Coffee with Collin: Coupon Organization Part 2
Today’s Coffee with Collin is all about my coupon binder. That’s right… today, you will get an exclusive look at my gigantic coupon binder! Plus, you’ll get lots of tips to make your very own binder!
On a side note, I had a great opportunity to visit with reader, Tambry, from Tennessee. Unfortunately, when I went back to edit the video, I discovered that it was really difficult to hear Tambry speaking. For this reason, I’ve decided to not include my conversation with Tambry in the video below. I’ve also decided to not continue with the reader conservations at this point. I am trying to think about another way to get you all involved, so stay tuned for some possible ideas.
Enjoy!
**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.
As you saw in the video above, my favorite coupon organization method is the three-ring binder with baseball card sleeves and clear plastic dividers. I prefer a standard three-ring binder versus the more expensive zippered binder. Although, I initially started out with a zippered binder, I was unable to zip the binder as my coupon stash expanded (which defeats the purpose). In addition, the binder was so bulky and very difficult to put in my purse. I arrange my coupons by category… you can also arrange them alphabetically.
Coupon Binder Supply List
* Heavy-Duty 3 Ring Binder
(keep in mind that Staples has all Avery Heavy-Duty View Binders at 50% Off with in-ad coupon this week)
* 4 sets of Plastic Dividers 8 count
(I highly encourage you to spend the extra money to get plastic instead of paper …it will be well worth it!)
* Baseball Card Sleeves to hold your coupons
(If you are a newbie couponer, you may only want to purchase 18-20 sleeves initially and then add more as your coupon supply grows)
* Scissors – Every couponer needs these! 😉
(Staples has the Westcott 8″ Recycled Scissors on sale for $2 with in-ad coupon this week)
Build Your Own Coupon Binder on Amazon.com:
(for those of you who would prefer to create a coupon binder from the comfort of your own home)
* Avery Durable View 3 Inch EZ-Turn Ring Binder $9.59 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
* Avery Style Edge Insertable Plastic Dividers 8-Tab Set $5.41 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
* 25 pack of baseball card sleeves $5.99 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
OR 100 pack of baseball card sleeves $13.75 with FREE shipping with Amazon Prime
Wondering what categories I use? Check out these FREE Hip2Save printables below to help you organize your own coupon binder…
* Hip2Save Coupon Binder Cover Sheet
* Avery Style Edge Plastic Dividers (item #11201): Page 1 and Page 2
* Avery Big Tab Insertable Plastic Dividers (item #11901 & 16282): Page 1 and Page 2
As I mentioned in this video, I highly encourage you to print off each store’s coupon policy and place it in your binder. Below are the direct links to the coupon policies of some of my favorite stores…
Rite Aid Coupon Policy
Target Coupon Policy
Walgreens Coupon Policy
Walmart Coupon Policy
* Please note that CVS does not have a coupon policy; however, check out my CVS Store Guide for lots of great tips!
If you are a newbie couponer, start small. Instead of jumping into a binder (which can be very overwhelming), consider filling up an envelope with coupons. As you become more familiar with couponing and are determined to continue for the long term, then you may want to advance to the binder method or another organizational method of your choice.
Did you miss my past Coffee with Collin episodes?! If so, head on over here to check them all out.
A special thanks to GiftCardRescue.com for providing Tambry with a $50 Starbucks gift card! If you are in the market to buy, sell or exchange unwanted gift cards, be sure to check out GiftCardRescue.com.
I love the idea of having a “Free” category! I have missed out on some great freebies because they get lost in my other categories. Thank you!
What would you put in your Free category? Do you flip through your binder once a week and look for free items?
You could put coupons that will make items free after coupon/sale, however her category looked like it had coupons for a free item. example, the kraft first taste coupons for free items such as the cooking cream. make sense?
I also put oyno CATS in this section. That way I don’t forget about them
I keep all my free coupons in a separate coupon file, arranged in order of expiration date (in case I lose my coupons, I’ll still have all my freebies!). Once a month, I pull all the freebies that will expire that month and put them in my wallet to use as “fillers” (for an $X/XX purchase, for example) or for special deals (free Excederin and free Kashi coupons toward ECB deals last week at CVS).
I don’t use binders, so I’m wondering how long it takes to go through all those little baseball card inserts looking for expired coupons. That’s one task I absolutely abhor, and it seems to take forever just going through the (somewhat bloated) accordion-style coupon holder I use.
I could never use that many coupons :S
I also divide my binder by category- way easier to deal with. I may go alphabetically from there but I try not to spend too much time on it each week.
My store specific coupons and rewards are in their own sections as well to prevent misplacing them.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much Collin! 🙂 I’m more of a “visual” learner so I love the videos! 😉
Collin is your binder REALLY only a 3″ binder??? I have a 3″ binder and it seems TOO small!? weird I know but my life is now overrun with coupons!
Hi Jess,
Yes, my binder is a 3″. However, when I first began, I went a little crazy and had an even bigger binder… like you said, coupons were taking over my life! 😉 I have since gone down to the 3″ which works well for me. I do not clip all the coupons in the inserts and try to be picky when going through them and deciding what coupons I may use.
Collin,
How many sunday papers do you get?
This amount varies depending on how great the coupons are for that week. I will get 5 to 10 newspapers if the coupons are awesome and possibly just 1 to 3 if they are not so great. I also have been ordering my inserts from Capri’s coupons ( https://hip2save.com/2011/03/giveaway-10-readers-each-win-5-high-value-purex-and-5-high-value-gain-coupons.html ) since the local newspaper in my area never has all the coupons that are available in most inserts.
Thanks Collin,
I didn’t get the A-1 steak sauce coupon in my inserts yesterday. Thanks for letting me know where I can get some. My husband eats it like candy. He even pours it on bread and eats it. I know gross!!!
My paper usually only has 1 insert and then I get other inserts in the mail later in the week, so I can’t even buy more papers to get the extras! Guess I’ll have to start ordering through a clipping service so I can get them.
Same here! SmartSource comes in the paper and Red Plum and P&G come in the mail.
Hey Collin, I love it!! Not sure if it will help you or any of the others, but my sister does the binder method, and while she uses the baseball card sleeves for some things, she has had GREAT luck with currency sleeves!! They are the same sort of plastic sleeves but in a long rectangle shape, made for dollar bill/currency collecters and they are the perfect size for the printable & long coupons etc. so she doesnt have to fold them!
Used to do the coupon binder thing, but with 4 kids under the age of 6 I just could NOT keep up. I keep my inserts in hanging files and pull them out to clip coupons as the deals are mentioned on these kind of sites. I know I miss some deals, but when I see a clearance or local store deal I use http://www.couponmom.com database to look for those specific items. =)
thats what i do too, since i had the hanging files already onhand thats what i went with, the binder was just too much time for me.
I honestly dont know if I could do this, your binder is somewhat intimidating for someone who basically just clips the sunday paper coupons and forgets those.
I am going to really look at your video and see if I test this out. I need to really start saving some serious money because I know I am a spendthrift.
https://www.nycsinglemom.com
Thanks you so much for the tips, we (the kids and I ) love watching the videos together.
So do you just put 1 coupon in each of the baseball slots?
I was wondering the same thing.
Thanks for the video!
You put all of the same coupon in one slot. So say you get 6 sunday papers you have 6 ketchup coupons, you put all six of those coupons in one slot.
Yes, like Beth said, I put all the “like” coupons in the same slot… so if I have 5 $1/1 Tide coupons, they all go in the same slot. I also put them in order by expiration… so if I have 5 Tide coupons from one insert and 5 Tide coupons from another insert. I’ll put the ones that expire sooner up front.
Collin,
I forgot to mention that about order of expiration date. I didn’t do that early on in my couponing and I let alot of coupons expire.
I put a piece of paper in my baseball card holder so that I could put a coupon on both sides of the basdeball holder. It also help with the cost of the baseball holder because I didnt have to buy so many. I also made my own tabs, I printed off the catagories on cardstock then taped them right on the baseball holders. I do have to retape them sometimes, but If you dont have the money to buy the page dividers right now they work great. I do like collins idea and i think I might switch to that when I can. I also have a few different page dividers that have pockets on both sides so I can put extra things in it. It also works great when im shopping I can move the coupons into the pocket. Thanks for all your tips and deals collin I love your site. Anyone that ask me about couping I send them to your site to check out. 🙂
I have an Amazon $10 off your purchase in the Baby Store at Amazon.com code that expires 3/31 if anyone would like it. I’d be happy to email the code. First email sent to sibleyelizabeth@hotmail.com can have it.
Code has been claimed!
I have a 20 % diapers code for the first person to respond. Doesn’t expire until March 31st.
I’d love the diaper code if it’s still available. Thanks! dudzz (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
Its yours! I’m emailing you right now.
I got it. Thank you Beth!!!!
Hip2Save is the only site where the comment section is as awesome as the rest of the site!
I totally got the stuff I needed so I would be ready to make my binder as soon as I saw the video! YAY! Now I know what I’ll be doing this after noon. Collin seriously, you ROCK!
The Binder method is great! But very time consuming, we call it coupon oragami! If you don’t think you have enough time to dedicate to the binder method check out the Coupon Stash Box – https://www.savingaddiction.com/?p=3343 very easy to make! Thanks Collin for all you do 🙂
I like your idea. Is your box the one from Sterilite and the one for CD’s/DVD’s?
Collin, I use the same method! It’s the best! But it seems you have soooo many more coupons than I do. Am I missing some. I clip all the Sundays (multiples) and my printed ones. I also have some from the P&G coupon booklets I’ve been receiving in the mail. But…I feel like I just don’t have that many! Where are you getting yours?!?! And thanks for EVERYTHING! Love your site!
I get most of my coupons from the Sunday paper, All You magazine and by printing them online.
Thanks for posting the links to all the store policies! I only had the Wal-Mart one up till now… so nice to get all the rest printed!!
Loved the video! All morning I kept checking Hip2Save waiting for this to show up! I even kept whining to my husband that you hadn’t posted it yet!=) Definitely a highlight to my day!
Thanks, Shirleen! I’m really glad to hear you are enjoying the videos! 🙂
Collin, I love the videos too! Thanks for choosing to dropthe readers. It sounded like a wonderful idea but it just doesn’t work well so it actually detracts from your message.
Does anyone know if you can use two of the same coupon if you are purchasing the same item twice? For instance, if I buy two boxes of huggies diapers, can I use 2 Target Coupons for Huggies? Sorry if this makes no sense! Thanks~
Hi Molly,
Yes you can! That is two transactions and so two coupons are allowed. 🙂
Your questions wasn’t confusing at all.
Hey there Molly,
Yup – you can definitely use two coupons for two products! Hope that helps. 🙂
why are you always sitting on a blanket? Is it so you dont spill coffee on your couch? I gotta know :):)
Well, hmmm…. there may actually be a coffee stain that I’m covering up. 😉
Oh ha ha ha! No judgement here, I have wine and coffee on my couch, luckily its dark brown. I love your blankets thought!
I also use a coupon binder, but mine is rather simple!
https://lifeasamomma-ksmomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/couponing-part-1.html
I use a small accordion binder for mine and it works well for me. I divide them into categories and can leaf through it while in the store. 🙂
ok..so I wanted to do my first coupon binder last nite..had all the supplies all ready( I actually asked for all the stuff for christmas..so I didn’t have to pay for it 🙂 My brother was actually happy to get it for me b/c it was easy to buy instead of trying to figure out what to get me..anyways) As I was starting to put it together I noticed that my printed coupons could hardly fit b/c they were too wide so I was having to go back and trim every little bit I could to make them fit ( I have more printable ones then those that come in the sunday paper). Any ideas on how to make them fit easier and slide in/out easier?? PLEASE HELP!!!!
Did you watch Collins video? She shows in it that she doesn’t clip them instead she puts them in the bin whole.
yeah but I can’t do that with the ones I print off like say coupons.com b/c they are would not be in the same catergory and I just don’t think that would work.
I bought some photo holders for my binder, they work great for the bigger coupons
I have the same problem. I researched page protectors and they have several different sizes. I found some currency protectors that should hold the printables. I actually have not bought them, unfortunately I found them in bulk awhile ago for a pretty good price but I didnt save the site. GRRRR.. So I am sure if you google you will be able to find a good price on some.
I have the same issue…I file by insert and only want the binder for coupons I’ve clipped but haven’t used, ones I’ve gotten in the mail (which are sometimes way oversized), and my printables. I found some interesting ones (google Mrs. A’s coupon organizer and check out her products link) but the price is pretty high ($6.99 per 6-pack), so I’m on the fence about actually making the purchase. I don’t want to purchase the whole binder Mrs. A has available, just her coupon sleeve/inserts…Anyone out there have these? They look pretty nifty, but are they actually worth it?
They make currency protector pages… that fit bill size currency. These work really well for the larger printables sizes. You can find some good deals on Amazon for them usually.
I cut the printables inside the lines–as close to the important numbers and info as possible, without cutting through any important info (so I can fold them in half and slide them in the baseball slots so they’re facing sideways.). If it just won’t fit, then I fold the printables up like a trifolding (sp?) lawn chair and then put them in facing upright (Not sure if ‘upright’ is the right word, but I don’t put them in sideways). I always try to have a picture of the product and hopefully the expiration date visible. Hope this is making sense!!?! Especially with the smartsource coupons I have to cut inside the border.
I’d love to know from anyone who wants to answer, how do you handle the coupons that are in a category? Do you alphabetize? I attempted to organize my coupons when I first started and it was overwhelming trying to decide even which category a coupon belonged in. (I.E. Does hair color go in beauty products or hair care? Silly example… I’m just saying sometimes it’s difficult for me to decide. It’s my “SHE”-ness for any other flybabies out there)
Since the initial fail, I just keep my inserts organized and clip as needed. But I’d like to start keeping coupons with my while shopping. Any tips out there for the transition?
well, for me, I have a Hair Care category. So hair dye would be filed there in my binder.
I don’t do categories for that reason. I would forget what category I put some coupons in and I would get frustrated trying to look for it. It was a waste of time. I do all my coupons alphabetically. That way when I’m in the store and I need Gain, I look under G, if I need Trident, I look under T. No trying to figure out if gum is under snacks or food or neither, lol… hth!
I think my brain is trained on where everything is LOL! I’ve been using the same system for over 5 years now that I know exactly if I have a coupon and where its located (like my mom might ask me for something, w/out even looking I can tell her yes or no) . I think alphabetically would drive me crazy, flip to D for Dove, O for Olay, S for Softfoap when I can just flip to Health/Beauty, and all body wash coupons are right there.
I do use an expand-a-file and don’t really organize with in various categories, other than keeping ones I know I will want to use (like coffeemate) at the front of the category. I have a pretty good memory so I usually know if I have a coupon for something and even the amount.
I have a million different categories (each category only has 2-4 pages, and I don’t alphabetize them). I just put a new coupon in where there is an available spot. Often, with the coupons that we get on a regular basis (ex. pillsbury) they usually have their own little spot and I take out the expired and replace the expired coupons with the same current ones.
Great Video! Thanks!
I too, like the Store Coupon file system (i.e target) And i am SO getting that little pouch for my calculator, pen & scissors! thanks again!
Thanks for the links for the coupon policies, i dont have any printed 🙂 Now i will
I’ve been using a zippered binder for years. Your best bet if you want a zippered binder is wait til the stores do their back to school clearance. I snagged mine a few years ago at Target for around $4. Its a zippered Case-it 3inch ring binder with a handle. I originally used a regular binder like collin, but that didn’t work for me. Plus, I use Photo Page refills for a majority of my coupons and those are wider than base ball sleeves. I just find the base ball card sleeves are too small to accommodate large coupons. Tear pads fit perfectly in the 4×6 slots.
Another thing with a binder, is that it is constantly evolving. So as it gets bigger, my categories expand. Right now I have 25 Main Categories, then I have a page for specific coupons within that category. Like Collin lists categories for Cosmetic, Oral, Skin Care. I have those listed under Health & Beauty. Which then I have a page for –
Body Wash, Deodorant, Face Care, Feminine Care (which has a separate page for pads/liners, tampons & misc items), etc. At the bottom of each page, I used plain labels to stick to each page.
Lastly, since the photo pages jut out, I used post it index stickers, but I like the idea of the Avery index tabs! I will have to look into those.
n/m I see those won’t work with my binder, too short since I use photo sleeves.
Thanks Collin! This is super helpful. I don’t get a Sunday paper so I just use printables and a few other coupons that come in the mail. So I just use a small 3X5 photo album. I am considering getting the Sunday paper and stepping up my game, but I don’t know if it’s worth it because my family tries to eat all natural/organic foods, and there aren’t that many coupons out there for those products. Though when I am able to get other things for free, I donate them to the food bank. Any thoughts?
Also, I prefer your video as it was today without the reader phone call. You are such an expert on this topic – I appreciate hearing from you as much as we can!
I too use a binder, but I most recently made myself a 5 x 7 binder because I can put it in my purse and carry it with me all the time. (I have a big purse!) They’re on sale this week with a coupon at Staples! Also, I have a section for retail coupons (Gymboree, Old Navy, etc) and one for resteraunt coupons as well. It’s so much easier to keep everything in once place. I don’t have a FREE section, but I’ll be adding that now. Thanks for the idea Collin!
I came across a great deal one day at Office Depot. The plastic dividers were a $1/package (like the ones shown). I bought several! I am helping someone put together a coupon binder so I was happy to give her a few packs. Also, in the back of my binder I have a category for each store I frequent. Included are a few baseball sleeves and a protector sheet with the coupon policy. This way I can move coupons to those stores and have them ready. This is also where I keep my catalinas for that store or RR’s, ECB’s.
I liked the idea about the Target coupon sheets. I will try it out!
Thanks Collin for the printouts – exactly what I needed! 😉 Anna
Thanks so much for this pleasant distraction in the middle of my cleaning day. I just went to our local grocery store (Giant Eagle) with my husband over the weekend and we saved about $130 between in store specials, coupons and “FoodPerks”. I was really excited about all my savings! Thanks so much for starting me off with coupon bargaining!
Thanks! Has CVS never had a coupon policy?
Thanks for the Target coupon tip, I have a binder and use the baseball card slots, I have to stay very organized to keep up with what I have thats the key to getting the best deals when you go shopping to.
Hi Collin! I really love the binder idea and I’m thinking about switching over. I only have ONE thing that is keeping me from switching…. When I follow your site as far as what to buy and how to match up coupons from a specific DATE with the latest sale, it’s so easy because right now I’m keeping my coupons in order by date. If I switch over, I won’t be able to reference by date or even by which insert the coupon came from. Does that make sense? Sorry to be confusing, I just wanted to know how you go about keeping up on that! If you say Colegate coupon from 10/22 SS, will I just have to flick through my binder in the personal section until I find the coupon?? Just wondering! Thanks!
Hi Lindsay,
Since I organize my coupons by category, I can easily locate them without having to reference what date and insert they’re from. For example, If I was trying to locate a Colgate coupon for a specific store deal, I would just flip to my oral care category and find the coupon that way. I hope that makes sense.
I use a dry erase and write the expiration date on my baseball card slots. Stays most of the time and wides off easy.
If you are supposed to keep your coupons from the newpaper inserts in a box until deals are announced, then what coupons do you have in your binder?
Hi Heather,
I don’t organize my coupons that way. I actually clip all the coupons I think I may use right away and then organize them by category in my binder.
LOVE The Target coupon advice mine are out of control. I love to see someone as organized as me 🙂
I am an avid couponer and put very little effort into my coupons. I don’t even have a binder. I think I have the easiest method. I don’t clip ANY coupons. I simply stack my inserts in chronological order into three separate piles: SS, RB and PG. Then I check Hip2Save on Saturday and Collin tells me – for this coupon use 1/3 SS or whatever. If it’s an item that I want that week then I go to my stack of inserts and simply clip the ONE that I want. I have three small business size envelopes, one for each major drug store. I put the coupons that I will use that week into the envelop. I see those huge binders and I think a lot of people get scared off. They look like so much work and maintenance. I get all the same deals with very little effort. Thanks to Collin!
I do exactly the same! I have my deals planned out, printed out and my envelopes ready for each store. It’s quick, cheap and easy and I like the fact I don’t have a huge binder to haul. I also carry a small wallet -sized coupon holder in my purse of coupons I will most certainly use. Also, if I happen to see a deal and I don’t have the coupon with me, many stores around here will refund the coupon amount if I return within a week with the receipt and the coupon.
I’m not knocking those who choose the binder way, but just to reassure new couponers that it is not necessary to spend a lot of time to save a ton of money with coupons. As Collin said, each person can choose what works best for them.
Collin, Hip2Save is the best. It helps my family out so much..(hubby lost job) Huge thanks for the time you put into this!!
hi Colin! Wonderful video and after watching it, I have decided this is what I want to do to take charge of my mess! Where did you get the little plastic scissor holder you have pictured at the front of your binder?
You should be able to find them an any school section. The dollar store has them also!
Yes, like Holly said, check the dollar store. I’ve also seen these pouches in the Dollar section of Target. You can also get them from any Office Supply store.
I think it’s awesome that my binder is almost exactly like yours! And here I thought I was some kind of smarty pants because I thought of it on my own…lol. Last year I used a giant photo album which worked great, but when it started falling apart after months of abuse, I upgraded to the baseball card protector/binder system. I started out with a zipper binder and found I did NOT like it because I couldn’t close it and it seemed inconvenient when I was at the store. I have the same tabs, plastic separators, etc.
I also have the same categories as you, but I do have two extras (that might not apply to everyone). My regular grocery store accepts expired coupons (up to 30 days) so I have an expired coupon section, but I only put the expireds in that are high value or ones I know I’ll use. I do this when I go through to clean out my expireds. I used to keep them in their section, but it became confusing with other stores (and also added a sense of urgency to remind me to use the expireds ASAP…lol).
The very last section of my binder includes printed Groupons, Living Social deals, restaurant dining coupons, etc. I have found that I usually stick them in a pile of papers and I forget they even exist. Keeping them in my coupon binder helps me stay organized and it’s all related, so it works for me 🙂
The binder DOES take a lot of time, but I have fun doing it since my husband and I work on it together Sunday and Monday nights. He’s my coupon buddy (sometimes he gets a little crazier than me…lol), but it’s awesome that we just have one more hobby we do together and it cuts the binder time in half! Thanks for sharing the video! 🙂
Someone please help. I have been trying to print coupons from coupons.com and it just says sending coupons to your printer. Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to fix the issue? It is not my printer, it’s the website.
I sometimes run into that problem and have no idea why. I’ve found over and over than 1 of 2 things always work for me. Either I turn off my printer and unplug it for a few seconds (it seems to reset the printer) OR I try printing from Internet Explorer (instead of my regular Firefox). Hopefully one of those tips help you 🙂
Thank you. I switched to Internet Explorer and it worked just fine.
I have used the file whole inserts method for a year now and have done great with my savings as long as I was doing matchups. When I’m in the stores though I only have the coupons with me that I had pulled for that sale. I really want to step my couponing up a notch. Do you (Collin and hip2save readers) think the binder is the best overall for someone like me? Do any of you find you buy items just because you have the coupon and not necessarily because it is a great deal?
Like you, I’m not cutting out coupons unless I’m using them. I am going to start taking my uncut inserts with me though. I have a 1.5 in binder with double sided pockets since I receive two papers. You can go to 2 in if you receive lots of other coupons like from All You. If you have a Smartphone use LadySavings app that another hip2saver mentioned this week and it’ll tell you which insert to get your coupon from. If you don’t, print the coupons listed on the coupon preview that Collin links us too. Take a couple minutes to cross out those that didn’t come for your region and pencil in those that did.
Jenifer~
I also have a binder and love it!! Yes, it does take more time, but I enjoy it and take pride in my binder. I work on my binder when I’m watching Real Housewives on Bravo or Desperate Housewives…I’m watching the shows any so I might as well work on something at the same time. It has also enabled me to get some great, unadvertised deals at the store. For example, 2 weeks ago my Dillons store had Playtex Proglide Tampons ( I know, not real exciting 🙂 ) on closeout for 2.50 a box, regularly priced at 4.99 and 5.99. I had 10 coupons for 2.00 off so I got tampons for only .50 a box!! If I wouldn’t have had my binder, I wouldn’t have gotten the deal. And things like this have happened numerous times…bodywashes, cereal, packaged foods, etc!! I don’t purchase things just because I have my coupons with me. I save my coupons and wait for sales, but having them with me does help with the clearance, closeout, unadvertised deals. I will always use the binder method!!
I wanted to mention I found 35 sheets for $5.77 at Walmart, this was the best price, most of the office stores had 15 for $5+. Also, I found the Plastic dividers at the dollar store in 8pks.
Great Job Collin, but I am dying to see your artwork hanging on the wall and some decals that are on the actual wall behind you. 🙂 It looks beautiful!
How do you organize within each tab? Alphabetical.. By similar product.. By company.. This is my downfall. Thank you
This is my downfall too as I’m not to organized in the categories themselves. After categorizing all the items, I don’t really have any sort of method for organizing them even further. I will try and put similar product coupons close together, though. For example, in the cleaning category, I will try and put all the laundry detergents together, all the dish soap coupons together, etc…
I think doing that would be too time consuming. Like Collin, I try to put similar products near each other, but that doesn’t always happen. Just do what works for you. Try one way and if it doesn’t work, then try another.
I do mine alphabetically and it works really well for me. I can jsut flip to the category and find the product quickly.
I dont organize mine either for the most part. I did just reorganize a little bit that im going to try out. Like under oral care a started putting crest on one page, colgate on another. Medications had about 4 pages of coupons so I have started organizing them buy type of meds. I dont label it with a tab, I only do this for big catagories that have lots of coupons.
This is how I have mine set up. For my Health/Beauty Category, I have a page for:
*Body Wash (which I decided the other night to make one page Women’s and another for Mens)
*Deodorant (you can do a page for women, and one for men if you want. my dh is a degree only man, so I don’t bother clipping coupons for any other type of mens deo, so everything fits on one page for me)
*Face Care (I have everything on one page, but you can separate face wash coupons on one page, lotions on another)
*Feminine Care (here, I have a page each for pads/liners, tampons & misc items)
*Hair Care
*Lotion
*MakeUp
*Oral Care (here, I have it separated by page again, one for toothbrushes/toothpaste and another for floss/mouthwash)
*Shaving
It really depends on how intricite you want your binder. Over the years, mine has expanded and continues to be tweaked as I see fit.
I use a plastic file folder with different files in it (it’s probably 10X12? Not too big). It’s small enough to be portable and large enough to hold everything I need. I put my inserts in there by date, but I first take a few minutes each Sunday to type up a list (and print it out) of all the coupons in that insert. So, I can just look through the list and see what’s in there and which insert it’s in. I don’t have time to clip coupons or do a binder (I did have an impressive binder at one point, but I simply did not have the time to devote to it). I also use envelopes.
WOW!! I really enjoyed “seeing” all this. And, thanks so much for sharing exactly what all you used to put your binder together. It was a great tutorial!
I had a binder, but now I’m into the BIG index card holder. It’s smaller and fits into the grocery basket seat easier (my binder continually fell off). Plus, I’ve got paperclips, post it notes, and scissors in there as well. On the back of the dividers I list specific items that my family prefers (like my husband deodorant). Why after 11 years I can’t remember is beyond me. 😉 So far it’s worked pretty well, even with little people in tow.
Just a tip: Inside my coupon binder, I cut squares of construction paper to put into the baseball card slots. By doing this, I have a divider to put coupons on both sides of the construction paper and can fit twice as many coupons into the baseball card sheets.
Great idea!!
Do you find that it adds more bulk and weight to your binder though adding another layer? I’ve wanted to do this just so it’s easy on the eyes when you see the back of the page, but I just put them in there anyways. So I am using both sides. I guess I just assumed that everyone would do it this way to maximize the use of the baseball holders. Lol!! 🙂
i usually get 6 – 10 inserts and with this amount, my binder is big but the dividers can handle the bulk of the coupons and being on both sides
Hi Collin, I actually have a time saver for the coupon cutters! Instead of using scissors to cut all of my coupons, I use a gadget that I bought from pampered chef, but you can find them anywhere. Amazon has one called iSlice https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Harold-Import-iSlice-Opener/dp/B00106JH5M. I use one of the plastic cutting boards that you can buy from the dollar store under my coupons and cut them this way – it makes the process so much faster! I actually have one on my fridge, one in my binder, and another in a drawer – they’re great too because it’s virtually impossible to cut yourself with them so you don’t have to worry about an open blade. Hope this helps someone!
I have this cutter, I got it at Big Lots and seen them at Harbor Frieght recently. I needed help cutting the inserts out, I haven’t used it much yet…as I needed something under it. Now I will have to check the dollar store for a cheap cutting board. Thanks!
I have a question…how often and how do you go through and take at all your expired coupons (and how long does it take)? Thanks!!
I usually go through my binder only once a month or so. If I feel like I’m seeing more and more expired coupons in my binder, then I will do it then during a television show. It only takes 10-15 minutes to go through my binder and weed them out. My 9 year old daughter has made up a pretend coupon binder and puts all my expired coupons in her binder. Then they play grocery store and go through my stockpile and match coupons to the items. And then they “ring” up their items on their Leapfrog register. I’m starting them early on the couponing and stockpiling!! And it’s a great learning tool as well…my daughter will ask me how much an item is in my stockpile and then she will figure out what the “purchase” price is with the matching coupon!!
I go through about once a month as well, takes no more than 10 minutes or so to flip through and pull.
I usually just watch the video without reading the comments, but I’m glad I read them today. I had a coupon binder and it frustrated me to no end because of the baseball card sleeves. All the folding and trying to shove the coupons in the sleeves was beyond annoying. I see that there are a lot of people on here who have used photo sleeves so I’m going to give that a try and see how it works. I love the binder, love being able to see my coupons with the flip of a page..but I hate putting them in. I’m currently using a 5×7 card box with index dividers, and I can’t tell you how many times my box has either fell or one of my kids knocked it over and ALL of my coupons fell out. I don’t cry often, but that brings me to tears every time.
I don’t use the baseball holders, I use CD holders. The microfiber backing keeps the coupon for falling out, and i label them the same.
This might be a stupid question, but once you clip the coupons, how do you keep track of which insert they’re from?
If you’re using the binder method, then we’re not keeping track of the insert they came out of…there’s no need to. If Collin lists an item on, say the Walgreens weekly ad, for the Hydro Razor, I don’t need to know which insert it came out of. I simply go to my category, which I have labeled Shaving/Deoderant, and find my coupon for the Hydro Razor there.
I guess my question was more just out of curiosity. I know you don’t need to know what insert it comes from if it’s organized in your binder, but if Collin clips and organizes like this, I was always curious how she knows what insert it’s from when she’s making her awesome lists for us each week.
Oh sorry…I guess I thought you were really wanting to know how we know which insert they come out of. Collin has a coupon database with all the coupons and their dates/inserts…I suppose she can go to that when she is posting the deals for us. 🙂
I just wanted to pass along my very frugal way of avoiding buying the plastic tab dividers that Collin recommends. I use the heavy duty post-it tabs (there have been several free samples of these) and stick them right on my baseball card sheets, then I don’t need dividers which saves space in my binder for more coupons, and the heavy duty tabs last a long time.
yep! Since I use photo pages, index dividers don’t work. the tabs don’t stick out far enough to see my categories, so I bought the post it tabs and boy do they work wonders!