Every savvy shopper knows that using coupons can be a real game-changer when it comes to saving money. But not all coupons are created equal. From traditional paper coupons to their digital counterparts, the variety of coupons out there is wide and can sometimes be confusing. To help you navigate the world of discounts, let’s dive into the different types of coupons that are still around.
First, you need to know the difference between the many types of coupons. And then you have to know which coupons you can combine together (we call that “stacking”) to get the biggest savings.
Whether you’re a fan of old-school paper coupons or prefer the convenience of digital savings, understanding the different types of coupons can help you get the most bang for your buck. Happy saving!
Download The Krazy Coupon Lady app or text HACKS to 57299 for more money-saving tips, deals, and coupons.
1. Traditional paper coupons
Paper coupons are the most recognizable type of coupon. There are two main kinds in this category: manufacturer coupons and store coupons.
Manufacturer coupons are issued directly by the product maker and can be used at any retailer that stocks the product, while store coupons are specific to a particular retailer. An added bonus is that you can often ‘stack’ these two types of coupons together, using both a manufacturer’s and a store coupon on a single item for extra savings.
Here’s where it gets tricky, though: there are a few different methods or types of manufacturer coupons, and you cannot stack those together on a single item.
For example, if you have a printable manufacturer coupon from Coupons.com for $3/1 Olay body wash and a $3/1 Olay body wash newspaper manufacturer coupon, you can’t stack them together for $6 off one Olay body wash. Why? Because they are actually the same coupon, just in a different form. The same goes for digital manufacturer coupons found in store apps like the Walgreens app.
What stacks with newspaper manufacturer coupons?
Loyalty program discounts
Some rebate app offers (like Ibotta and Checkout 51)
Store coupons
What doesn't stack with newspaper manufacturer coupons?
Printable manufacturer coupons
Digital manufacturer coupons — Load2Card or eCoupons
Related: We can show you more ways to get free newspaper coupons — no subscriptions required.
2. Printable manufacturer coupons
Anything you use your printer for is considered a “printable coupon.” This can be a manufacturer or store coupon. Just look at the top of the coupon and you’ll see “Manufacturer’s Coupon” or “Store Coupon" printed right on it.
When you download the KCL app, you’ll see that we’ve done all the legwork of finding coupons that match up with store sales — so all you have to do is print coupons and head to the store.
Be sure to sign your spouse or partner up for an account, too, so you can print four coupons instead of two for each item. This makes buying a lot of items a great deal easier, especially if you’re stockpiling a 3- or 6-month supply.
TIP: Sometimes printable manufacturer coupons say “Redeem at Target” or “Redeem at Walmart” across the top. For the most part, you can ignore this, since it’s just a suggestion about where to use the coupon. The only time that matters is if it’s a store coupon (not a manufacturer coupon) — then you’d have to use it at the store listed.
What stacks with printable manufacturer coupons?
Catalinas
Loyalty program discounts
Rebate app offers (like Ibotta and Checkout 51)
Store coupons
What doesn't stack with printable manufacturer coupons?
Digital manufacturer coupons — Load2Card or eCoupons
Newspaper manufacturer coupons
Related: Here are all the ways you can coupon with just a smartphone.
3. Digital coupons
The digital age has brought a significant shift in how we save, mainly because it introduced digital coupons. Digital coupons are another form of manufacturer coupons, but there’s no physical, printed-out coupon to use. These types of coupons are easy to use and accessible right on your smartphone or store app. They come in a few forms, like inside a store app — for example, a Target Circle dollar-off discount that’s actually a manufacturer coupon inside the Target app. Or it could be a Load2Card coupon inside the Walgreens app.
Most store apps offer both store coupons and manufacturer coupons, so pay close attention and read the fine print when you’re accessing digital coupons at stores like Walgreens, Target, CVS, Kroger, and more.
Remember, since most of these are actually manufacturer coupons, you can only use one per item.
Rule of thumb: If it’s a dollar-off discount (not a percent-off), it’s generally a manufacturer coupon, but always read the fine print!
Once you find digital coupons, you either download them to your device or add them to your store loyalty account within the store’s app. Then when you checkout using your store account, the discount gets applied automatically.
What stacks with digital manufacturer coupons?
Catalinas
Loyalty program discounts
Rebate app offers (like Ibotta and Checkout 51)
Store coupons
What doesn't stack with digital manufacturer coupons?
Newspaper manufacturer coupons
Printable coupons
4. Product coupons
Keep an eye out while browsing store aisles — there are product coupons to be found. These usually come in the form a sticker attached to a product or tucked inside its packaging, offering a discount on that product or a future purchase. It’s like finding a small treasure when you’re unboxing your latest purchase.
These are manufacturer coupons, so they play by the same rules as others. You might hear some veteran couponers call these blinkies or peelies.
What stacks with product coupons?
Catalinas
Loyalty program discounts
Rebate app offers (like Ibotta and Checkout 51)
Store coupons
What doesn't stack with product coupons?
Digital manufacturer coupons — Load2Card or eCoupons
Printable manufacturer coupons
5. Store coupons in your store's app
Plan to use one store coupon per item, just like with a manufacturer coupon. Look for store coupons in printable or digital form (from a store website or app) or in paper form through their weekly flyers.
Some store coupons are straightforward dollar-off just like a manufacturer coupon ($1 off Open Nature products), but some are a percentage-off like a Target Circle discount (20% off your bed and bath purchase).
Here are a few stores that offer store coupons:
CVS
Dollar General
Family Dollar
Kohl’s
Kroger (at the discretion of individual stores)
Petco
PetSmart
Publix
Rite Aid
Safeway
Staples
Target
Walgreens
Whole Foods
What stacks with store coupons?
Loyalty program discounts
Newspaper manufacturer coupons or printable coupons or digital manufacturer coupons (only one per item)
Manufacturer coupon Catalinas
Rebate app offers (like Ibotta and Checkout 51)
What doesn't stack with store coupons?
Exact same paper store coupons
Store coupon Catalinas
TIP: When it comes to printable coupons you get from a website, you may find they expire the day after you print them. This means you need to plan ahead before you print, but also make sure you don't wait too long. These offers usually change weekly.
6. In-store credit from store loyalty programs
Once you decide to be a smart shopper, the first order of business is to join loyalty programs at all the stores you currently shop. Drugstores like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid are must-joins in order to save money couponing, and we have lots to say about them. Also, join loyalty programs at stores like Kohl’s where you can earn “store cash” to spend on future purchases.
Drugstore rewards promotions:
For all of these, you can earn points that add up to future savings. Promotions are similar in nature and look like “Buy 2, get $5 in Register Rewards/ExtraBucks/Bonus Cash.” Or look for promotions like “Spend $20, get $10 in RR/EB/BC.”
Also, there are product-specific rewards that are basically manufacturer coupons. These look like “$0.50 off Charmin bath tissue.”
What stacks with store loyalty promotions?
Manufacturer coupons — Only for rewards that are not item-specific. For example, you can stack a manufacturer coupon with a “$5 off your next purchase” reward.
Store coupons or promo codes — If they’re different types. For example, ExtraBucks would stack with a CVS store coupon. They would also stack with a manufacturer coupon for deeper savings.
Rebate apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51 — Not everything may be stackable.
Kohl’s Cash stacks with other Kohl’s Cash — You can use multiple coupons in one transaction.
What doesn't stack with store loyalty promotions?
Store cash that states “manufacturer coupon” — These would be product-specific like “$0.50 off Charmin.” You can’t stack these with another Charmin coupon.
Exact promotions at drugstores — You can’t use two ExtraBucks coupons together in one transaction, for example.
TIP: Create your own freebies by using your store cash and store rewards to buy same-priced items. I’ve scored free peanut butter, free hair accessories, and more this way because I might have $5 in ExtraBucks that I can spend on a jar of peanut butter and some barrettes on sale at CVS.
7. Online coupon codes
For those who prefer online shopping, coupon codes are the way to go. These are alphanumeric strings that you enter during the checkout process to secure your discount. It’s one of the many perks of e-commerce. Certain sites and products will allow you to stack multiple coupon codes, making it an easy win online.
What stacks with coupon codes?
Depends on the site and product
What doesn't stack with coupon codes?
Depends on the site and product
Related: We have a list of the best Amazon promo codes out there!
8. Rebate apps and cash-back offers
We call Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Fetch Rewards “rebate apps” since you don’t take any action until after you’ve checked out at the store. You pay upfront and then send your receipt to get reimbursed. Lucky for us, they stack with a good amount of other offers.
Meaning — if you can find a rebate that both Ibotta and Checkout 51 offer at the same time, you could possibly redeem both and also redeem your receipt through Fetch Rewards. Just check the offer fine print to make sure you can pair the two.
For Ibotta and Checkout51, you’ll unlock or select the product you want to buy and redeem an offer like “$0.50 cash back when you buy Yoplait yogurt.” Then, depending on which store you’re shopping at, you’ll either take a picture of your receipt to submit it or scan the receipt QR code at the bottom. Once it’s complete and you’ve reached $20, you can cash out via PayPal.
For Fetch Rewards, just take a picture of any receipt to earn points that translate into gift cards to stores like Amazon and Target.
What stacks with rebate app offers?
Rebate apps like TopCashback, Fetch Rewards, Ibotta, Checkout 51, and/or SavingStar.
Everything else.
What doesn't stack with rebate app offers?
Select Ibotta offers won’t allow you to stack with other coupons.
Checkout 51 and SavingStar offers cannot be stacked on a product — You will get the redemption for one but not the other. I know because I tried to stack them.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide to Rebate Apps
9. Catalinas (aka receipt-like coupons)
Have you ever seen the long and narrow receipt-like coupons that spit out after you complete your purchase? Those are called Catalinas. Sometimes they are store coupons, including dollar-off-your-total-purchase, and other times they’re manufacturer coupons for specific products.
Regular coupon rules apply to manufacturer coupon Catalinas — you can only use one per item. But if it’s a store Catalina or a dollar-off-your-total-purchase Catalina, you can stack it with a manufacturer coupon at most stores.
Some major stores that offer Catalina coupons are Kroger, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Harris Teeter. This is also the coupon you’re most likely to throw away because it looks like an advertisement. But don’t toss it! We’ve talked a lot about how Catalina coupons can save you big.
What stacks with Catalinas?
Opposite types of coupons — Store coupon Catalinas stack with manufacturer coupons and vice versa
Loyalty program discounts
Rebate app offers (like Ibotta and Checkout 51)
What doesn't stack with Catalinas?
Same-type coupons don’t stack — Manufacturer coupon Catalinas don’t stack with newspaper coupons, and store coupon Catalinas don’t stack with other store coupons.
Also, note that Catalinas can’t be rolled. This means if you are earning one in a transaction, you cannot pay with one because it won’t print.
KCL TIP: When using dollar-off-total-purchase store Catalinas, remember, you have to reach that dollar amount after all coupons and discounts have been applied. For example, for a $5/20 at Walgreens, you have to make sure your total is over $20 before tax and after you use all of your coupons and discounts.
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