Happy Friday: Coupon Organization Tip
Sent from reader, Cathy:
I thought your readers would like this helpful tool. I organize all of my store & restaurant coupons in a file folder. I keep it in my glove compartment. When I get to a store, I pull out the folder, look for the (alphabetically filed) coupon & pull it out for use in the store. Once a week, I clean it out (pull expired coupons & add new ones) and plan my shopping strategies.
Helpful hint: I keep all the restaurants in the last pocket. It’s easier to look/pick out one if they are readily available for comparison. As you can see, I need a new folder. This one has been very well used.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
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Great tip! Newbie help- Does anyone have tips regarding SS and other manufacturer coupons? How do you guys organize them? I tried with categories but it’s becoming a pain since there’s soo many different categories and then once there cut out there too small and they end up lost amongst the bigger ones in that category. Then another issue I have is when a deal calls for a specific Ss or red plum date if there cut I can’t find the correct SS or red plum ad date since there cut out.
It’s to the point where I now just have them piled up in a closet not clipped but there taking over my closet. Desperately need help. Thanks
Accordion file for the inserts, sorted by date. Then clip as needed.
I second Kelly’s method. I only clip the coupons when I need them. Put all unclipped inserts in a filing cabinet in my closet sorted by date. Good luck! 🙂
I also do this, but when there are surprise clearance items or unknown sales, I am not ready to use a coupon right away
A lot of cuopons excluding clearance items anyway , but once in while its okay if you buy a lot of different stuff
I do what Kelly does. I found a cheap file box and used file folders as deciders. Try to make sure you don’t cut/ rip off the date from the binding. I write the date at the top and only cut coupons I need that day. That’s it:)
I try to only clip/print coupons I know I will use. I put them in a file like in the post, under broad categories. For example Health and Beauty, but then I added paper dividers to separate soap and shampoo from oral care or feminine products. I have dividers for the front pocket to put the coupons i am using on my next trip, since i often go to multiple stores. I keep my extra inserts in order by date and write the date really big on the front.
I have 3 ring binders. I 3-hole punch all the coupon inserts I get and organize them by company (SS, RP, P&G) and I label the front of each with the date. Then when I’m looking for a coupon from a specific date/insert I just flip to the insert and clip the coupon I need. It saves me a lot of time organizing and clipping coupons I may not even use. I have another binder with pocketed pages to hold printed/mailed coupons according to category (i.e. frozen grocery, canned goods, etc.). I don’t use a ton of insert coupons so this works best for me.
Accordion file or pre-made coupon ‘wallet’ for sure. When separating think about YOUR shopping style. I sort by cereal/bread, dairy, frozen, meats, toiletries, can goods/sauces, miscellaneous, etc. I do recommend NOT sorting by date. Why? What if you want something and think you don’t have the coupon. But you do, it’s just filed under a different date. Missed savings opportunity. Product sorting better. Just remember to continue to ‘clean out’ regularly. That also makes it easier to know what you have and helps you match up many hip2save deals 😉
I organize my binder according to the store lay out I shop most. So the first section is aisle one, the second section aisle two and so on. When I am at another store, I just think about where it is at my Publix.
I clip the coupons for products I normally use. And then file my inserts away by date in organizer (1 bin per insert source – PG, SS, RP). I was using a 3 inch binder with categories/subcategories, but I got tired of trying to keep it organized and lugging it around. I’d clip coupons and they’d pile up until I’d go through them and half would be expired! I downsized to a five star flex binder. I bought it for my son at the beginning of the school year, but he didn’t need a binder. So I had an idea to downsize my case it binder. And the flex fits perfectly in my purse!!
What I did was use clear page protectors with a piece of construction paper in each one just to give it some weight. On the front of each page, I attached 2 half-page sticky PocketTabs by Avery (got them off ebay, 5.125 x 8.315 Inches). I labeled them general categories – Pantry (for all dry goods), Beverages, Snacks (candy, chips, crackers etc), Refrigerated, Frozen, Deli, Beauty, Pharmacy, Household, Misc (I use it mostly for IPs). Behind the coupon section, I added index pages that had pockets and labeled them per store – CVS, Rite Aid, Wags, Walmart, Target, Winn Dixie. To CVS, I added a page protector with 2 pockettabs, one I keep all store coupons (IPs, from the MCM, homemailers) and the bottom one has my EB’s. When I make my grocery list, I pull coupons I need and tuck them in the index pocket for whichever store. And I have a clear zipper pencil pouch that I keep restaurant and other store offers (like Bed Bath Beyond, Bath & Body Works, etc) If I have to dig for a coupon, I just have to pull them out of the tab. After couponing for so long, I tend to remember what I have clipped!
could u please send me pics of how ur binder looks like? sounds really cool
Thanks. Ah, I am low tech, no idea how to post photos. But it’s just an old metal lunchbox, with dividers like recipe card dividers, just cut them from whatever cardboard is handy (cereal box, gift boxes). Use different colors to make the tabs easy to differentiate visually. Or color code if you prefer. I like many categories so there is less to flip through in each. Here are my categories: air freshener, antacid, baby, bathroom, baking, bread, butter/marg, cake mix, candy, cereal, cheese, cleaners, coffee, cold/flu, cookies, crackers/chips, dairy, dental, deodorant, diapers, dish soap, dressing, eyes, face, feminine, first aid, floor, foot, fruit, hair, jello, juice, laundry, lotion, makeup, meat, medication, nuts, oil, paper, pasta, pesticides, plastic/wraps, RX (prescriptions), salsa, sauces, scrubbers, shaving, soaps, soda, soup, SPF/bug spray, spices, spreads, syrup/jam, tea, technology/office, toilet, toys, vegetables, vitamins, windex.
Oops, sorry, lowtech, posted this in the wrong spot!
Maybe your categories are too narrow? I have about twelve categories: refrigerated, frozen, canned/condiments, snacks and beverages, household products (paper, cleaning, batteries, etc.), personal care, etc.
Hate cutting coupons. I file the entire insert and mark the last expiring coupon on the folder. I clean out my folders periodically and reuse folders.
I only cut what i need.
I get the expiration dates of coupons from post about inserts. Look quickly for last expiring and file that insert. Hope that makes sence!
With you 😉
I organize all my cut coupons in a coupon box that I purchased from Jenns coupon box website. She has the best quality boxes that allow you to file your coupons by category. I started out with the binder method but then I found that all the cut coupons weren’t fitting inside the sleeves of the page protectors. This box method is a lot more simple and I keep my coupons in cards separated by categories. If anyone wants to see pictures of it I will be happy to send them to you.
I am not getting compensated by Jenn in any way. I’m just a very happy customer!!
I’ve seen those online. Wish I had the money to buy it. They’re so pricey😔
I had never heard of these before I just looked at the website and dang they are so expensive – kinda ridiculous.
I keep an accordion file like the one in the photo, with coupons filed under the manufacturer name. That’s because some of the coupons are for multiple items like Snickers, Milky Way – better just to file under Mars Candy. I cut and file the coupons I’ll probably use. Then I keep periodical files for the inserts with the dates written on the front and filed by date. One box for SS, one for Redplum and one for P&G and others. That way if I need something from SS a week or two ago, I just pull the entire insert and find the coupon. I keep about 3 months of inserts since expiration dates don’t seem to be very long these days.
Amazon sells cute coupon organizers. My hubby got me one for Valentine’s Day! I only clip the coupons on need and toss it in my purse.
I love the 3 ring binder woth whole inserts organozed ajd the dates written on them. Heres the thing I don’t get: if you see a clearance or deal for something like zantac or loreal, how are you going to know which insert to find it? We all know which products are P&G, but otherwise it seems like it would take awhile standing in the store looking through every insert of the last month.
Secondly, don’t some coupons from the same insert expire way before or after some of the other coupons? So do you hold on to a whole insert thats 90% expired?
I use the binder organized via category. I feel its a million times easier than by expiration date. I only buy one paper a week though. I feel it takes me around an hour a week.
I search on the H2S coupon database and that tells you what insert and date a coupon will be in. If a coupon insert is mostly expired, I either toss it if I won’t likely use the coupons left, or I clip the remaining coupons and put them in the binder with the printables/mailed coupons.
Clearance is my #1 favorite couponing score. So I can’t imagine just taking coupons I think I might need and finding a ton of body care products or better toilet paper/paper towels/diapers/cleaners on clearance and then not have the coupons!
I second that! Checking store clearance is how I find items for pennies or free. So my coupon binder comes with me each shopping trip for those bonus buys!
Great idea, Cathy!
I use a binder with baseball card and check holders. I use divider tabs to sort the categories. I use one binder to keep all extra ones in and one binder I use to sort by store for the sales I am using for the week.
I’ve tried the binder and the coupon file and those just don’t seem to work for me. I pretty much just have to buy based on the printable coupons, anyway, and I try to print only what I’m going to need. They’re in stacks on my desk that I go through about every 2 weeks and clear out and recycle the paper if I haven’t used the coupon.
I love being able to get in on clearance, but realistically, I never have the extra money for clearance items, only for the stuff on the list (which are all always based just on what’s needed for that week’s groceries, I can’t even get much planning ahead done lately) and I’m not the only one in my area in the savings game.
When I first started couponing, I kept trying to get in on the Walgreens deals because that was the closest drug store to us, only about 5 miles away. I asked the manager when they got their deliveries, I made friends with the cashiers, and that’s how I found out about The Coupon Ladies. They didn’t know their names, but they were two older women who came in and would clear them out of everything on sale, especially the really super good deals. I actually ran into the women one time, we all 3 showed up before the store opened to try to get in on some seriously free shampoo stuff that week, and I tried talking to them, and they both told me that they didn’t care if other people in the area wanted to get the good deals, they would continue wiping out every place they could, because they resold the stuff at a markup and that’s how they made their money. Incredibly, incredibly rude women. The manager of the Walgreens and the cashiers all hated them because of their rude attitudes. Unfortunately, they weren’t the only ones in our area with that kind of attitude. It’s been very rare that I’ve managed to get in on the good deals, even if I manage to show up when the stores open on delivery days, because somehow the stuff either doesn’t get stocked or gets wiped before I have a chance. The moral of this long-winded diatribe is, hey, clearance? Ha! (I did manage to get to Wal Mart right after they marked their Valentine’s stuff down 50% and there were only a handful of items left on the shelves, mostly the valentines themselves and not any sort of candy. Totally typical of my part of the country)
I had the small coupon binder from
Amazon similar to
The one in this picture but smaller in red and blue but , my purse got stolen and everything gone !! Then I had a small one plastic went to cvs bucks and card and forgot it in the basket !! And went back to store too late !!) trying to see the Jenns coupon box in my Mobil phone and can’t see it enlarge or what it looks like can someone email me a picture thanks amigaedy@yahoo.com thanks
Every Sunday I write the date on my inserts that way I don’t have to go crazy when I look for my coupons
I only clip what I need
The hardest thing I had to learn was to not buy items on sale when not needed. When an item is not free after sale and coupon, it’s money out of our budget. I cannot spare that few cents here and there. I hope to one day be able to buy items for donations, I am not there right now.
I’m going through a custody battle and was wondering if anyone had any good organization tips and ideas to keep everything tidey?
I always keep my coupons in the car. This way if I happen to see something I can always run to the car and get my coupons or I just bring them in with me.
Exactly me too! I have a small 3 drawer plastic container that holds 3 months worth of whole inserts that I bring and leave in my car just in case I find some amazing clearance I just have to have and of course there is no digging thru a huge binder in the store trying to find coupons, organized or not, I just look in the data base on my phone and if I have to have it I can run to my car, clearance is my first stop anyways so no big deal. It is soo much easier and takes way less time than to clip every possible coupon and place them into sleeves then remove 90% of them because of course I’m not going to use all of them.i did the binder thing for about 2 years too long. I have a small wallet sized purse that has all my coupons that I will use for the trip plus all the ones that I know I’ll probably use, especially diapers and other baby coupons.
All good ideas ladies, I am extreamly unorganized . May try some of the ideas posted.
Sporksoma I liked your story ! 🙂
Oh wow, this is too much for me lol. I make my shopping list, then I search to see if there are any coupons for those items. That’s it. I don’t use or search for coupons on items I have not pre-planned on buying.
I have a binder also with card sheets! I have it organized to the aisles at Kroger. I also make multiple lists. Needs, wants and have to buy!! This makes shopping sales and stocking up very easy!! I look through many inserts and search online for coupons! I always check cvs for their deals! Can’t remember a time when I paid more than .50 for toothbrush/toothpaste!!
This week I make $2 in RR in Walgreen on toothpaste and I’m really don’t remember when last time I paid anything for toothpaste or shampoo
It would be nice if some people could share some pictures of the way they store there coupons. For some of us new couponers….:)
YES PLEASE! I would love that TOO! I love this post about orgainizing coupons, I keep all mine in a small accordion style organizer too. I organize them by how the stores are layed out, so I can just thumb thru as I walk thru the store. When the weekly circulars come out, I make my plan on the back of an envelope and put all the qs I plan on using in it and then take that and my organizer with me incase I find any sales or good clearance deals.
IDK how we could share our pics?? I have no clue how to make a picture public otherwise I’d be happy to share!
Yes Mel me to I’m using app I wish I JUST can upload from my smart phone like I’m doing from Sutterfly app a very convenient
I file my coupon insert in a expandable folder and labelled them for SS,RP or P&G. With date written on top of them and organized them from top to bottom,old to latest. But before that, i cut the stuff that i think are important and put my cut coupons in a wallet size organizer with labels alphabetically. I have 3 cards for cvs, i have one envelop each card with designated coupons that i will use for that day. So that i will not get confused which card I’m gonna use. I don’t buy sale item that i know that i cant use.
I lik the idea of filing away inserts. Right now I toss them after I clip the coupons I use 😮 I have 2 coupon wallets that I keep in my pocket book. One has grocery coupons and the other has toiletry coupons. I have dividers in each so they stay organized and toss the expireds at the beginning of each month. I couldn’t imagine lugging around a box or binder… but I know some people love that method so thats fine too!
Let’s see..all my coupons go in a box I got from my last Bath and Body Works order and then I scramble thru it like a crazy woman to find the ones I remember i have and want to use and then I go to the store. Yup. I need help….or time…or both.
I use big envelop with name of the store on it. Every week I cut deals from add and glue it to envelope with quantity I’ll going to buy. Than I find and cut my CUOPONS from inserts with printed days on it. I used CUOPONS folder probably around couple months when I started CUOPONS year ago. I do miss some clearance deals, but by now I know hot to create overage so usually I HAVE to get a Clearance deals that I DON’T waisted my money. A lot of merchandise I bring nearby or totally Free anyway 😉 Good Luck Ladies and Gentlemen
Most importantly about clearance deals its expiration DAY, usually its about to expire or about to expire. I saw many times already expired , so unless you’re going to eat everything in store , be aware of it; ) BTW do you ever try one year old chocolate Yack 🙁
I just returned from the store where I went overboard on a few things. Your comment stuck with me this morning and it inspired me to clean out my cabinets. Shockingly, I found things from 2013 and even older…yikes! I organized things were it’s all visible now. You are so right about grabbing that clearance stuff just because it was free/cheap..most times I end up throwing it away later!
Yeah its downsize to be a Good Smart Shoppers, I guess. Im learning now how to unload my stuff before its expired 😉 my son big help on it
Have been couponing over 20 years so my system is low-tech, except that I now read H2S as a timesaving shortcut to find deals or get coupons online or stack offers (especially Target). I use a rectangular metal lunchbox with dividers (varied colors) cut from cardboard, labels written with sharpie on tabs, then I “laminated” the tops of the dividers (tabs included) with wide clear packing tape. I keep the lunchbox in a tote with a sharpie, folding scissor, strong magnet (sticks to lunchbox), paper clips, a few zip baggies, key ring of store club cards. Tote keeps everything contained and dry, and has room for store flyers, etc.
I clip coupons for my favorite products only. No more settling on stuff that’s rarely on sale or stuff I don’t need anytime soon (due to healthy stash), or stuff that isn’t a household staple. Just favorites, plus anything new I am interested in trying if there’s a high-value coupon. I have enough of a stash of supplies that I also won’t bother saving coupons with very low value or short expiration dates.
I preplan shopping trips. I use a sharpie to write my shopping list on the front of the store flyer (noting flyer page # each item is on), and circling the item on that page. I use a paperclip or binder clip to attach needed coupons right to the marked-up flyer. As I find items in the store, I move the coupons to a baggie so they don’t get lost while shopping. For short lists, I often just take the flyer (with the list written on it and the coupons attached) into the store, and leave the coupon box in the car. Also I can delegate — hand off the prepared flyer to my husband and he has the whole plan handy.
I used to do the binder method and I loved it but I simply couldn’t find the time to clip, organize, fold, etc. and get the coupons put away. I switched to a tupperware type box that has a snap on lid (I think I got it online via The Container Store). I took dividers, made labels on the computer for my categories and cut down the dividers to fit in my box. The negative is that you can sometimes forget about a great coupon (gets mixed in with others) and you have to look through coupons at the store but it takes me a lot less time organizing up front so it’s a trade off. I found a large tote bag at Target that holds my coupon box and is big enough for my reusable bags too. It also has a zippered pouch attached to one of the straps so I stash my scissors, pen and calculator in there. When I’m ready for the store, I throw my ad and wallet on top and everything is ready to go. I like the plastic box b/c the lid fits across the top of the cart and then I can put the open box on top of that. I pull the coupons as I go and put them in the front of the box. You just have to find what works for you.