How Do You Organize Your Coupons?
Posted on 25 June 2009 by admin 
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How do you organize your coupons? There are several methods and basically, the more time you spend organizing them, the quicker and easier it is to find them, but you may not have the time or desire to spend a lot of time on organizing your coupons. I tell people you get out of it what you put into it.
I use a big shoe box to organize my coupons. I use divider note cards to separate them into categories in the order that I find them in the store. I keep a pair of scissors, calculator, and pen tucked in the side of the box. I graduated from a children’s shoe box because it was getting too crammed. Before that, I used a 13-pocket expandable file, which is great for beginning couponers, but it wasn’t too long before I outgrew it. I haven’t decided if I’m going to make the plunge and do the 3-ring binder. I think for now I’ll stick with my big shoe box. Southern Savers shares her thoughts on organizing coupons here.
Need to know the best places to get some coupons? Here are my favorite sources:
- Coupons.com
- Red Plum
- All You magazine
- The Sunday paper (buy the largest city paper in your area.) The Cleveland Daily Banner generally only has one coupon insert once per month. The Chattanooga Times Free Press has 1-4 coupon inserts most Sundays. Click here to read about a great deal on a weekend edition.
- Publix
I use a large expandable folder to keep coupons for restaurants and stores (like Babies R Us, CVS, etc.). I don’t bother cliping restaurant coupons. I just put the whole entire coupon page in my folder and then cut or tear off coupons when I need them. I keep both this folder and my coupon shoe box in my car at all times. If you’re in Cleveland, print these coupons for DQ Grill & Chill to keep in your car and use while you’re out this weekend!
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I shared my thoughts on Jenny’s site but thought it worth reposting here. I use the binder method and encourage you to give it a shot when you decide you’re ready!
Some people think it is a little more time consuming but I multitask while filing the coupons which helps pass my time.
I actually have a dual system. The Coupon Binder and a “no cutting” folder system.
I am a very visual person so I enjoy having the Coupon Binder with me in the store which is sorted by categories. I am not embarassed by it at all and it goes with me all the time. Often I am mistaken for a store employee and it opens the door for me to share the benefit of using coupons with other shoppers.
I spend the time cutting my coupons at my inlaws over Sunday dinner while the children play. (Because this is where my papers are delivered) So, it doesn’t seem time consuming or like a waste of time to me.
Plus, seeing, cutting and filing the coupons helps my brain register what I have and what I’ve used.
I also use the “no cutting” folder filing system for any extra inserts that I am given by friends and family. Even though I love my Coupon Binder I find it to be a timesaver to not clip the extra inserts until I need them. The folder filing system enables me to find them as needed for additional trips to the store when I know there is coupons I want to clip & use.
So, a dual system is what works for me.
Here is what I have and here is what I’d like to have when mine falls apart, LOL. This one has an exterior flap and expandable sides.
Happy organizing!
June 26th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I agree with Jennifer… Use the binder. I started out with this method because I attended Time2Save’s coupons class. The thing with the binder is it’s easier to take with you when you go shopping so you won’t miss an unadvertised deal that you have coupons for. I don’t know how many times I’ve used coupons I didn’t plan on because of that. If I hadn’t had my full binder of coupons with me – I would have missed the opportunity to get something I needed/wanted cheap!
You can find a 30 pack of the baseball card holder sheets at Wal-Mart for under $6 and the binders vary, but make sure you find a good one that zips up. I used my Staples rewards one time to get mine so I didn’t even pay for it!
I do also use the same method you have for keeping store and restaurant coupons in my car. It’s the BIG coupon file thing like you have and I just separate by tabs, keeping the “store” coupons in the front so I can find them easier…
Hope this helps you and others! Happy Couponing!
June 28th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Thanks, Cindi & Jennifer for your input! I may switch to the binder one day…when I’m not quite so busy.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Thanks for sharing your method Gloria! I use the binder- but also a small expanding file for my purse. I take out the coupons from my BIG binder and put them in my little filer which is organized by store. I take it with me on my shopping trips so everything is ready to roll at checkout, but I also bring the big binder in case I see a clearance deal or something.