Knowing your store's coupon policies can save you a lot of money and headache. Store employees have a lot to remember and coupon policies may not be at the top of their list. Especially if you are served by a new cashier, you may need to educate them as to their store policies. Also, there are those out there that get rubbed the wrong way when the customer saves too much money. They make up their own rules and may try to refuse your coupon. Be prepared with the facts!

First, make a list of all the grocery stores in your area, even the ones you think might be too pricey. With the right sale and coupons, you can save big even at the pricier stores.

Familiarize yourself with each store's coupon policies. Policies vary by store and chain. A store in one area can have a completely different policy as the same store across town.
Call into or go in and talk with the store's Customer Service Department about their coupon policies. Common Store Policies:

• No Doubles - your coupons will be accepted at face value only. Most drugstores and retail stores will not double or triple coupons.
• Double Coupons - your coupons face value will be doubled. Stores that double commonly double up to $ .50 - $ .55. Some will double $ .75 - $1.00.
• Triple Coupons - your coupons face value will be tripled. Stores the triple commonly triple up to $ .39.
• Most stores limit how many of the same coupon they will double or triple. If you have four $ .50 coupons for mustard, they may only double the first three. The fourth coupon would be paid at face value. In this case, you would want to do multiple transactions to maximize your coupon purchasing power.
• Some stores will take expired coupons. Even if it is store policy not to accept expired coupons, most cashiers will take coupons that are only a week or two past the expiration date. If they do not accept the expired coupon, they are well within their right not to and you should not make "waves" over it.
• A few stores generate their own coupons that can only be used at their store. CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, Eckerd, Longs, Toys-R-Us, Target and some grocery stores are the most common. These coupons can be found in the in-store fliers, home mailers, store ads, and magazines. These coupons can be 'stacked' with manufacturer (MF) coupons for even greater savings. Example: Walgreen's has a coupon in their ad for $ .40 off Charmin toilet paper. You have a MF coupon for $ .25 off the same Charmin. You can combine the store's $ .40 coupon with your MF $ .25 coupon for a savings of $ .65.
• If the store has a loyalty card program, sign up for it. This may be the only way you will be able to get the sale prices. You can also get coupons sent to your home if you provide your address when you sign up.
• Competitor Coupons - some stores accept competitor's coupons or price match competitor's ads.
• A few grocery stores such as Kroger have "e" coupons you can download to your rewards card from different participating company sites such as Proctor & Gamble eSaver. These coupons can be combined with manufacturer paper coupons for the same item and are automatically taken off at the register when your rewards card is scanned. This is currently the only circumstance that you can combine two manufacturer's coupons for the same item. Example: You download an eCoupon for Huggies Diapers onto your grocery rewards card. You may also supply the cashier with a paper coupon for Huggies Diapers. Both coupons will be deducted off your bill for purchasing one package of Huggies.

Ask your store the following questions:

1. Do you double or triple coupons?
2. Up to what coupon values do you double or triple?
3. How many 'like' coupons will double or triple?
4. Do you take Internet printed coupons?
5. Can I combine manufacturer coupons with your store coupons?
6. Do you take expired coupons?
7. Do you take competitor coupons?
8. Am I able to download any "e" coupons onto my rewards card? What companies are providing the "e" coupons?

Using a buy one get one free coupon on a BOGO sale item.

Depending on how the store charges for the BOGO item will depend on how the coupon combines with the sale.

• If the store rings up the first item at full price and the second item at zero then both items will be free when you use a BOGO coupon. The store's sale will deduct the price of the first item and the coupon will deduct the price of the second. This only works when both items being purchased are the same price. If the the BOGO sale is for an equal or lesser value item and you purchase a lesser value item, both the sale and the coupon will take off the lower priced item and you will pay the difference between the higher and lower price. Remember, the store will be reimbursed by the company offering the coupon for the price of one of the items plus $ .08 shipping & handeling. Essentially you are using the coupon to pay for the "buy" part of the buy one get one sale.
• If the store will not allow for two free items, then you should buy 4 items. Two items will ring up at full price and two items will ring up zero. When the BOGO coupon is scanned it will take off the price of the third item. You will pay for one item and get 3 free.
• If the store rings up each item for half price, then the half price amount will be deducted from your bill when the BOGO coupon is used and you will get both items for 75% off. Example: If the item costs $4.00 the two items will ring up at $2 each. The BOGO coupon will take off $2.00 and you will pay $2.00 for both items or $1.00 each. 75% off.