Coupon Binder

[dthogue]

Tell me about your coupon binder - I am a recipe box, with index cards coupon filer - I watch these coupon shows and see these 3 ring binder with plastic pages - exactly how do you file your coupons like this.

I want to get more "into" couponing and feel that I have the coupons, but I am I missing the deals.

 

[Mouseless2Long]

I use a zippered binder and have color coded and sorted my coupons according to the aisles in the grocery store. The only bad thing about the binder I use is that it doesn't have a handle. I'm thinking of switching to one with a handle, but it's even bigger than the one I have!

 

[miralys]

I use a zippered binder by Five Star. In it I have two kinds of sheets: baseball card sheets (the kind you put baseball or trading cards in) and then I have sheet protectors (like you would use for a presentation).

I got a bunch of those binder separators at a back-to-school sale (you know, the kind with the little tabs on them) and use that to mark my categories. My categories changed over time as I learned the best way to separate coupons. Sometimes I would find myself hunting all over for a coupon, which indicated I needed a better category! My categories are things like: cosmetics, air freshener, yogurt, cereal, meat, dental care, etc).

I cut out little squares to put into the baseball card holders so I can put two coupons in each slot (one facing the front and one facing the back). Then I took the sheet protectors, put half of a filing folder in it and designated one store per sheet protector. Coupons and list for the week go in the front and store rewards (RR, ECB, etc) go in the back.

This took a little bit of time up front to set up, but it makes preparing for a shopping trip and taking advantage of unannounced clearance sales much easier. Also, it makes sorting coupons on Sundays a breeze. Sunday evening I'll pop in a DVD or pull something up on Netflix, and within an hour the coupons from my two papers are sorted (sometimes less if it was a sparse week for coupons).

Honestly couponing methods are highly individual. What works for me might not work for you. I tried using a little recipe box, but too many times of dropping the box had me searching for another method. Tried the clipless method with sheet protectors, but that left me frazzled. Finally the binder method really seemed to have clicked for me.

P.S. Sorry, I just realized how long winded this is. Hope you could follow everything!

 

[pjpoohbear]

Some of the binders on the show were using plastic hockey card holders.

Pj

 

[Mouseless2Long]

I did try the 9 pocket holders, but they were too small for some of the coupons and when I folded them, it was not as easy to see what the coupons were. That's when i switched to the 2-pocket per page method. I've seen binders where they've used a 3-pocket insert and that might be something I will switch to in the future.

I also keep a spreadsheet of every coupon I have (did take a while to enter the info in) and update it as I add coupons to the binder. I keep a printed copy and when I take out a coupon, I note it on the copy and can delete the entry on the spreadsheet if I use it. It comes in handy because I can sort the spreadsheet by product when I'm pulling coupons, or sort it by expiration date when it comes time to clean out the binder. This way, I only have to go the pockets which have expired coupons and pull them.

 

[miztressuz]

I also keep a spreadsheet of every coupon I have (did take a while to enter the info in) and update it as I add coupons to the binder. I keep a printed copy and when I take out a coupon, I note it on the copy and can delete the entry on the spreadsheet if I use it. It comes in handy because I can sort the spreadsheet by product when I'm pulling coupons, or sort it by expiration date when it comes time to clean out the binder. This way, I only have to go the pockets which have expired coupons and pull them.

I thought I was the only crazy one contemplating this. I thought my OCD finally took over. Glad to see it is working for someone, so maybe I will follow though - even though my husband will consider carting me off to the funny farm.

 

[Mouseless2Long]

I thought I was the only crazy one contemplating this. I thought my OCD finally took over. Glad to see it is working for someone, so maybe I will follow though - even though my husband will consider carting me off to the funny farm.

I don't tell too many people I do this, but I figure other couponers would understand.

 

[Shelby5514]

I use a zippered DVD/CD binder by Case Logic. The pockets are big and have a nice "V" cut out to allow for easy removal of the coupons without slicing your cuticles.

You can get the binders with 12 to 332 pockets! PLENTY of room for all your coupons! Just use a label maker (or Post it's) to mark each pocket and Post it tabs to mark the pages. I set mine up to mimic the aisles of the store I shop at so I can easily turn the page as I enter a new aisle and all my coupons are right there.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I stopped using a binder. I couldn't keep up with the clippings. So I just file them according to month. I have one of those 26 slot file box things. It has 2 slots per month. So I put Smart Source in one and Red Plum in the other.

 

[PrinceCharmingsMom]

I have the 9 pockets and would like the 3 pockets..where can I find those? Thanks

 

[magiclj]

I have the 9 pockets and would like the 3 pockets..where can I find those? Thanks

I use the baseball - 9 per page. I also found some others on ebay. They have 4 pockets per page - horizontal, about the size on a dollar bill. I bought some others that six pockets per page - vertical. These links show the ones I am talking about -(I didn't look at the best price right now, so if you are buying you might want to check the listings)

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-POCKETS-PAGES...067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c63d377b

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-COUPON-SLEEV...834?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb56f73ba