How to Use Double Coupon Promotions to Save Money
If you’re new to couponing, you may be unaware of the magic of double coupons. If you have seen double coupon promotions, but don’t know what “double coupon promotion” means, we have the lowdown on how you can use double coupon events to save even more money. Find the answers to the most commonly asked questions about douple couponing below:
1. What is a double coupon promotion?
Double coupon promotions are when a store doubles the face value of a coupon. You don’t need to bring in two coupons or do anything else but present your eligible coupon during the promotional period! Stores put on double coupon promotions to bring shoppers in, so you’ve already fulfilled your end of the bargain by just being there. Doubling coupons is different than stacking coupons - which is when a retailer accepts a manufacturer’s coupon and its own coupon to get the total value discount for an item. Doubling just requires one coupon, but provides the double value on its own. Sometimes stores will even do triple coupon promotions, so keep an eye out! You should check with a store beforehand to determine their policies for doubling coupons.
2. What are the applicable policies?
Some stores limit the days and times that they accept double coupons, while other stores will always double coupons, subject to the other store policies.
There also might be a face value limit as to what a store will accept as part of a doubling promotion. The face value limits are typically low, usually 50, 75, or 99 cents. Some stores will set the limit at 99 cents, while many manufacturers coupons are worth $1. In those cases, a less valuable coupon instantly becomes more valuable, because it is able to be doubled.
Some coupons are also not able to be doubled at all, either because of the manufacturer’s policies or the store’s limits.
3. How can I tell if a coupon will automatically double?
Sometimes a coupon will state “do not double” on its face, but, oddly enough, that does not necessarily mean it won’t be doubled by the store. That just means that the manufacturer will not reimburse the store for double the coupon’s value. The store may still choose to offer the double promotion and just bear the cost itself.
The best way to tell if a coupon will automatically double, during double coupon promotions, is to check the bar code. If the coupon bar code begins with the number “5”, it will double automatically. If the coupon barcode begins with the number “9”, it will not double automatically. Cashiers have some leeway to override this automatic function, but it is a good way to check for yourself whether a coupon is likely able to be doubled.
4. Is there a limit on how many coupons I can double?
There might be. The individual store may set limits on doubling total coupons or on doubling “like” coupons. If the store has a limit on “like” coupons, that means the store will only double a certain number of coupons of the same value. So you might be able to double a $1 off coupon and a $0.75 coupon but not two $1 coupons, depending on what kind of limits the store set. If the store limits total coupons, you can only double up to that amount in coupons, no matter what value the coupons are. Most stores do not set limits on the value off you might receive, however. That means if an item is on sale and you are able to double coupons, you could possibly get the item for free! Talk about savings!
5. Do I need to be a rewards member in order to participate?
Sometimes a store will require you to be a member of their loyalty or rewards program. However, these are usually free to join. It will only cost you a few minutes of your time to join the loyalty program, then you can get to doubling coupons right away. Plus, rewards programs also offer rewards, of course, so you can save money by joining anyway.
6. How do I find double coupon promotions?
Ok, now you know what double coupon promotions are and what limitations might exist. The next question is: where can you find these double coupon promotions? There are several stores that offer double or triple coupon promotions, but grocery stores are the most common. Certain chains only offer double coupons in certain states or regions, so make sure that your area is covered by the double coupon promotion. Although limited by region, the following is just a selection of stores that have been known to double coupons:
- A&P
- Acme
- Bi-Lo
- Giant Food (not Giant Eagle)
- Ingles
- K-Mart
- Lowe’s Foods
- Pathmark
- Piggly Wiggly
- Safeway
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Thriftway
- Wegman’s
- Winn Dixie
7. How else can I save money with double coupon promotions?
The best way to take advantage of these double or triple coupon promotions is to combine these events with other savings. You might look for items already on sale, then double your coupons to get even more of a discount.
Or you could use price-matching policies in your favor. Many stores will match the price of a competitor, if you bring them proof of the competitor’s price, such as a flier from the store. After you get the lower price, then you can use your coupon during the doubling promotion and find the savings stack up!
Speaking of stacking, we mentioned earlier that doubling was different than stacking. Some stores allow for both methods of savings to be used at once, however, so you could double some coupons and stack others to get your maximum savings.
Now that you know how to find double coupon deals and what policies might limit your ability to double coupons, you can take advantage of the double coupon promotions. Enjoy saving double the money!