Comments on: Ask DSM Readers: How Do You Organize Your Coupons?

By: Hotrodroxie

Hotrodroxie — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:40:01 +0000

It took an entire afternoon to cut and stack into catagories the inserts I had been trying to collect and save for 2mos or so... Then most of a day setting up my binder with 100 full sheet inserts which I taped small cuts of labelled paper. I went by catagories as I remembered them in my main store(there are very few items I et elsewhere) I labelled all the inserts first, then started arranging them in binder as I thought the store was payed out and what made sense together. When I finally took it into the store I realized I was off and re arranged accordingly...I did this for 3-4trips, and adding sub catagories (and xtra pgs) till I got it right. :) IDEALLY* I would have HALF pages that were 2pockets horizontally across the page...I had the full pages already so spent nothing. When I can afford to I may go with the cd insert idea since idt they have 'half' pages :/ I keep all MEDS together since I don't buy them much but acquire the most coupons4them. I do keep a second page that I put the ones I MAY actually use in(vitamins, cough drops...for u it may be contact solution&allergy stuff) DAILY NEEDS is separate; includes all my favored regular brands that I WILL be buying on a reg. basis. there's also a KITCHEN NEEDS for my reg. kitchen brand buys-soap, paper towels, foil, ziplocks trash bags etc.-these r ur GOTO catagories. Hair color, pet supplies, meds, shower stuff(shampoo, razors etc), men's grooming stuff, canned food, soup, salty dry snacks,(u may add crackers) candy&cookies, snack cups, cereal, paper goods, juice/drinks(I don't do soda), frozen food(3pgs)in order of actual use/date-frozen subs r fruit&veggies, sweets. meat, dairy, yogurt, baking isle, boxed food, CLEANING-subs r:laundry, usual brand buys, air fresheners, &any others separate. ....these r ALL separate PAGES/catagories. Then there's: "hygiene"/subs are TEETH, FEMININE NEEDS(I put tampons,pads,deodorant&extra razor coupons,etc here), BABY, SHOWER STUFF....in front i have 2-3pgs of MISC stuff(frm batteries to odd coupons this is all I remember right now! :) hope it helps someone

By: Leona

Leona — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:43:27 +0000

I use used envelopes and mark them. I have cereal, drinks, Target, soap, paper products and so forth. I also have an envelope for the current month because I have missed using some because of an expired coupon. This has always worked for me.

By: Simone

Simone — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:00:21 +0000

I use the binder method and it's super easy to maintain. Like someone said earlier once you set it up it's well worth the time. It's also easy to keep up. Good luck.

By: DMollaun

DMollaun — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:56:32 +0000

*use

By: DMollaun

DMollaun — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:53:55 +0000

I used a long photo box with dividers. Main Categories (the way stores are laid out) with Sub Categories.
Example:
FROZEN
-Appetizers/Snacks
-Desserts
-Dinners
-Fruit
-Meat, Fish, Poultry
-Pizza
-Sides
-Vegetables
-Other

If there are a lot of coupons of the same item w/ the same deal, I staple them together on the edges away from the UPC.

There's a section for expired coupons that are sent to the military, and a section for RRs, gift cards, etc. There's a smaller box inside the photo box for store receipts.

There are restaurant, auto and store categories in the box. The bagged box rides in the car with me wherever I go -- just in case.

The box fits nicely in the cart seat and I carry it in a handled canvass bag with a calculator and shopping list of match ups and/or best deals for the week in the bag. The bag folds down once it's in the cart seat.

All coupons are pulled before I reach the register and placed in an envelope -- also in the canvass bag. That way, I'm not scrambling at the cash register while people are behind me.

I cut all coupons and file them in case someone else wants what I don't use.

I tried the binder method. It seemed slower to me, but maybe that works better for other people.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:15:26 +0000

Our Walmart has the baseball cards and pages up by the registers in an aisle.

By: MaryLena Anderegga

MaryLena Anderegga — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:15 +0000

I bought an album with lift pages at a thrift shop for $1. I then separated it into categories that conform to my shopping scheme. On Sunday, I cut the coupons I use and fit them into the pages. Where there are duplications, I stack them with the most distant expiration on bottom. I then take the rest of the coupon inserts to church to put into the coupon bank some of us have started. The other participants know which are the most expensive items I buy the most of and I know theirs. We clip for each other.
I keep my store flyers in an accordian style folder.

By: Tara Kuczykowski

Tara Kuczykowski — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:13:39 +0000

Donna, the best coupons often reach their print limit quickly and may no longer be available. There is a bit of a lag time in the emails since they are only sent once a day and include everything that's been posted in the past 24 hours since the previous newsletter, so it's possible some things may have already been on the site for nearly a full day, so your best bet is to check the site directly frequently if possible.

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:57:43 +0000

Why is it that when I click on certain links for coupons via the DSM Weekly Coupon email I get, the coupons are not there? In the 10/6 email, there was a link for $1 off Foxy romaine lettuce. When I clicked on the link, the coupon was not there. This has happened a few times.

By: cheryl

cheryl — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:13:02 +0000

HELP!!! I am so discouraged! I use the binder method for my coupons, and love it. Except for one major problem...my rings somehow keep letting the pages escape. I am forever re-hooking the pages in the rings. I think the rings are too small for my many pages. I have the deluxe binder, "case it" that I bought at WM for $14.97. I have seen binders on web sites with extreme large rings. Does anyone know where I can purchase this type of blinder and what size Or does anyone have a suggestion??!!
Many thanks!

By: nicole

nicole — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:38:30 +0000

I use a big plastic storage box. I then use those hanging file folder organizers to divide the coupons. I then label each file folder by date. For instance last sunday was October 2. I will label that file as October 2 and then put all of the coupon inserts from that sunday's newspaper(s) into the folder labled as october 2 in my box. This way you can save on clipping coupons. And you will never wonderf if you are missing a coupon. Its alot easier this way.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:27:15 +0000

You can find baseball card inserts in the sporting goods section of Walmart...weird place for it I know

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:01:25 +0000

Wow . . . I'm a coupon cave woman. I have mine in an envelope! LOL

By: Jenny D.

Jenny D. — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:07:19 +0000

At Staples I found a bill organizer that has 19 slots. It's made of heavy-duty cardboard and has a handle on top. The accordian-style slots are protected by the cardboard frame. I labelled the sections. The size is 9 1/2 x 7 x 4 1/2 inches. I don't have to fold coupons. I bought mine in a nice green print. It was around $8.00 and I used a Staples coupon for extra savings. It's roomy enough to put my shopping lists in, too.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:00:16 +0000

I LOVE what I use: a simple, clear, recipe card box. Tabbed cards, in different colors, that come with the box mark categories. I do clip the coupons for everything I might (and do) use and bring them all, each trip, to the stores. When there is a deal I know I am going to get, I put those coupons at the very front of the category where they are stored so its quick to locate them at the store. I tend to carry a roomy purse so my box fits right inside of it - NO lugging binders, pages, ad, shopping list, all along with kids. I can't handle the awkwardness of all that 'stuff'. Its small, very inexpensive and discrete. :)

By: Sherrie Umphrey

Sherrie Umphrey — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:52:32 +0000

Do you have a picture of it, how do we go about
to purchase one? Please email me Lynshar22@aol.com
Thank you
Sherrie

By: Tasha Brickhouse

Tasha Brickhouse — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 23:41:12 +0000

I've always been concerned that if I didn't cut my coupons, that I would not know what I had if I came upon an unadvertised deal, and It would truly frustrate me to know that I could have taken advantage of something but wasn't prepared. With that being said, the file method is not my thing, instead I created a pretty organized and streamlined method of cutting and sorting that always proves to be worth the time each week. You can take a look at it here http://www.thebrickhouseblog.com/2011/01/brick-house-coupon-binder-system.html . I chose to use cd holders instead of baseball card inserts so I don't have to spend so much time folding perfectly. These are for sale through my blog and on Ebay. I hope this helps!

By: olivia

olivia — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:49:40 +0000

Rummage sales believe it or not. People or kids getting rid of their sports stuff. Or at the dollar stores. I was lucky and got my kids binder with 100 sheets, he was cleaning out his closet and I happened to walk in as he was getting ready to throw it in the trash. Good Luck!

By: olivia

olivia — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:44:26 +0000

I too use the binder method, it is soooooo much easier. My Mom and Sister still use the overloaded envelopes or shoebox method -ugggggh. My grocery stores are all within a 2 mile radius and they pretty much have the grocery section set up the same way, so I categorized my binder to the set up. Yes I get plenty of stares from people when they see me going through my binder and then I get some people who actually take the time to check out my binder. I usually get men who ask me for coupons - women act too embarrassed/shy to ask, hey if I have extra coupons I'll let you have them. I am glad to see more men using coupons. I encourage all serious coupons shoppers to start using the binder - trust me it is really so much easier. I found my binder in my kids closet, he was done using it and wanted to throw it away.

By: Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:31:29 +0000

you can also sometimes find the baseball card sheet inserts at the dollar store...not all the time but sometimes...Gotta love the dollar store