my friends told me about your website. Its great, however, I am disappointed that there are not more coupons out there for Gluten Free eating. Our grocery bills are about $75 a week and there are only two adults, one child in this house. (that seems like ALOT of money to me…maybe its not) And I cook every meal from scratch. I would love to see more discounts on gluten free/lactose free eating. Some stores I find, are willing to give the deals on a gluten free item if I ask, but wow, that is a lot of work. I would LOVE to be able to save 50 cents on my $4.00 for a 1/2 gallon of milk. Please help if you can. thanks, Marlene
p.s. we do most of our shopping at Fresh and Natural
Here are two ideas: 1) Look for your favorite shelf foods on Amazon.com. They have a grocery section and sell many GF/OG/Natural items in bulk at HUGE savings vs. Fresh and Natural Fds. Their “SuperSaver” Ground shipping is usually free. You have to buy bulk but the overall savings can be significant.
2)Try shopping at Costco (if you haven’t already). If you’re new, go to the customer service desk for a free trial walk-through. Costco offers TONS of GF/OG options and are always adding more. I’ve never seen such good prices on OG milk/butter/soy milk (and tons of other options) anywhere. The $45 membership will pay for itself quickly esp. if you take advantage of bigger ticket items like electronics or prescription glasses. SIDE NOTE: I’m not a Sam’s Club member but I’ve heard from friends they’re not at OG/GF friendly as Costco is. Good luck!
Thank you for a great site….
I am confused, can two manufacturer coupons for the same item be used at grocery stores? Your example for yogurt above indicates the usage of a General Mills insert coupon plus one printed off line. I was not aware that this could be done. Please explain further.
Thank you so much for your web sight. I’m new to this, so I’m pretty excited to see how much $$ I can save from all of your helpful tips.
I have one question, do you know if WalMart stores accept coupons from other stores?
So is there a deal for getting the Sunday paper?
Hi All,
I was so dissapointed. I went on the site and printed off my coupons and went to Super Walmart near my work on my lunch break. When I got to the register and gave the clerk my coupons she stated that the don’t take coupons anymore.
Has anybody else had this problem?
This question remains unanswered … Anyone????.
I am confused, can two manufacturer coupons for the same item be used at grocery stores? Your example for yogurt above indicates the usage of a General Mills insert coupon plus one printed off line. I was not aware that this could be done. Please explain further.
Thank you!
You cannot use two manufacturer-issued coupons for one item. If you buy two items, then you can use two manufacturer-issued coupons. You can always use a store coupon and a manufacturer-issued coupon on the same item.
I understand that BUT then I remain confused by the example posted on your website … Copied from above
Translation:
(Line 1) Yoplait Yogurt is on sale for $.50 each this week (its advertised as 6 for $3.00)
(Line 2) To make this a better deal use the $.40 off of 6 yogurt cups’ coupon from the Sunday, Feb 8 General Mills insert or the Sunday, March 22 Smart Source insert. Your price after the value of the coupon is doubled by the store $.37 each. In this example the value of the coupon is doubled. The list will specify whether it is using the face value or a doubled value for the coupon. See section below for details on the SS, RP, GM, PG abbreviations in the lists
(Line 3) To make this a better deal use the $1.00 off 8 yogurt cups coupon at the following website (click here). Your price after the value of the coupon is doubled by the store $.25 each. Note: in this example the value of the coupon is doubled. The list will specify whether it is using the face value or a doubled value for the coupon.
Thank you,
DLAK, I can see where that would be confusing. The example on the post isn’t quite clear. Normally when we post, we write the list like this:
(Line1) Yoplait Yogurt $.50 each ($3 for 6)
(Line 2) Buy 6 and use $.40/6 from 2/8 GM or 3/22 SS inserts or
(Line 3) Buy 8 and use $1/8 here
Final price: As low as $0.25 each after doubled coupon
We’re not advocating that you use both coupons; we’re just giving you an idea of which coupons are available and how the price would break down depending on which one you use.
Does that make sense?
Thanks so much – Thought I was losing my mind and my coupon sense ; )
Does Cub accept RR from Wags?
Who price matches? Is there a list somewhere?
There isn’t a list, but Walmart and Target price match. No other large national chains that I’m aware of price match. It is a great question to ask your local grocery stores, just in case they have a policy like that.
I know of a few more stores that price match
home depot,menards
and home depot will not only math but go ten percent lower
Does Cub Foods double coupons?