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Ask DSM Readers: How Do You Organize Your Coupons?

October 2, 2009 by Tara Kuczykowski 139 Comments

Coupon Organization
I’ve had a number of readers write to me lately asking how I organize my coupons. To be quite honest, I don’t think I’ve found my perfect coupon organization method.

I currently use the insert method where I label each insert with the date and only clip as I need. However, I worry about missing out on extra savings when I’m at the store and find a great unadvertised sale or clearance deals. I also still have a large quantity of loose coupons that I receive in the mail and print online, so it’s difficult to keep track of those. I’ve often thought about switching to a binder method, but I’m just not sure where to start.

So I thought I’d put the question to my dear readers!

How do you organize your coupons? Do you use the binder method? Are there any drawbacks to it?

Do you have a better way of utilizing the insert method? How do you ensure that you don’t miss out on unadvertised/clearance deals?

If you have links to posts you’ve written, feel free to include them in your comments.

If you have a question you’d like to ask fellow Deal Seeking Mom readers, please feel free to email me! I think having a variety of perspectives is really valuable, and I thank you all for your input.

Filed Under: saving money Tagged With: ask dsm readers

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Comments

  1. Simone

    March 28, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
  2. Leona

    April 28, 2012 at 8:43 am

    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.

    Reply
  3. Hotrodroxie

    May 2, 2012 at 12:40 am

    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

    Reply
  4. kodachrome

    June 6, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    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.

    Reply
  5. kelly bradshaw

    September 2, 2012 at 2:24 am

    where do i send all my expired coupons… someone mentioned something bout the military? please help …[email protected] thnaks

    Reply
  6. Camilla N.

    September 12, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    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 4×6 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!

    Reply
  7. Lisa

    November 15, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    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. [email protected]

    Reply
    • Lisa

      November 15, 2012 at 9:41 pm

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

      Reply
  8. Cassie

    October 12, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    I had two old photo albums lying around unused, they each hold 4×6 photos. I separated these into section labeling each new one with an index card. These work great and you can find old photo albums really cheap.

    Reply
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Hey there — nice to meet you!

I'm Tara: mom of 5 teens/tweens and one 80-lb. Weimaraner, who fancies herself a lap dog. Born and raised in Ohio (GO BUCKS!!!), my fave things include cooking + baking, my JEEP Rubicon, the 4x4 beaches at OBX, and checking out the local craft beer scene...
 
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