How do you store your coupons?

[java]

I saw someone mention a binder- and that sounds like something that could work for me. But does anyone have photos of what they store coupons in? Any cool binder systems? The coupon holder I have has become just way too small and I spend too much time flipping through to try to find what I am looking for.

 

[virginiamama]

I'm looking for ideas too.

 

[NYCDiane]

I use a plastic index card holder box. I also buy the "A-Z" index file, turn them around and use the tabs to categorize my coupons --- dairy, paper/plastic, shampoo/soap, OTC meds, meat, drinks, snacks, pasta/rice, sauces/condiments, etc. My first category is "today's coupons" and, as I take them out to use, I just slip them in the front of the box so I can get to them at checkout.

It works great for me and, the best part is, it's a plastic box, so it sits up in the grocery cart seat and I can have it open so I can flip through and easily find my coupons.

 

[Smily2th]

I use a binder and plastic sleeves that are used to hold baseball cards. Then I have them organized by sections of my grocery list- (ie. Frozen, Dairy, Health and Beauty). It seems to work really well. Then while I make my list I put cpn next to items that I have coupons for. It took a little work to put it all together, but it saves me a lot of time at the store now.

 

[PurpleSurfer]

This is what I use only in a different color.

I don't cut the inserts. I file them in the large pockets under date and type.

I use half of the little pockets to store exchanged coupons in basic categories and I use the other half to set up the coupons in for each store that I frequent.

I have used the small coupon files and outgrew that quickly and I also tried the baseball card inserts in a binder. The baseball inserts were really my favorite but that requires a lot of cutting and folding as well as filing to keep it up and it eventually did not hold enough coupons for me.

HTH

 

[kellyg403]

I use a binder and plastic sleeves that are used to hold baseball cards. Then I have them organized by sections of my grocery list- (ie. Frozen, Dairy, Health and Beauty). It seems to work really well. Then while I make my list I put cpn next to items that I have coupons for. It took a little work to put it all together, but it saves me a lot of time at the store now.

This what I have also..and I agree it took about 2 days to get it organized! But I had such an unorganized mess to begin with! I also add in the back of the book three pages of photo sleeves that are larger. I took a sharpie and put the name of each store I shop at i.e., Target, CVS etc. When I am finished with the ads and pairing up my coupons, I write down what I am looking to get on a 3 x 5 card, paper clip the coupons to the 3x5 card and stick it in the appropriate sleeve. Then I can grab them and go into the store and get what I need. I don't often take the whole binder in the store but I do leave it in the car...never know when you will run across something! My Binder is just a 3 in binder I found on clearance for 97 cents, the sleeves were on closeout for 50 cents and the tab dividers were like 50 cents as well.

Kelly

 

[Magical Mama]

I also use a binder but I have clear business card holder sleeve in mine. It is organized the same as the previous and I find it to be very helpful. Much quicker than sorting through them at the store. I also have a storage carton at home I keep my full page copies of the coupons in. I sort these by date so that I have easier access to them. Good luck!

 

[NYCDiane]

I've been using my index card holder for years, but I'm beginning to like this binder idea.... Do you get use a regular sized binder or is it a baseball card holder/binder thing? Also, where do you get the binder and the pages?

Sounds like it could make it much easier to find coupons that way.

 

[kellyg403]

My binder is just a regular old binder..I have seen some that snap and zip but I was looking for something on the cheap.

I like the binder method way more than I have liked anything so far. On the sleeve I put the coupons I take a erasable marker and write the name of the product, i.e. in the Deo section of my binder I have marked sleeves for Secret, Dove, Right Guard etc. I can go right to the page and pull out the ones I need. I don't have to search. I also have the full pages at home that I store in box like another said. The only drawback is periodically I have to go through and take expireds out because some I don't use if a good sale hasen't come along for me. Then I go into the full pages and start looking and adding to the binder.

Its like a fulltime job all this money saving but it is wonderful to go to a store and spend 2 dollars for 30 dollars worth of stuff. Well worth the time and effort for me!

Kelly

 

[kellyg403]

I've been using my index card holder for years, but I'm beginning to like this binder idea.... Do you get use a regular sized binder or is it a baseball card holder/binder thing? Also, where do you get the binder and the pages?

Sounds like it could make it much easier to find coupons that way.

I found my binder at Walgreens when they were clearancing things in the summer and I found the baseball card sleeves at Kmart in the clearance section along with the photo pages.

Kelly

 

[mamalle]

I have a large binder from homegoods that I love. It fits 8x10 sheets of paper and I divide food coupons up alphabetically , stores, toileteries, household, paper products, pets, misc, etc..

 

[eatatmidnight]

I use a 2 inch binder. It is divided into 2 sections.

1. Baseball card pages hold the coupons i get in the mail, blinkies, catalinas, etc.

2. Page protectors that hold the weekly inserts. I print off a list of the coupons in the insert and staple it to the front of the insert. Then I just slide the insert inside. I used to clip all coupons and store them in baseball card pages. But I found myself spending hours clipping and throwing away a lot of coupons I'd invested my time in clipping.

When I plan menus and make shopping lists, I use the coupon database at Hot Coupon World . com. It tells me the date and source of insert coupons. I look them up and clip them. If I'm in a store and run across a deal. It doesn't take long to check the lists attached to the insert to look for the coupon.

HTH

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I use a 4" binder (leftover from grad school decades ago!). I do not use baseball card sleeves, instead I use PHOTO sleeves with 3 pockets per page each with a small 1x3 pocket adjacent. I prefer the photo sleeves because I can fit more coupons per pocket and I don't have to fold the larger coupons.

I put a small label in the little 1x3" pockets such as "rice" or "cereal" or "veggies" or "laundry." Since the little pockets are on the edges of the pages, I can easily tell what coupons are stored on each page, even without opening the binder.

Each week I pull the coupons I'll need for the stores (3 grocery, 2 drug stores) and put them into an accordian-type poly holder that fits inside my purse. In that holder I have two pockets dedicated to each store, the first for the coupons for that week and the second for coupons only for that store (catalinas, mailer coupons etc). I keep "hot" coupons in the front pocket in case I run across a great unadvertised sale. Since I live within an easy drive of multiple stores, I don't need to carry my binder in the car with me when I shop. If I see a good deal, it's easy for me to run back to the store later that day or the next day.

 

[PinkRhombus]

I don't cut them out.

I labeled the front of the coupon inserts with with the date they came out.

Then I was using an expandable folder to put them in...labeled the tab with the date, too.

But I started buying extra papers for extra coupons, and I've now gone to using hanging folders in a file box.


I then use the coupon database on hotcouponworld.com to search for when the coupons appeared and cut them out as I need them.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo much easier to stay organized. Quick to set up, too.

Printables or other loose ones...I have a small, expandable coupon folder for those.

 

[extremesoccermom]

Here is my binder w/ baseball card holder.
I buy 3-5 papers a week then stack and cut all together.
I have the coupons in my binder by catagories that correspond to most store layouts. (Make up, hair products, deoderant..... all the way to frozen food.
The small pink accordian folder is of coupons I plan to use that week based on sale items. I carry the big binder in the car at all times so I can run back out the car if I find a really good deal and know that somewhere I have a coupon . Sometimes I will bring it in on the cart if I am doing a big grocery shop or just wandering around the store looking for deals.

 

[LauralF22]

I used a 1" binder with baseball card holders as well. At least until I lost it last year. Didn't have the energy to re-build it. I remember getting lots of comments from other shoppers about how organized I was.

And now I see your versions and realize how woefully inadequate my little binder was.

 

[disneymom2003]

Years ago I bought a tupperware modular mates square 3 (17 cup). I also bought the lid you could put on it that was hinged. They said they made it to store homemade bread. I love that you open the top but it does not come off all the way. I then went to Staples and bought index divider cards. I have them labeled meats, bread, toiletries etc. I put them in the order of the store I frequent the most. Very handy as it sits in the front of the cart beside my purse. One more thing I did was to put my name and phone number in the front of it. I left it in the cart one day (in a hurry) and they knew who to return it to.

 

[squirrel]

I picked up a coupon holder at the Dollar Store a year or more ago. It is like a mini accordian file and has a hair type elastic to keep it closed. The sections were already labeled. Cereals and Breakfast Items, Paper Products, Cleaning Supplies, Drug Items, Canned Goods, etc.

I love this. I go through it every so often and throw away the old coupons that have expired-usually things I don't buy. I like to give coupons to people while I'm waiting if it's something I see in their cart and I don't buy.

 

[jgraney106]

This is what I use only in a different color.

I don't cut the inserts. I file them in the large pockets under date and type.

I use half of the little pockets to store exchanged coupons in basic categories and I use the other half to set up the coupons in for each store that I frequent.

I have used the small coupon files and outgrew that quickly and I also tried the baseball card inserts in a binder. The baseball inserts were really my favorite but that requires a lot of cutting and folding as well as filing to keep it up and it eventually did not hold enough coupons for me.

HTH

Where did you find that nifty double small coupon file? I can only find single ones.

 

[PurpleSurfer]

Where did you find that nifty double small coupon file? I can only find single ones.

My mom was clearing out her junk and offered it to me. I looked at it and thought that is the perfect coupon holder! Everything in one place.

I found the picture on Beltone.com

They did not seem to have prices listed? but at least that would get you a SKU to search for.