COUPON STACKING AND COMBINING

A Guide to Understanding

There is a fine line between coupon stacking and combining and knowing the difference will help you maximize your savings when shopping and using coupons. This process is very confusing for people and once it’s explained it should make perfect sense.

Any experienced couponer knows that by combining coupons you can save much more money when shopping.

Combining coupons means using two different coupons on TWO separate products.

Stacking coupons means using two coupons on ONE product.

HOW TO COMBINE COUPONS

If you have a variety of different coupons for one product and you’re trying to figure out how to make the best use of your coupons, sort them out in front of you so you can see all the coupons you have for one product. That way you can look at whether or not you can combine them, and how best to use them.

I’ll use Tide laundry detergent coupons as the example in the various ways to combine coupons to explain this advanced couponing method of saving money. I’ll use some of the common coupon amounts and types to explain this.

Pick up two jugs of Tide laundry detergent (same size as you’re coupon states), and head to checkout.

• Use your $1.50 coupon off the first jug of Tide. (Place the coupon with the product)
• Use your BOGO (buy one get one free) coupon on the second jug of Tide. (Place the coupon with the product) The BOGO means that when you buy a jug of Tide, you get a second jug free. You bought the first jug with the $1.50 coupon, and you have a coupon to get a second jug free when you buy one.

Since each coupon is applied to a separate product, it’s perfectly fine to combine them. Make sure you read the coupon, as some will say they cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer. As long as this is not an issue then it’s a legitimate way to use coupons.

HOW NOT TO COMBINE COUPONS

Here is an example of how not to combine coupons.

You have a $3/wub2 off coupon for Tide. You also have a $1 off coupon for any Tide.

You pick up your two jugs of Tide and head to checkout.

The $3/wub2 means that you are saving $3 for every two jugs of Tide you buy.

The $1 off means you are saving $1 off every jug you buy.

By combining these two you are now stacking. This is not combining at all. You are trying to get a dollar amount off two jugs with one coupon, plus adding another dollar amount off one of the same jugs.

THIS IS STACKING AND NOT ALLOWED AT MOST CANADIAN STORES.

You’re using this first coupon on both products.        You’re using this coupon on one product.

This coupon lets you save $1.50 on each jug.            This coupon lets you save $1 on each jug.

 

By using both coupons, you’re trying to get money off one product twice, by using 2 coupons which is definitely stacking. This is NOT ALLOWED in most stores in Canada. Do not try to do this.

London Drugs allows stacking, as long as the UPC codes on the coupons are different. There is a whole policy on it, which isn’t covered here.

Hopefully, this has shed some light on the differences between combining and stacking.

It’s important that you only use one coupon per product. Do not try to use two coupons on the same product.

Not all cashiers will understand what you’re doing or allow it. However as long as the coupon does not restrict the use of combining then it should be permitted and it’s the smart way to coupon.