I found this post on The Thrifty Mama today, and thought it was VERY helpful! I hope you do too!
Some stores double coupons. For some they double up to a certain amount. Like my Kroger doubles anything up to 50 cents. . 50 cents becomes a $1, but anything over .50 cents is accepted at face value.
And then there are other stores that will double up to .50 cents, and anything over and under $1 will become a $1. Like .75 cents would become a $1, but anything under .50 cents just doubles the appropriate value. Like .25 cents becomes .50 cents.
So how do you know if a coupon will double or not? Coupons either start with a 5 or a 9. If it’s a five, the store registers will double it if it is an amount set up to double. If it is a 9, then even if it is .50 cents or less, this coupon will not double.
Most coupons that come in the inserts start with a 5. It’s coupons from other sources that are more likely to start with a 9, and not double. Most coupons that you get at blinkie machines will have a 9, and therefore will not double.
Store policies on doubling amounts vary by store and region, so be sure to ask at your store what their policy is.
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Great breakdown! I’ve been clipping coupons for years and never knew about the 5 vs. 9 rule — that’s such a simple trick. I’ll definitely be checking the fine print on my blinkie machine coupons from now on. Thanks for sharing!