I organize my coupons in a little accordion file from Target. (Update 3/20/10: Target no longer seems to carry these but you can find the same one on Amazon for under $4.)
I clip and file all my coupons. I know some people just mark the inserts with the day it came out but I think clipping and filing by category makes it easier to find coupons for things you’d be buying even if you didn’t have a coupon for it. Once my weekly grocery list is completed, I check for coupons for every item I have on my list and take those along to the store so I can compare against the store brand price without a coupon.
I sort my coupons into envelopes with the flaps cut off and labeled for different categories. At the front of my organizer I put free product coupons sorted by expiration date so that I always remember to check them before they expire. Free product coupons are followed by store/restaurant coupons. Longs/CVS, Riteaid, Walgreens, Safeway, and Target each have their own envelope in the front section. Then I have envelopes for drugstore type items followed by envelopes for food type items. My categories are based on Money Saving Mom’s categories, but I have made many adjustments so that the categories suit me as best they can.
How do you organize your coupons?
Shared in Tackle It Tuesday.
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{ 15 comments }
What a great idea. I always end up throwing my coupons on my table and when I go to the store I either forget them or throw them in my purse and cannot find them. Thanks for the tips.
Joanne Olivieri’s last blog post: Pier 39 in San Francisco
I use a little plastic album to organize my coupons by category. I clip all and then put them in each page according to the item type.
When I make my shopping list I go through and find the coupons I need and clip them to the shopping list as I go along. I have a post on the full method here at http://www.howisavemoney.net/save-money/organize-coupons-save-money/
I used to have a big binder with photo sheets in them and organize the coupons by categories. Then I tried marking the inserts. I didn’t like that much! Now I clip them and put them in alphabetical order. Except I am way behind and have a hole bunch not filed! So where did you get that container? I have an index card holder and I have to fold some of the coupons. Check out my Tackle It Tuesday here.
Danielle’s last blog post: Tackle It Tuesday:Kitchen Duty
i picked that container up at target
I think I use that exact same file (same color even!) but it looks like you have more sections than me. Can you explain if your tabs are actually on the file, or if they’re tabs on your envelopes? Thanks!!
the tabs are on the envelopes
I use a binder with baseball card protectors to organize my coupons. It is GREAT, I put the ones that I know I WILL use on my shopping trip right in the front!
How many papers do you get each week? I get 6 delivered, and sometimes grab more. I have to use 2 photo boxes to hold them all, but I use the same method you do.
.-= Julie P´s last post ..And back again… =-.
most weeks just one. the most i’ve ever gotten in one week is 3.
I use a little plastic photo album for organizing the best ones, or ones for products I know I regularly use, and then keep an extra set of inserts by date. That way when I see specific deals mentioned online for products I don’t normally buy but are well-worth checking out, I don’t miss out… while still being able to carry my stash of “old reliable” coupons with me to the store. Handy dandy!
I like your according file though, it definitely has the advantage of being able to flip through the coupons without having to pull them all out. I might give that one a go once my photo album reaches the point of retirement…
.-= Sarah Eliza @ devastateboredom´s last post ..Your Toolbox for Obtaining Organic and Local Produce… AFFORDABLY! =-.
I haven’t seen an accordian file this thick before…I organize my coupons in a binder in baseball card pocket holders. I must admit that I haven’t been clipping them recently since I have a pretty good stockpile and haven’t need to go shopping. Thanks for sharing your system! I always love seeing how others do it! Abbie
.-= Abbie @ Organizing-Life.com´s last post ..Organizing Link Friday – July 10th =-.
I started out using the coupon wallet but soon realized that I was growing out of it every month. I have tried the system by marking my inserts and cutting out my coupons when I make my list but realized that I was finding deals in the store that I left coupons at home for. I now use a binder with baseball card inserts and organize them by aisle of store (Ihave nicknames for the aisles). Since I started doing this system I have seen an improvement in my savings.
I have a question about your coupon binder. Did you make the tabs yourself or buy them. I love the way you organized them. It really makes sense to me. I can’t wait to get started on my own. Thanks for your website.
the tabs are an avery product that i picked up in the office supply aisle at the drugstore. i think post it flags would also work well
here’s a link to a post about getting a free sample of exactly the tabs i’m using http://www.coupongeek.net/2010/01/freebie-sample-of-post-it-durable-tabs.html
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