Are you a couponer? If so, are you a meticulous organizer, or is your organization, not organizing them? Well, there is no question that if you have a handy system, you will save yourself time in the long run. As a busy mom that wants to be involved in many different activities, organizing my coupons is a place where I don’t want to spend a lot of time, but I do want it to help me to efficiently save money.
However you end up organizing your coupons, you have to do it in a way that works for you. I look at the ladies in the stores that look so organized with their big coupon binders carrying 100s and maybe thousands of coupons. While I think it’s amazing that people would carry that many coupons, I wonder ‘how many do they actually use’? How long does it take to organize them each week? Do they lug that binder in every store?
Currently I made and carry two thin coupon holders that fit easily into my purse, and I keep them there all of the time. I want to be able to spontaneously get a deal if I see one. It has happened where I have found toothpaste (or other items) on clearance, and coupled with a coupon, I’ve been able to get the toothpaste for nearly free. Anyway, I don’t want to personal be weighed down by a heavy binder that carries coupons in which most will just be recycled anyway. For myself I don’t think I would bring a big coupon binder in and out of every store I would go to. I love that, for me, my system is very portable and is something that I actually use. Yes, I still recycle many coupons at the end of every month, but I have really pared down the amount of coupons I cut, aiming for clipping those I am most likely to use.
The categories I use currently:
- rainchecks
- doublers (coupons I think I might double so they are faster to get)
- baby
- baking
- beverages
- breakfast
- canned foods
- cleaning
- dairy & meat
- health aids (much smaller since I’ve been making my own deodorant & astringent)
- pasta/sauces
- snacks
- etc. (canning goods, Pyrex coupons)
I cut file folders to size, fitting in my coupon holders well.
All of my coupons are organized in their particular category by date so that when I open a coupon category I see the coupon that will expire first at the top. It takes me about 10 minutes a week to go through my coupons, taking out the expired ones, clipping, and putting the new coupons into my coupon organizers.
I know people who don’t clip their coupons until they know they will use them after they have made their strategic plans. That means saving many sets of coupons that I don’t personally want around the house. May be that would work for you, though?
What DOES works for you? How do you organize your coupons? I know I don’t have the end-all method.
Other posts you might like:
- Couponing & Extreme Couponing or Not
- Grocery Prices to Meet or Beat
- Budgeting for 2012 Part 3
- Eating Out with Coupons
- Our Story of Paying Off $38,000
I was wondering where you got the little cute pink n blue coupons holders that you put your little files into?
I think that is an awesome idea and it will definitely fit into my purse much easier then a small accordion type file thingy.
Hi Melissa, I made them. I used this tutorial. I hope that helps, and thanks for asking!
Love how you repurposed the file folders! They are darling!
Thanks for the great coupon organizing tips! Thanks for joining us for “Strut Your Stuff Saturday”. We loved having you and hope you’ll be back soon! -The Sisters