I know some of the coupon matchups can look very similar to Chinese. If you’ve been couponing for a while, then you can probably scan through them and find the best deals with no trouble at all! Not everyone is that lucky and because I try to cater to the novice coupon users, I’m taking a minute to give you step by step instructions on how to read the matchups. I’ll start with the easiest ones first. Here we go! *Note: these are all hypothetical scenarios. There aren’t any deals or coupons that correspond with scenarios. The parts highlighted in RED are not actual links. I did this to give you the full effect of the matchups* Let’s say you see something that looks like this:
Dove Body Wash: $2.50
Use (1) $1/1 Dove coupon, from SS 8/12
Final Price: $1.50
This one is pretty self explanatory, but I will run through the details anyway. You obviously use the (1) $1 off Dove coupon you found in the smartsource insert from August 12, to reduce the price to $1.50. $2.50-$1.00=$1.50 Final Price. Easy enough, right? Let’s move onto something a little more complicated. 2nd Scenario:
Dove Body Wash: $2.50
Use (1) $1/1 Dove coupon, SS 8/12
And Use (1) .50/1 Dove coupon, (target.com)
Final Price: $1.00 each
Ok, the first coupon stated is for $1 off Dove and you can find that coupon in the smartsource insert from August 12. The second coupon is for .50 off Dove and you can find it on the target website. (*Note* all internet printable coupons will be highlighted in RED and you can click on these links and it will take you to the site where you can print) When I say Use *this* coupon AND Use *this* coupon, that means that (1) is a manufacturer coupon and the other is a store coupon. Most stores will allow you to use (1) store coupon and (1) manufacturer coupon on the same item. So, in this scenario, you will be “stacking” both coupons together for a total of $1.50 off the item. ( $2.50-$1.00-.50=$1.00 Final Price.) We’re getting there! 3rd Scenario:
Dove Body Wash: $2.50
Use (1) $1.50/1 Dove coupon, from SS 8/12
Or Use (1) $1.00/1 Dove coupon, from RP 7/15
And Use (1) $.50/1 Dove coupon, (target.com)
Final Price: As low as $.50 each
Sometimes this one confuses people and the OR thrown in the mix is the reason why. Some might think because this scenario shows (3) coupons, that you can use all (3) coupons together. That is not true. You can still only use (1) store coupon & (1) manufacturer coupon per item. The second coupon listed is an alternate coupon for Dove, if you don’t have the $1.50 coupon. Some areas don’t get the same coupons, therefore if there are any other coupons available for that item, they will all be listed under the product as well. Just look at it like this, if you see an OR in front of the coupon, that means you have the option of choosing that one or one of the other ones listed. The ONLY time you can use (2) coupons on the same item is if you see an AND in front of the coupon. That obviously means you can combine that one with another one listed above. When you get to the final price and it says “as low as”, that means that the price can be “as low as” $$ listed, if you have the right coupons.
Not every combination of coupons will produce that final price. For instance, the scenario above states there are (2) manufacturer coupons. (1) $1.00 off coupon & (1) $1.50 off coupon. It also states there is (1) store coupon for .50 off. Using the rule above, I can use (1) of each type of coupon. If I use the $1.50 coupon and the .50 coupon, the final price will be .50 each. ($2.50-1.50-.50=.50 final price.) If I don’t have the $1.50 coupon, but DO have the $1.00 coupon, then the final price would be what? $1.00 each. ($2.50-1.00-.50=$1.00 each) So, the final “as low as” price refers to the lowest $ amount I can get with the combination of coupons above. Make a little more sense? Let’s do another one.
Dove Body Wash: $2.50
Use (1) $1.50/1 Dove coupon, from SS 8/14
Or Use (1) $1.00/1 Dove coupon, from RP 8/12
Or Use (1) $1.00/1 Dove coupon, (dove.com)
Or Use (1) $.50/1 Dove coupon, RP 7/31
And Use (1) .50/1 Dove coupon, (target.com)
Or Use (1) .75/1 Dove coupon, (target.com)
Final Price: As low as .25 each
Ok, let’s begin. This scenario is very similar to previous one, but I added a few extra coupons and more internet printables to throw you off. 
Take a look at the wording in front of the coupons. Based on what it says, it looks like I can use a total of how many coupons on this item? Two. (1) store & (1) manufacturer coupon per the “stacking” rule. Which (2) coupons will give me the lowest final price? Well, we know that there are (2) target coupons available. (1) for .50 off Dove & (1) for .75 off Dove. We also know that there are how many manufacturer’s coupons? Four. (2) from a redplum insert, (1) from a smartsource insert & (1) from the Dove website. Well, based on the “as low as” final price, which combination of coupons will give you the price of .25 each? We know we can pick (1) of the manufacturer coupons and rule of thumb is you want to pick the one with the highest dollar amount and that would be the $1.50 coupon, from SS 8/14. We have our manufacturer coupon, now we need our store coupon. We only have (2) to choose from, so I likely want to pick the highest value coupon, which is the .75 coupon on the target website. “Stack” those (2) coupons together and your final price is .25 each. ($2.50-1.50-.75=.25 each)
Keep in mind, you can use any combination of manufacturer coupons & store coupons, but those (2) particular ones yield the lowest out of pocket cost and that’s why we’re all here. To save money! If you don’t have those (2) coupons, you can pick any of the other manufacturer coupons to stack with either of the store coupons, for a different price. For example: Use the $1.00 coupon, from redplum 8/12 & use the .75 coupon from Target’s website, for a final price of $.75 each. ($2.50-1.00-.75=.75)
