Coupon storing help???

[lukenick1]

Can you please help me organize all these coupons? Right now I have them all in an envelope. How do you keep yours organized for easy access and transport?

 

[jog58]

I keep mine in a three ring binder and I tuck the coupons in the clear plastic sheets of baseball card holders. I have dividers that separate them into shaving, dental care, frozen items, dairy, snacks, drinks, pasta and rice, cleaning supplies and paper goods and misc. I've heard of people that like to arrange them in the aisle order of their favorite supermarket but I don't prefer that method for myself. Good luck!

 

[figment3258]

I bought coupon holder at the dollar store a while back. It folds down to nothing then expands when u open it. It has over twelve slots so organize them by the month they expire. I move them up once a month goes by. It works great and is small.

 

[MineMail]

I use a small accordion file that I found on sale at CVS. I had CVS Bucks, so it was free. I used index cards to create dividers and labeled them with Post-It Tabs for each category. It's small and easy to use for filing or retrieval.

It looks like this: http://www.craftsinthemomcave.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Accordian-Organizer.jpg

I tried boxes, but they were awkward to use in the store (I don't pre-pull coupons). This works fine and fits in the basket so I can pull as I add things to the cart.

Whatever you use, make sure to put your name and contact number in it somewhere. We've lost our coupon boxes several times over the years and the only time they came back was when we realized it within an hour or when our "Please return to:" label was on the front.

 

[DawnM]

I tried the binder method. It was NOT for me. All that time clipping and organizing and then only using about 20% of them at most just drove me crazy.

SO, here is what I do. I call it "lazy couponing."

I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Storex-Letter...GFNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317303844&sr=8-1

I also have hanging files.

I label each hanging file by date and put in the corresponding coupon full inserts from that week's paper.

Then, I go to SouthernSavers.com (or The Grocery Game or whatever you use) and print out a list of things I want.

The website tell you what date the coupon appeared in your paper next to each grocery item.

So, I then go to my file and clip only those coupons and put them in a smaller container like this for the store:
http://www.amazon.com/Double-Deluxe-Coupon-Organizer-Wallet/dp/B003ZVUIZ8/ref=pd_sim_hg4

I also keep some coupons that I regularly look for (mostly shampoos we love or hair color I use) so that those are always with me.

Yes, there are a few coupons I "miss out" on because they are unadvertised deals, but they are few and far between and it isn't worth it to me to spend an hour or so per week organizing my binder just for a few items extra of savings.

The bulk of coupon deals are advertised.

Dawn

PS: I found the hanging file folder at a yard sale with the hanging files already in it for $2 total. It was a former teacher's file so it had students' names on it, but I just put dates over it.

I also found the $20 coupon cloth organizer at a yard sale for $1. So, total invested was $3 to organize my coupons.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I asked this very same question a few weeks ago and went with the binder method, which I think is going to work for me, as soon as I get it completely organized. And it only cost me about $10 to get everything I needed to set it up.

 

[3mickeymom]

- Each envelope is labeled with a category. Beverages, Breakfast, Dairy Inside, I try to keep things in alphabetical order. Aquafresh, Colgate, Crest. As I clip the coupons, I pile them in small piles that coordinate with my envelope categories. I just place them in the envelope and if I don't have time, I alphabetize later. Pretty easy to pull out an envelope and alphabetize the coupons when waiting to pick up kids from sports or whatever.

I keep my store circulars for price matching and copies of store coupon policis in the box too. Also small scissors.

Also, I donate my expired coupons to the military to be used overseas so things are already in categories( they ask that you send them this way) and I just make a new envelope. I reuse envelopes from my junk mail.

It is a simple sytem that does not require alot of work or expense(Nothing to buy). My small shoebox fits under my car seat so takes up very little space. I keep a rubber band around it though after I acidentally dumped it. What a mess! This works for me as my wallet accordian file was just too small, but it was nice to carry in my wallet. Best of luck!

 

[amy-momofthree]

I use a small photo album and slide the coupons in where the pictures would be.
I have it organized where I can flip open the album and know exactly where everything is.

It's also small enough that I just keep in my purse and pull out as needed.

 

[of2dbeach]

I have been using the binder method for a few years now and it works well for me. I just bought a new binder that zips up this is for 2 reasons the first binder I got had a plastic coated outside and wouldnt sit in the cart properly. Plus now if it rains now worries of them getting wet or falling out, and it has a handle on the side to make is easier to carry. Saw a poor lady in Target loose a entire folder of coupons when she was in the store yesterday. I felt terrible for her. i also got thick plastic tabs and added them to the dividers because I coudlnt see the catagories so now its easier. I added a zippered pencial bag and put my little scissors a sharpee marker and 2 pens. you will figure out what you wished you had and what works best for you
Also of note there are 2 coupon trains on the budget Board just Pm them to be added to a list. Then each week your "Buddy" will send you out coupons and you pass them along to whoever your "Buddy is .

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I don't use lots of coupons, but in the past I have used cheap plastic recipe boxes with index cards between for categories and one category in front for "expires this month".

 

[benniecooper]

I used to use the binder method, but I don't like it, just too awkward. I use 3 smaller size accordion files now. One is for food/grocery items, one is for beauty and one is for pets.

I like the 3 because I can put them all in a tote bag and take them with me shopping. I can carry them all easily in the grocery store or Target, but then if I am just going to Petsmart, I just take my pet Q's in the store.

Of course, you could divide anyway that works for you and with as many files as needed. It's just my DH and I. We have an American Pit Bull Terrier, a Lab and 2 Maine Coon cat's. So the 3 files work the best for us and the hubby will actually take this coupon system with him when he goes to the store.

 

[baseballmickey]

I am a struggling coupon clipper. I manage to remove the coupon flyers from the sunday paper, and put them aside every week. Sometimes, I even find time to look through them and cut out ones I think we might use. Rarer still, I open up my binder and sort those coupons and place them inside. (I use a 3 ring binder with unused photo pages I had lying around). Even rarer... I will go through the binder and remove the expired ones.

And, last but not least, Once in a blue moon, DW and I actually manage to sit down, plan out a grocery list while looking at the store sales, and then go through the coupons to see if we have any matches.

But more often than not, this is what happens:

DW: "um... there's nothing to eat."

Me: "nothing at all?"

DW: "nothing. we need to go to the store."

Me: "okay, let's make a list, do you want to go, or should I go."

DW: "you're too slow and I don't want to go alone... so we'll all go."

(i pull out the sales flyer and thumb through it while DW examines the contents of the refrigerator).

DW: "We need milk, we're almost out of butter, and i need stuff for lunch"

Me: "Chicken breasts are BOGO. I see alot of fruit on sale, but none of the usual deli meats we get."

DW: "Okay, I can make Chicken-something, and chicken-something-else. So we'll need stock and potatoes and blah blah. We can have pasta another night. What else?"

Me: "um... i don't know."

DW: "okay, we'll get ground turkey or ground beef and do a meatloaf."

DW quickly makes out a list. I grab the coupon binder, only to discover that all the ones that are sorted expired over a month ago, the clipped ones are piled inside unsorted, and the newest ones are still unclipped.

DW: "we don't have time for that. If we don't go now, we won't get home in time to make dinner."

Me: "Beverly!"

I frantically finger through the coupons, grabbing a few that look useful, and we load up DD and DS and we're out the door. While at the store:

DW: "I forgot we need A, B, C, and D too"

Me: "We do? I saw coupons for those, but I didn't grab them because they weren't on the list!!"

DW: "(sarcastically) Good job." I make a face at her.

We get everything on our list, probably a dozen or so impulse or "oh-I-just-remembered" buys, and we spend $100+. We do okay with getting maybe half our items on sale, but pay full price for the rest. We maybe use 3 or 4 coupons, but some of those require we buy more than one of whatever item it is. When we get home, i'll look through the coupons as I am putting the binder away and realize we could have saved $5-10, sometimes even more. I briefly consider going back with the receipt and coupons to see if i can get an adjustment?? but i decide i am too tired... besides, DW is already making dinner.

And oh, yeah, we only bought food enough for 5 meals, so we'll be doing this again in less than a week!!

There's got to be a better way!! Why can't I be more organized!!!

 

[jog58]

I am a struggling coupon clipper. I manage to remove the coupon flyers from the sunday paper, and put them aside every week. Sometimes, I even find time to look through them and cut out ones I think we might use. Rarer still, I open up my binder and sort those coupons and place them inside. (I use a 3 ring binder with unused photo pages I had lying around). Even rarer... I will go through the binder and remove the expired ones.

And, last but not least, Once in a blue moon, DW and I actually manage to sit down, plan out a grocery list while looking at the store sales, and then go through the coupons to see if we have any matches.

But more often than not, this is what happens:

DW: "um... there's nothing to eat."

Me: "nothing at all?"

DW: "nothing. we need to go to the store."

Me: "okay, let's make a list, do you want to go, or should I go."

DW: "you're too slow and I don't want to go alone... so we'll all go."

(i pull out the sales flyer and thumb through it while DW examines the contents of the refrigerator).

DW: "We need milk, we're almost out of butter, and i need stuff for lunch"

Me: "Chicken breasts are BOGO. I see alot of fruit on sale, but none of the usual deli meats we get."

DW: "Okay, I can make Chicken-something, and chicken-something-else. So we'll need stock and potatoes and blah blah. We can have pasta another night. What else?"

Me: "um... i don't know."

DW: "okay, we'll get ground turkey or ground beef and do a meatloaf."

DW quickly makes out a list. I grab the coupon binder, only to discover that all the ones that are sorted expired over a month ago, the clipped ones are piled inside unsorted, and the newest ones are still unclipped.

DW: "we don't have time for that. If we don't go now, we won't get home in time to make dinner."

Me: "Beverly!"

I frantically finger through the coupons, grabbing a few that look useful, and we load up DD and DS and we're out the door. While at the store:

DW: "I forgot we need A, B, C, and D too"

Me: "We do? I saw coupons for those, but I didn't grab them because they weren't on the list!!"

DW: "(sarcastically) Good job." I make a face at her.

We get everything on our list, probably a dozen or so impulse or "oh-I-just-remembered" buys, and we spend $100+. We do okay with getting maybe half our items on sale, but pay full price for the rest. We maybe use 3 or 4 coupons, but some of those require we buy more than one of whatever item it is. When we get home, i'll look through the coupons as I am putting the binder away and realize we could have saved $5-10, sometimes even more. I briefly consider going back with the receipt and coupons to see if i can get an adjustment?? but i decide i am too tired... besides, DW is already making dinner.

And oh, yeah, we only bought food enough for 5 meals, so we'll be doing this again in less than a week!!

There's got to be a better way!! Why can't I be more organized!!!

oh my goodness I thought hubby and I were the only ones! This is like a snapshot of our life.

 

[lukenick1]

Thank you!
All great ideas

 

[MineMail]

oh my goodness I thought hubby and I were the only ones! This is like a snapshot of our life.

The only thing missing was one or both of us forgetting the coupon box/folder at the store and having to go back to search for it later.

Expired coupons used to drive DH nuts - like we were throwing money away or something. I pointed out that it really meant we didn't need the item, so we actually saved money by not buying things until we needed them. In some cases, I stocked up on on-sale items and used a coupon, but only if they had a good shelf life. He used to pull all the expiring coupons and buy those items to get the coupon savings, even if we weren't running low/out of the items. While it was nice to see the "Coupon Savings" on the receipt, paying full price for items that went on sale the next weekend wasn't good. After thinking about it, he told me last week that I'm right.


If I have a coupon that's expiring and I know I'm not going to buy the item, I put the coupon near the item in a store to help someone who needs it.