I’ve been a deal hunter since the 1980s – sending away for refunds, saving and trading proofs of purchase, combining double and triple coupons with refund offers, and attending coupon conventions. Our online networking has made “meeting up” for trades and finding out information so much better, easier, friendlier. And the web has made it easier to find coupons and traders, print coupons and forms, and participate in rewards programs and take advantage of online codes.
Online deal hunting has added to our own coupon junkie jargon. Some of the more frequently used terms for coupons on this site are:
Blinkie – coupons you get from the blinking dispensers in stores. These are usually sponsored by SmartSource.
Catalina – the coupons that print at the register when you buy certain products. These are often short dated expiration.
Insert – coupons that come in the newspaper inserts. These are published by SmartSource or RedPlum (a division of Valassis)
Winetag – coupons and forms found on liquor. Some of these do not require a liquor purchase (NWPN – no wine purchase necessary)
Other types of coupons are hangtags and peelies which are found on products.
Tearpads are displayed in stores and can be coupons or mail in refunds (MIRs)
Home Mailers contain great coupons and deals. You can get these by signing up for them online, or writing to the company. Often they have coupons, free product offers, and booklets of coupons on related products.
A great source of coupons for anyone with a computer and a printer are the printable coupon sites. I will have a separate article about these.
Look on Families.com for members to post about where they have found coupons, and for trading buddies.