After a lot of us watched the Extreme Couponing Show last night, I have had a huge influx of questions from all of you about Doubling Coupons. So here are a few questions I have gotten and the answers so we can all get on the same page:
1- Last night on the show they talked about places doubling a coupon. What does that mean, and is there any stores around here that do that?
- Doubling a coupon means that a $.50 off coupon will “double” to a $1.00 off coupon. So essentially, the store is paying for that other $.50 discount. Each store is totally different and you will want to check their coupon policy to see what their double and triple coupon policies are.
- If you live in Utah, the only store that doubles regularly each Tuesday is Ridley’s. However, Walmart stores in Utah County are “price-matching” that offer every Tuesday now too. Which is the first ray of light we have had in the Double Couponing world in Utah.
2- Is the reason they get a lot of stuff free because they go on double or triple coupon day?
- Yes, doubling and tripling coupons is a HUGE plus. It makes all the difference in the world. There are a lot of stores that don’t double or triple on a regular basis- and I can include my home state of Utah. So, it makes it harder to get those insane deals. But, it definitely does not mean that getting a lot of free stuff can’t be done! Companies send out Free product coupons frequently and you can usually use the overage on coupons to put towards other things in your cart.
3- Is it common to split up transaction so that you can either roll your catalinas into the next transaction or get their $s off a certain $ amount purchase?
- Yes, this is very common and something I do on just about every shopping trip. We want to reduce the amount of out-of-pocket spending. So by rolling catalinas into your next purchases, you can save even more- especially depending on what extra discounts your store has going on at that time.
4- I know that Walmart will now let you use coupons that are for over the $ amount (money makers) but will other stores allow it?
- Each store is totally different. So you will want to check what their policy is on coupon overage. However, Walmart’s policy specifically states that you can use the full amount of the coupon. So, a $3.00 off coupon on a $2.50 product means you are actually making $.50. If you can do this the right way, you can get away with paying almost nothing or having them give you cash back at the end of the transaction!
5- Can any coupon amount be doubled?
- Usually stores will double coupons up to $1.00 off. So, if you have a $.25 off coupon, it will double to $.50. Or, if you have a $.75 off coupon, it will only go up to $1.00. However, each store does things different. But, you won’t see stores doubling the bigger coupons like $5.00 off coupons. It usually only works for $1.00 and under crowd.
As a side note, remember that to get that many copies of the coupons, you would have to go through a Coupon Clipping Service. And it costs money to have each and every one cut and mailed to you- that is something they DID NOT show on the series last night. So please remember that that cost could have been pretty significant and really changed the amount of money they “Saved”.
Hope that helps answers your questions everyone!
Diane
What if a coupon says on it “cannot be doubled.”….Will a store still double it?
Melea Johnson
Diane- That is a GREAT question! And funny enough, it just depends on the store. So ask the customer service department. I’ve had Smith’s take “do not double” coupons and are ok with it when they do their double days. And, other stores wouldn’t take them.
Diane
Thank you for the info! That helps.
Diane J.
Tami Richins
I tried to double coupon at Walmart last Tuesday, I checked with the store manager to make sure they were doubling the coupons up to a dollar. She said that they were doing it that day because she had not recieved any word back from her General Manager regarding the issue. Until she did, she would double the coupons. However, my cashier was very difficult and dissagreed with the manager on the issue, and was adamant that she was in a meeting where they were told not to double coupons. The Cashier next to her was doubling them just fine. She ended up calling the manager twice and totally messing up on my transaction, that I ended up not doubling and having to leave, because I was late getting my son from preschool. Sooo frustrating, make sure you check to with the manager to see if they will honor the double coupon match. I think it is also a good idea to ask your cashier if they know how to double coupons before you unload all your stuff to check out. Sorry for the novel. Thanks Melea, for all that you do!!!
Nicole
I was behind someone doubling coupons on Tuesday at Walmart. I didn’t mind because I was interested in how it was done and she didn’t have that much stuff. So, the only disadvantage of doubling at Walmart would be the checker. Luckily, we had an amazing checker. She knew exactly what to do and did it rather quickly but it still took time and patience. They have to enter a price match amount first for the difference from a dollar and then take the coupon. It’s much harder on the checkers and that is probably why your checker had problems doing it, she just didn’t want to. It’s totally unfair that you couldn’t do it, but my suggestion would be to allow more time for it next time and make sure they do it right. 🙂
Brisa
Thank for the advertisement 🙂
Marcy
Walmart is THE one reason I quick couponing. EVERY time I used coupons there it turned into a fuss. Basically was making me feel like a felon. One time the clerk had 5 other store employees at the register looking at my 4 (yes only 4) coupons. People standing behind me in line get angry. Walmart is a mess when it comes to understanding their coupon policy.
Bobbi Penman
On the show they talked about how they became Debt Free????? It didnt make sense if they are spending over 100.00 on 1100 boxes of cereal that they are stock piling how that would make you debt free???? I think that was far fetch for the show…..
notasoccermom
You could also buy a couple of Sunday papers from the gas station to get double the coupons… then it is only $4.00
Brisa
Or buy those at Walmart is just $3.00 for the both Sunday papers!! you are saving $1.00 off
Debbie
What is catalinas?
Brittany
Catalinas are from smiths or krogers and are coupons that print out with your receipt good for $ off your next purchase. Ie: save $3 on your next shopping trip.
Michelle
They are the coupons that print out at the end of your transaction with the receipt (from a different printer next to the receipt printer). They are usually from purchasing so many of one particular item (ie- you buy 6 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, you receive $3 coupon for your next transaction). On occasion the stores will also print out regular coupons or even coupons for free items, like Albertsons may print out coupons for free bakery bread. Hope this helps and doesn’t confuse you! 🙂
Debbie
So does that mean if I take a $5 off coupon from Target to Walmart on a Tuesday they will honor it for $10 off the item?
Brittany
Usually stores only double coupons up to a dollar. Kmart sometimes does up to two dollars, it just depends.
Debbie
I f I have $1.50 off Two bottles of dressing does that mean I have to buy 4 bottles of dressing to get $3 off?
Melanie
Hi, everyone. I’m a newbie and I have a question about Walgreen’s catalinas (Register Rewards). I haven’t been able to find a definitive answer anywhere. Let’s say I buy one toothpaste for $2.99 and receive a RR for $2.99. Can I then turn around on that same shopping trip and use that RR to buy a second toothpaste in a second transaction? Will they let me do that? Thanks for any info, and thanks to Melea for a fantastic site!
AMANDA
Sorry Melanie but no. Walgreens RR program does NOT allow you to “roll” the rewards and hand out free stuff over and over. You can do it this way however, Buy one toothpaste, get a RR. Use that RR to buy batteries. Use the batteries RR to buy more toothpaste, then repeat. Make sense? You do have to find a cashier that is willing to do TONS of transactions though haha
Dayna
Good luck doing any of that in BC Canada…/sigh.
Michelle
Hello,
I was wondering if anyone knows of stores in Southern NV that doubles or triples coupons?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks!
Angela
I had to laugh when they had Extreme Couponing sandwiched between the Hoarders show. Some of those coupon people may be on that show next. Thanks for the clarifications, it would be nice if more stores doubled. I love when Smith’s does it.
kay gibbs
I really did not like that show last night. I think it will just encourage hoarding the great free products. Really who needs all of that stuff. I have a nice storage built up and I do not have 100’s of one item. It is so frustrating when you go to the store to buy your 2 or 3 items and it is already gone. Or even worse you go to buy and someone in front of you clears the shelf and laughs at you while you are standing there waiting to see if they leave any left. Please Please people please be kind and do not clear the shelfs! I think the stores are not stocking the shelf because of this. I think in this economy everyone needs that deals just to survive, lets all help out a bit.
JENNIE
I did not watch this season nor the last, and have NO PLANS to. I feel that the show portrays ALL of us couponers as all being a little crazy. I live in Las Vegas and NOONE doubles or triples q’s here, so it’s sooooo frustrating to sit and watch people elsewhere shop at the same stores I do, and save so much. I do very well, and am greatfiul to you Malea, you were the first person to introduce me to qing. I save at least $1000.00 a month and have enabled my husband to work less, and be here at home with our big family of 7. Thanks again.
Bonnie T
Southern Californian here, and the only one in my area that doubles up to $1, that I’m aware of, is Vons.
Marianne
Can anyone tell me how to get a hold of the extra papers or coupon inserts in the Sunday paper from the newspaper companies. I have called and they tell me they are destroyed. I saw on the show where one lady had the extras delivered to her. How? Thanks.
emily
I was so absolutely disgusted when I watched some of those people! I DVR’ed them ,and finally got around to watching them tonight. I can’t believe that people buy thousands of a product just because they can. It disgusts me! It makes me almost embarrassed to say I do coupons, because people like that who are hoarding all over.
For those of you who read…do your homes look like the ones we seen on TV? How big is your stockpile? I feel really overwhelmed after watching that.
jacqueline rivera
im new to couponing, my shoprite store doubles coupons up to $1.00. what does that mean? if i have a $1.00 coupon will it double to $2.00? does that mean i wont get to double coupons over a $1.00? if i have a $.75 coupon it will only go up to a $1.00? im sorry for being confused!
J pack
This really confuses me too. I’ve read both sides of that online and have no idea which is correct ðŸ™
Robin
My question is how do find out when stores are doubling coupons. I know that the stores here do it a few times a year, but what days are these? Is there a list of days?
annie
Hello,
I was watching the show and it seems like these people clear the store of one product. I don’t want a million yogurts, but I have a coupon for $1 off a yogurt but can only use one coupon. I printed it online and it won’t let me print again. How can I get 20 yogurts? It just seems like the coupons are very strict about how many you can use and all…
Not sure if that makes sense. My mind is boggled by a day of coupon hunting. I’m trying to get into this.
Jeramy
Awesome post.