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.
Alli
I use a small coupon pocket book that I keep with me at all times and I keep all of my inserts as they are in an organized storage box. There are pics in my post here
https://couponingfor4.blogspot.com/2009/08/few-key-ingredients.html
Amy J
I use the ‘old school’ accordian folder. I have them labeled meats, breakfasts, baby, pets, household, and personal. Within those I have them paper clipped into smaller categories. Example: Breakfast includes – Cereals, Milk and Juices, Yogurts and Cheeses, Baking, Snacks. But I can hardly close my folder! I usually only carry 2 of each coupon that I am most likely to buy and the rest are at home in a shoebox and envelope. I put my ‘this weeks’ coupons in a separate envelope and they are also paper clipped according to store. I would like to find a bigger more organized purse at this time. My coupons take up all the space and I am always fumbling for keys, phone and wallet.
Lucy
I am a single woman, shopping only for myself.
From the inserts, I only clip coupons for things, I think I actually will use.
I then leave the insert (with a date written on the front) in a stack in my magazine basket.
To take into the store, I keep a plastic accordian (business-envelope-size ) holder for my coupons. In it, I have the general categories:
groceries; personal grooming; household; special offers (i.e., rebates; oil change, restaurants, etc.)
Before going shopping – I look through each section, and pull out which coupons I will use and put those in the front section (and refresh my memory of what I have), and I also pull out expired coupons (to throw away), and put coupons ‘on the verge’ of expiring in the very front section too (to give me one last possible chance to use them).
Jennifer
I use a couple different methods to stay organized….
https://www.once-upon-a-coupon.com/coupon-basics/organizing-coupons/
caetie
I haven’t read through all the comments, so I’m sure someone else does it this way; but I use a photo album. I got the one that fits 75ish 4×6 pictures and I love it. With 75 spots, the categories can get really specific: i.e. toothpaste, dairy, diapers, make-up, etc. I even have a slot for each store I stop at to put my RRs and catalinas in. I love it!
JP
I use the binder method with card holders.. HOWEVER, this can get overwhelming if you clip EVERY SINGLE coupon and try to file it all.
If you, DSM, have been couponing for quite some time, then you probably know what sales *usually* occur, and which coupons can get you the best deals (the high dollar Q’s). This helps when trying to weed out the coupons you know you’re probably never going to use (like I will probably never use Rogaine for Men.. so any coupon I get for this, I send out overseas).
Usually, I clip the coupons I know I’ll need (any peanut butter ones, almost any of the dried goods stuff, most of the hair product stuff – shampoo, conditioners, and any oral related products – toothpaste, brushes, etc) but a lot of the other stuff (air fresheners, cleaners like windex, and a lot of the medicine Qs that I usually don’t use) I tend to keep in a pile as I clip and then immediately mail off to the overseas folks.
I realized @ the beginning, while attempting to find my niche using the binder method, that I tended to hold on to a lot of coupons that I really didn’t need and then felt bad when they were close to expiring. So much so that I’d go on a buying spree.
Since then (I’ve only been couponing for close to a year now), I’ve learned better. It also helps to subcategorize your labels. [I.E. I have a section labeled pet food. But within that label, I have two or three baseball cards dedicated to cat stuff and dog stuff. Same goes for Refrigerated Items. In that label I have all pillsbury q’s, then milk/yogurt/dairy stuff, and then all other refrigerated items like oscar mayer meals.] You don’t have to go too crazy with it.. Under household, I have laundry products, plastic/paper products, etc in each of their own baseball card labels but it’s not like I have dividers under dividers under more dividers for each and every category – just their own baseball card sheet.
One a week, usually on Sundays or Tuesdays when I get my coupons and sort them out, I’ll also go through the book before I start placing them in their holders to weed out any of the expired ones (which are grouped if they are like coupons.. so if I buy four papers, all four of the same coupon will go into one holder).
It usually only takes me about 1-1.5 hours a week to cut, sort, and put away the coupons.
Then another half hour on Tuesdays to go through the binder and pick out all the coupons I see a sale for or really need to go get.
Then, when I am shopping, I hold a small envelope (about 6×3) with all my coupons and they are each paperclipped according to grocery store/cvs/wags/etc.
I still bring the binder in with me, but usually, all the things I need coupons for are in my envelope.
If I do happen to see an unadvertised sale, then that’s when I flip open the binder and find the coupon in it’s respective place.
It’s relatively easy and saves me from buying something not on sale but has a coupon.
<3 the site, best wishes.
emily
I use a photo album with the magnetic sheets divided with tabs for different categories. It works really well because the coupons all stay in place and it is very easy to figure out if you have a coupon for a sale item or not. I love it!
Holly
I use an expandable coupon organizer that has tabs that I self-labeled in categories that work for me. I always use the last slot for “today’s coupons” so they’re easily accessible at checkout time. Any store-specific coupons I have get paperclipped together and left in this slot too. When I’m going to a store such as Target that allows both store and manufacturer coupons, I paperclip both the store and the manuf. coupons I plan on using together in this pile for more efficient shopping.
Shawn M
I’ve gone back & forth w/ the binder & filing inserts. I always felt like I was potentially missing out on unadvertised/clearance deal when I used the filing method.
So now I use the binder method. I have the zippered type of binder that has about 5 accordian files in the front where I keep weekly inserts, my shopping lists, etc. I also keep a small calculator & a pair of scissors in the front zippered pouch. I started out w/ baseball card holders, but they were just too small for me. I changed to horizontal photo holder/protectors. There are only 2 or 3 holders per page, but it is much easier for me than trying to cram all my coupons into the baseball holders.
The very 1st page of my binder is a sheet of 2 empty holders. In the bottom slot, I put all the q’s I think I’m going to use for that shoppping trip. As I’m shopping, I move the q’s that I am definitely going to use to the top slot. When I’m ready to check out, I just pull out all the q’s from the top slot & hand over to the cashier.
Heather
I use the binder method with the baseball card holders. I make my own catagories and change them as needed. I trim the coupons to fit without cutting any info off of them. I keep paperclips in the binder so that I can paperclip the ones that I am using for that trip. I put them in the order that I go throught my store so that I can flip as I walk the aisles. I put a “c” on my list next to items that I have a coupon for.
Jenna
Binder with baseball card plastic inserts organized into categories. Eeeeeeeasy.
Nimish
True, Jenna. The binder always works. I use my business card binder.
Deborah
I use a combination of the binder and insert methods with a VERY important twist! I sort all my “loose” coupons (blinkies, from the mail, internet printables, etc.) in a binder with baseball card inserts. I use a Five Star Zipper Binder, I have tabbed dividers for the main sections, Frozen, Health & Beauty, etc. Within a section I further organize with a separate baseball card sheet for each type of items. For example in dairy, yoghurt usually has a page of its, but other dairy, milk, butter cheese might be combined, depending how many coupons I have. When I get the inserts on Sunday (I always buy 4 papers) I look through them and will clip the “I buy this item all the time and will use this coupon” items and file it in the binder. I cut the internet printables right up to the bar code and right below and date and fold them in half so they too will fit in the baseball inserts. All coupons for the same item will go in one slot even if they are for different amounts with the highest amount or the coupon that is expiring first on top. This binder came with three plastic pocket style dividers with little plastic envelopes attached to each divider–what could be more perfect. I pull all the coupons I will need for CVS, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid and put them in the corresponding plastic envelopes. I can put the weekly flyer, ECB or RR rewards, Single Check Rebates, in the pockets of the dividers for each drugstore.
I label and date the inserts on the front cover and put in date order and file them in another zipper binder. When the matches for the drugstores and supermarkets come out, it is easy to find the coupons in the dated inserts and clip them as needed.
Now for the twist, and the answer to your question Tara, “How do you make sure you are not missing using a coupon on a sale item when it is filed in the inserts and not clipped yet”. I carry my I-Phone with me when shopping. I usually bring both binders with me into the store. When I am shopping and spot a clearance rack or an item on sale that I don’t already have a match-up for, I get out my I-Phone, pull up the DSM database, and do a search to see if and what types of coupons are available for the items that are on sale or clearance. If there is a coupon available, I can quickly locate it in my binder of inserts and clip with the scissors that are stored in the outside pocket.
This way, I don’t spend all day Sunday clipping coupons, and I still don’t miss out on items that I don’t have a match up for when I walk into the store. I just make sure I don’t miss a Sunday getting the paper, so I will have just about everything in the DSM database (minus maybe a few regional coupons).
This system has been working GREAT for me. I also make sure that I l all took through the inserts even if I am not clipping them so I will “sort of” be familar with the coupons, and if I see an item on sale, I can just search it in the DSM site. I’ll give you an example, I was in CVS recently and they had the refills for the automatic shower cleaner on clearance for $2.00 each (a great find to start with), I vaguely remembered there being insert coupons for the refills so I did a search and it quickly led me to the $2.o0/2 coupon I needed from a previous insert. I can also use this “Twist” to see if there are coupons for items that are not on sale that I might HAVE to buy. For example, I was shopping and spotted Lithium disk batteries that I needed for a toy. I didn’t have a coupon clipped but did a DSM database search and found a coupon for them, $1.50 saved in about a minute!
So there you have it, my system in a nutshell, One coupon-sorted zipper binder with baseball inserts, One binder with dated inserts in order, and a I-phone (and of course the DSM coupon database) and I am all set–I don’t spend too much time clipping and I never miss using a coupon that I need.
Sharon
I have tried MANY systems for organizing my coupons.
They have ALL failed me in one way or another.
The one I use has failed me the least…so, that is why I use it.
It is the BINDER/BASEBALL CARD HOLDERS System.
The “down side” to this system is time consuming to set up,
though, once it is set up, it doesn’t take long to maintain.
I separate the coupons by CATAGORIES, SUB-CATAGORIES,
and ALPABETICAL ORDER (by brands).
BOTTOM LINE-
When I am in the store and something I use all the time
is on an “unadvertised special”,
I can quickly flip through the binder and find a coupon
that makes it “FREE or NEARLY FREE”,
IT IS WORTH EVERY MINUTE I SPEND ORGANIZING!!!!
I just posted about this. For more go HERE…
https://avisitwithgrammy.blogspot.com/2009/10/organizing-coupons.html
Corrie @ "Cents"able Momma
I keep all my inserts together and just cut out coupons when I need them. I also keep all my loose coupons in a Couponizer that I bring to the store with me.
Here’s a post I wrote about my coupon organization system with pictures – https://www.centsablemomma.com/2008/09/how-i-organize-my-coupons.html
Denise
I’m guessing someone has already answered this question but– where do you find baseball card sheets? I looked at walmart a couple of times and couldn’t find them. My little accordian thing is just too small.
Rob
You can find baseball card inserts in the sporting goods section of Walmart…weird place for it I know
Kim
Our Walmart has the baseball cards and pages up by the registers in an aisle.
Sharon
Denise,
I got some of mine at Walmart and some at Kmart. Both places, I found them up close to the check-out lanes. Hope that helps.
Sharon
olivia
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!
Sherrie Umphrey
Do you have a picture of it, how do we go about
to purchase one? Please email me [email protected]
Thank you
Sherrie
roxanne hooper
I have come up with an awesome organizer which I have made, nd gave my daughter in law one for X-mas and she loves it!!!!!!! I am now selling them for $20.00 each. There are a hundred clear dividers, so that coupons can go into every page. There is a catagory for everything, includding free items, restaurant coupons. I have a notebook on the inside cover, so you can make your grocerey list, pen inside and an envelope to put coupons that you are using at the store so that when you get to checkout, everything is there. We Love it!!!
Jodi
I love couponing but don’t have time to run to different stores. So I just have an envelope and organize them by how things are layed out in the store, I only got to 2 or 3 stores so the food goes in front and other stuff in the back.
TERRY
I HAVE A PLASTIC SHOE BOX WHICH I USE WITH DIVIDERS BROKEN DOWNUCH AS POSSIBLE, COFFEE , TEAS , OTHER BEVERAGES, JUICE , MAKE-UP, END OF MONTH MID MONTH EXPIRING, BREAKING DOWN FROZEN LIKE FROZEN MEATS, FROZEN POTOES, FROZEN FRUITS AND VEGIES, FROZEN MISC FOR REST ETC. OTHER SIDE IF NOT NEEDED HOLDS PEN, NOTEBOOKS ETC , WHEN I PULL WHAT USEING THE GO STRAIGHT OUT FRONT OF DIVIDERS STORE ADS FIT ON TOP INSIDE, I DECOUPAGE OUTSIDE GREAT METHOD AND HAVE EVERYTHING I NEEED RIGHGT THERE, JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET A SNAP TIGHT LID ,FOR 10.00 WOULD LOVE TO MAKE YOU ONE , BECAUSE SUPPLIES GOTTA CONSIDER SHIPPING .TERRY [email protected]
DMollaun
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.
DMollaun
*use
TERRY
I USE A PLASTIC SHHOE BOX DIVIVED IN HALFDOWN MIDDLE FOR TWO EQUAL SIDES USE INDEX CARDS FOR DIVIDERSANY CATAGORY I USE PLUS STORE NSECTIONS, END OF MONTH MID MONTH, FREEBIES KEEP AS MANY FILED AS POSSSIBLE IF NOT ALL ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK OH YEAH MAKE SURE LID IS A SNAP SEAL . [email protected]
Stacey
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
olivia
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.
Tasha Brickhouse
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 https://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!
Julie
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. :)
Jenny D.
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.
Angie
Wow . . . I’m a coupon cave woman. I have mine in an envelope! LOL
nicole
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.
cheryl
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!
Donna
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.
Tara Kuczykowski
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.
MaryLena Anderegga
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.