"Follow Me Monday" Coupon Organization!
It’s Monday and that means my second edition of “Follow Me Monday”! Today I’m going to discuss coupon organization! I had so many questions regarding this last week, so I thought I’d put your confusion to rest and describe in detail how I organize my coupons. Please keep in mind that the video is very long and will be quite boring if you already know how to organize your coupons, but for those of you that don’t, well, I hope it’s helpful. Also, if you have any other coupon organization tips, I’d love to hear about them in the comment section.
This is a 2 part video. The first part will be all about my favorite coupon organization method–the binder. The second part will be showing how I clip my coupons to save time. Plus, I’ll take you into Walmart and give you an idea of how much it will cost to make your own coupon binder.
Oh and I just want to quickly tell you why I don’t use a zippered binder (this part accidentally got cut out of the video). I first started out with a zippered binder, but I built up a nice coupon stash quite fast and was no longer able to zip it. To me the whole point of a zippered binder is to zip it, so your coupons don’t fall out. Plus, it was so bulky and very difficult to put in my purse. I finally realized that for me anyway, it made way more sense to just buy a normal binder. It fits in my purse nicely–which I show in the video and I’m able to pull out coupons without having to actually take the binder out of my purse. It works great!
Part 1
Part 2
**If you aren’t able to see the videos, then go here to watch them.
My question would be, how do you put the printable Q’s in the baseball card sorters? They are usually much larger than the insert Q’s.
I do a zbinder so I can have a 1.5 inch binder ring for nonconsumables and a 1.5 inch binder ring for consumables.
It has a handle and a strap. I added pencil pouches (the kind that attach to the rings) to carry a diaper and wipes in one and my wallet in the other.
Now I can take all I need in one bag!
love the video! thank you so much for taking the time to make it!
Great video! Thanks for all the work and sharing such great tips. I had a question though on organizing, does each coupon get it’s own little pocket? And echoing some other here, do you find that you cut out EVERY SINGLE coupon or just those you know you will be using? I have found over the last few months, which are the more likely “good” coupons that I would use, but then as soon as I toss the insert you find some great deal with that one I thought I would not ever find for cheap! So just wondering how your coupons “make the cut!”
I have a question about your plastic dividers. Do the tabs stick out past the baseball card pages? I have the paper dividers and find them almost useless! Thanks for the video, very cool!
I wanted to say thank you. I have become a devoted hip2save gal since May, and you have changed our life! I work off commission in sales and economy hurts that quite a bit. My husband was laid off and with all of that, I am able to stuff my cupboards more now than ever. Thank you for all you do!! You are great! (P.S. Love the videos!)
Collin, I’m also a military wife and have a question for you about military coupons. Do you keep yours seperate, in another binder, or just in another section? I don’t like to combine them with “civilian” coupons as that can get confusing. There are enough to make a small binder but didn’t know if it’s worth it. Any suggestions?
Off topic : Anybody tried using the coupon for FREE Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Travel size? I bought one yesterday from Target priced at $1.97. But instead of giving it free, the cashier deducted $1 & I ended up paying .97
Wow! This will help me out a ton. What type of binder do you have? I really like it & it looks pretty sturdy. I want something that will last a long time! TIA 🙂
I just bought a small 4×6 brag photo album to use as a coupon organizer and it works great. It has 42 spaces which I can fit about 3 coupons that I can see and more behind if I need to. Just wanted to let everyone know if they are new to couponing it is a cheap way to start out. I bought it a Target for $1.98. I fits great in my purse everyday. I like to have my coupons with me everyday – you never know when you are going to run into a great deal.
Loved it! Thanks again
I have a Case It 3″ ring zipper binder, purchased it from Amazon for $20.
Love it!
Ok I guess I could give some detail on why I love the Case It 3inch ring zipper binder.
It zips, has inside expandable folders included, pockets inside and out (for your calc and scissors) and it has an adjustable shoulder that can be detached. Also has a a strap for carrying it by hand. I also purchased the baseball cards for organizing. It’s heavy b/ I don’t mind it. I don’t leave home w/o it.
Love my binder!
Oh yeah on the Case It, the expandable pockets inside have a strap that velcros over it to keep things from falling out when you open the binder.
This is not a binder for elementary school kids like some of the reviews on Amazon say. This is a serious binder for couponers like us.
Does anyone know a good website to find/track coupons based on the day and insert they came in?
I use a 3 ring binder as well. I just wanted to add another tip that yall might find helpful. I purchased some square pieces of velcro and attached them to the back of a small hand held calculator and the other squares to the front inside cover of my binder. That way if I ever need a calculator, I have one handy. And I can take it off and put it back in my binder as needed. Works great!!
Again, Target is clearancing the Case It binders right now, even the Dual Ring binders like the one seen HERE. 🙂
This is the one I bought 2 yrs ago so I went out and bought another one for $5 last night. 75% off!
I have this type too, but it seems so big to me. I wouldn’t mind trying the ‘binder in the purse’ idea, but I also love that I can zip up my binder and not have anything fall out.
Ana,
A good site to track coupon dates etc is A Full Cup
Thanks so much for all you do! I had stopped clipping coupons, because of the work cutting them, but using your cutting method (duh!) It is already much easier. I tried the file system, but felt like I missed alot of deals since I didn’t really See and view the coupons I had regularly. Back to clipping today, and it was a breeze! 😉 Thanks again!!!!
Question…..Do you clip every coupon in hopes of a great deal or do you clip only the things you know you’ll use?
Thanks
Sheree
I loved it! at the front i actually have a category for each of the stores i go to. I put my giftcards, register rewards, store coupons, store coupon polisies ect. in those.
O man Iam LOVING this follow me Monday stuff!!! Such good info and fun to watch! Thank you!!!
Excellent videos. I used to categorize, but I’ve switched to alphabetical order within a handful of categories (food, home, and body are the big ones) and find that SO much easier for me. Very little thought has to go into where to put a coupon or where to find it when I need it. I was WAY over-categorizing before.
My purse would fit into one of your purse’s pockets, btw. LMAO!
ok, so after looking over the coments, if you want to do this and allso know what insert your coupons came from you could use a dry erase marker and write it on each pocket or print the list of all the coupons and keep them in the front and cross them of when they are used, just some ideas
Collin…I think you should be a guest on the oprah show or racheal Ray.
Leslie
Thanks for sharing! I organize my coupons to match the grocery store layout like you but my binder is UGLY. It is a case zipper binder with 2 sets of rings (1 used for food -the other for cleaning, personal, laundry,etc). I carry it along with my purse and my friends cringe when I want to bring it in the store! I have a hard time keeping up with expiration dates so I am hoping you will cover that. Also your binder looks so light? I bet mine weighs 15 lbs! You handle yours like it is an envelope!
I just wanted to mention that instead of getting tab dividers when I made my coupon binder, I bought sticky plastic tabs to stick onto the baseball cards sheets. It was much cheaper and very colorful :).
YOU ROCK!!!
I do my binder just like you!!!! Except….I have 2….1 for food and 1 for the other stuff. I have learned well!!
I use a resusable Aldi bag for my “purse”. I like your purse better!!!
What a great video!!! I just advanced to my own 3 ring binder a few weeks ago(our coupon categories are almost identical.) I saved $70.00 last grocery trip! Whopee!!! I have found it doesn’t hurt to ask…yesterday at walmart I mentioned to the clerk that a gallon of milk at Walgreens is $1.69 right now and she honored the price! I mean there is $2.00 right there! I told the manager of another grocerystore that the basil I was buying for $3.00 looked really bad and could he give me a discount, he just told me to take it. Another $3.00 in my pocket. I never take advantage of situations, like I would never lie about a competitor’s price, but it doesn’t hurt to ask if they will honor it. Thanks for all you do!!!
Where do you shop? I love your sweater and purse!!
Ana,
Here are 2 other sites you might want to try:
http://www.taylortownpreview.com
https://www.dealseekingmom.com/coupon-database/
If you like them, you could just add them to your favorites…that’s what I did. HTH:)
I’m new to this whole coupon life style and you are wonderful! I couldn’t do it without all that you do! Thank you!
The Target Case It binders I saw were the 1 1/2″ zip binders, they were on clearance.
Did not see the 3″ Case It binders @ Target.
Collin, that was awsome! Every dork needs a mentor and you are mine! Does it blow your mind that you have this enormous following?
Very awesome! I am loving “Follow Me Monday.” 🙂
Thanks Fran & SoCal mom!
Perfect timing for this one! I was just getting ready to trade in my collapsible, which is bursting at the seams, for a binder and this really helps! I don’t think you were exaggerating about the $20,000 I’ve been couponing for a little over a month now and I’ve saved well over $1000. It’s amazing! I’ve got a huge purse that I bought for air travel with little ones (cups, portable DVD player, DVDs, snacks, coloring books, crayons etc) and I think I will be trading my smaller purse for that one very soon. Thanks again for your this, it’s great!
Oh my gosh! I loved the video. Thanks so much! I have been using 42 snack-size ziplocks taped together with clear packing tape and labeled with file folder labels for a couple of months and have so many coupons that I really need to upgrade! I can hardly wait to get to Walmart to start my binder!!!
I have the same zebra pillows (stein mart–on sale, of course!). Great info. Thanks!
GREAT VIDEO! Keep doing these. I don’t know what I did before I found your site! I know, I spent too much MONEY! Don’t have the time to clip and file though. I like couponmom’s suggestion of dating and filing the inserts and then clipping as I need em! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!
Collin, I love your site and please keep up the good work…i am very grateful to be able to get this info. i am trying to convince my friends to join me because it will save them money but they all say that they dont understand but when I show them my receipt from walmart that i only paid $8 for $35 worth of stuff they were amazed. The woman behind me in the line said Wow how did you that..and it made me happy.
Loving the video’s – what’s next week? I would love to see how you organize your stockpiled items!
I use the binder method – but I have 2 3″ binders one for food & one for non food – plus a small check file for my drugstore specific coupons and to take my lists & coupons with me to the store, it’s organized with a tab for each store plus extra’s (Walgreens Coupons, Walgreens RR, CVS Coupons, ECB’s, etc.)
Great video! Also thanks for returning by email last week. I found the Pull Up Wipes…just where you said they were at your store. THANKS again for all your hard work can’t wait until next week’s video!
Thanks so much for the coupon binder organization info-just an FYI that the coupon holders aka baseball card holders are quite a bit cheaper at Target as compared to Wal-Mart-not sure exactly the amount but it is noticably different.
thanks. Miranda
The Case it Binder I found @ Target is a DUAL binder with rings on both sides. Each side is 1 1/2 in. Totaling 3 in of space for all my qpons!
HTH’s
I sooo appreciate all your information. It helps get us prepared and armed with information……. I too think your video was adorable!!! Thanks again 🙂
Love your vids keep them coming!!
We (my son and I) clip coupons while we watch tv. Keeps our hands busy and gets something boring done at the same time. I use the baseball card inserts as well. We fold them so you can see the item on front and exp. date on back. Makes it easy to get rid of expired ones. I go through them thursday night before we shop on friday at walmart and target. I am going to get some zipper bags that hold pens and things to put coupons in by store specifications.
I go through the night before shopping and paperclip together all the coupons I plan or hope to use. I will use the zipper bags from now on. It helps me from having to look through the whole thing.
Last thing is… I have started copy and pasting your deal scenarios to notepad and then printing it out. I put them in the front of my binder in full pages so I can remember what I went in there to get. Since we are on a tight budget this helps out a lot. I usually know before hand exactly what I am going to spend at each store.
Hope all of that is clear!
Yeah to all the dorks in the world we rule!!
Love these videos! You have me almost convinced to switch from the whole insert method to clipping. I feel like I miss so many ‘on the spot’ deals by not having all my Q’s with me. It is a scary thing to think about destroying months worth of organized whole inserts and clip them all. Has anybody else made this switch and are you happy with it?
After watching last weeks video and seeing your awesome coupon binder, I was totally inspired to make one for myself. So last week I went to Walmart and bought one of the zip up binders, the plastic dividers and baseball card holders and created my binder. I LOVE IT! I was using one of those wallet coupon organizers and it took my forever to find which coupon I wanted. I took my new binder to the grocery store and saved $30.00. I went to another store and saved another 20.00 I then went to CVS and bought 5 bottles of Dawn Hand Renewal with 5 $1.00 coupons and got all of them for free! I could just see everything right away. Ya I was kinda nervous about people looking at me funny with my HUGE binder, but after all of the money I saved I am so happy I don’t even care. I need to get a cool bag like yours! Thank you SO much!! You have helped save me money and TIME!! This has totally changed the way I shop!
You are awesome! I LOVE MONDAYS! Thanks for sharing that. I use somewhat the same method you do, but rather than using a binder I use a picture album. It was MUCH CHEAPER! I couldn’t find baseball card inserts when I started this method, so I thought of trying a picture album, because it has inserts already in it.