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

By: Nimish

Nimish — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:26:26 +0000

True, Jenna. The binder always works. I use my business card binder.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:41:42 +0000

One more seal needed across the top portion where the page normally goes into as well.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:40:54 +0000

I was lucky enough to have a heat sealer at my disposal. However, I do have a solution for those who have FoodSaver machines. Take a regular plastic sheet protector and cut the right or left edge. Then use the heat sealing portion of the FoodSaver to seal two creases horizontally (or more or less) per page. I end up with two seals for three sections per page. The only thing you need to be careful of is to not let the binder's opening face down or your coupons will fall out. I found it impossible to find coupons that were folded, and this way you can custom make your own without paying a lot of money. Feel free to message me if you need further clarification. It seems very strange I am sure, but it is the best method for those who like using a binder. lisabruce84@gmail.com

By: Camilla N.

Camilla N. — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:24:39 +0000

I was interested in this thread because my 8-year-old accidentally left my coupon box in the cart at the grocery store recently. I like the setup I had. I used a 4x6 index card box, with tabs for letters of the alphabet, and I filed the coupons by brand alphabetically with the most recent expiration date and/or highest amount in front. I did take it a step farther and create a spreadsheet with all my coupons. This makes it really easy to sit down with the grocery ads and match coupons. It also makes me more familiar with what coupons I have. It does take time, but I found it makes couponing much easier for me. Since I will have to recreate my coupon setup, I think I will probably do it the same, but it's been interesting to see how others have done it!

By: kelly bradshaw

kelly bradshaw — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 06:24:19 +0000

where do i send all my expired coupons... someone mentioned something bout the military? please help ...krayb450@yahoo.com thnaks

By: kodachrome

kodachrome — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:47:49 +0000

I too use a binder that is seperated by tabbed dividers, I do 90% of my shopping at Kroger because thats where i do best so i set my binder up according to the store. If I go somewhere else its no big deal I shop the ad and pull out what I need, with the exception of Target I keep my Target store coupons in a seperate envelope and match them up with manuf. q's when i use them. I use currency sleeves in my binder because they are a good size that I dont have to fold my coupons, Im very ocd about folding them, (Its just a personal thing) I am also fortunate enough to have 4 days off a week because i work 3 12hr days, so i cut everything at one time and put them away. I go through the binder once a week just before shopping day and get rid of everything thats expired. Sometimes its a big pain and its always quite time consuming, but i save so much money that i really dont mind. its not perfect but it works for me.

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.