Storing and Organizing LARGE Quantities of Non-Inserts/Loose Coupons

[xythnia]

So while not everyone has this problem, I know I am not the only one who does!

I have a LARGE quantity of "loose" coupons, mostly in the form of tearpads, booklets, hangtags, peelies, etc. While I am not up to the 100s of thousands I had previously, I just did a rough estimate and it looks like I am back up to easily 30,000 non-inserts!

I know organizing these is different from uncut inserts, which you can file in magazine folders, hanging files, stacked piles, etc. Previously, I had $1 sterlite "shoebox" bins with items dumped in by month/year (Nov 2010, Dec 2010, Jan 2011, etc). In my new place, after a hiatus from couponing I now have NO system at all!

So, to anyone with LARGE amounts of loose/cut Qs as well, any suggestions? How are you keeping it all under control? Just want to see if there are better ideas than what I had going previously.

Thanks in advance for your help!

XythniasCoupons | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[latte]

i wish i could help...but that is what mine look like too!!!

[thickbluebug]

I separate my non inserts into trading and personal use.

My trading ones fit into a coupon box - it's the one that is sold on fleabay. 3 section rectangle with clip closures - has a place to put keys, scissors, cards, tape or what ever junk I have.

Mine is over 2 years and looks similar to this one:
Pro Deluxe Coupon Organizer-4 Case Box - eBay (item 190351049295 end time Dec-14-10 14:19:23 PST)
The con: the box falls though the kiddie seat in some of the carts - not quite wide enough to sit on top of the shopping cart/buggy

The box doesn't hold my store booklets or seasonal pamphlets - so I keep those in a plastic box.

I like the box because I can file those q's as I get them in the stores. When I am on top of things I cut the q's from the booklets and file them,,,,,I manage to that while I am waiting on the hot blinkies!

I don't have near the q's you have - so good luck on a method.


WOW on those q's~!~

[SFShopper]

I'm the opposite of you ~ in that my crazy q's are mainly of insert Q's (easier), so with those, it's pretty much filed by insert date in a lovely Wags Bag in my sunroom; I don't have nearly as many non-insert Q's, with those, I've noticed, I've been filing by source in a - you guessed it lovely Wags Bag - i.e. the recent Safeway booklets ~ there have been about 4 in the last few months... and with blinkies / tearpads - mine can pretty much fit into a Medium Sized Flat Rate Box

Have you tried the USPS Medium or Large Flat Rate Box Filing method? For me - my filing method - it's the whatever is free method most everything I need for my filing system, courtesy of the Post Office only thing I can't order on.line is the packing tape ~ that I need to get at the counter at my Post Office - and trust me, I've looked and looked at the USPS site

Ok - just looked at your pic omg!!! yeah, that would drive me batty I'd say, start with a Med Flat Rate Box and go from there and on the outside, just mark the boxes with a Sharpie of what's inside (mabye by expy month).... and when the box becomes yucky and too used up, you just open up another FREE box if you just don't want to deal with ordering the boxes all the time, just order a box of 25 and you should be set to go...

[shananava]

Lord mine are such a mess. Tired of missing deals b/c of it though. I buy extra papers but sometimes the ones I buy it for or print for expire or I miss the sale lately. Guess life happens though and its understandable. Couponing is like a high when you get free stuff. Guess you can't organize them or shop if you are looking at them constantly online, like i mess up and do at times.

Hope we all can get organized like some who do, blog, and live their lives too. Know I need help too.

[AJS6726]

Inserts - I separate & staple the like pages & use manilla folders for each insert & label them x/x RP, x/x SS, etc. I then type a list for each insert in alphabetical order of what's in it with the value & exp date & mark the upper corner with the # of copies that I have. Makes referencing very easy to see if I got a particular coupon or coupon value. I only clip them when I see a sale or deal coming up & I know I'll be using them.

I used to clip them all & file but this became such a huge pain - then having to go back & weed out the expired was an even bigger pain & both very time consuming. When a coupon expires or I have used them, I take a marker & draw a line through that one on my list. When all are expired, I empty the folder & re-use it.

Non-Inserts - I have Sterlite baskets I got at Walmart a long time ago. They are 11x8x4 & are stackable. I have index card dividers with the following:

air Fresheners
baking
BBQ/Marinades
beverages
breads
butter
cakes/brownies
candles
candy
cat food
cat litter
cereal
cereal bars
cheese
chips
cleaners
coffee
condiments
cookies
crackers
dairy
deli
dental
deodorant
desserts
diapers/wipes
dishwash
dressings
feminine
film/batteries <--- see how long I have had these ... haven't had to buy 'film' in years
first aid
foil/wraps
froz bread
froz meals
froz meats
froz pizza
froz snacks
froz veggies
froz waffles
fruits
ice cream
juice
laundry
lotions
m: chicken
m: fish
m: fish
m: pork
m: turkey
medicine
mexican
misc
napkins
oatmeal
pancakes
paperware
paper towels
pasta
pasta sauce
pickles
popcorn
potatoes
pudding/jello
rice
shampoo
shaving
snacks
soap
sodas
soup
spices
sugar/flour
syrups
tea
tissues
toilet paper
trash bags
veggies
yogurt

I used the larger size index card dividers. I don't have worry about the big coupons sticking up over top the divider tabs. I know this seems like a lot of sections, but this works well for me. It's a quick glance to see if I have something. Oh - I also paperclip all the like coupons together.

Sorry this is so long - but maybe it will help someone.

Shut up skimo ... I know you are going to see this & laugh your butt off !!!

[everprincess]

I'm sooo far behind I just try to do the best I can. I file inserts by dates also. Non-inserts get tossed in a box. Between working, cleaning, cooking, shopping and all of us being sick lately I just can't keep up. Thank goodness for my stockpile or I would lose my mind for sure.

[Kulis]

I can offer no advice, but I just want to say I'm awed by the amount of non-inserts you have. Where on earth do you find them?

[CouponQueen83]

I use something like this for my non-inserts. Mine is actually cloth-covered though (black), and much larger and has a clip on the front. It was around $11 at Wally-World.
I've started cutting up all my booklets and filing them in sets of 20 per paperclip by brand/mfg name in the binder. I am about to need a 2nd one though.
I'll take pictures when I get home from school and post.

It's much easier, has saved me so much time and hassle. It was quite a time investment getting it set up, but I feel much more in control of everything now, which aids me in doing trades/auctions, because I know exactly what I have and where it is.

HTH

[CouponQueen83]

Inserts - I separate & staple the like pages & use manilla folders for each insert & label them x/x RP, x/x SS, etc. I then type a list for each insert in alphabetical order of what's in it with the value & exp date & mark the upper corner with the # of copies that I have. Makes referencing very easy to see if I got a particular coupon or coupon value. I only clip them when I see a sale or deal coming up & I know I'll be using them.

I used to clip them all & file but this became such a huge pain - then having to go back & weed out the expired was an even bigger pain & both very time consuming. When a coupon expires or I have used them, I take a marker & draw a line through that one on my list. When all are expired, I empty the folder & re-use it.

Non-Inserts - I have Sterlite baskets I got at Walmart a long time ago. They are 11x8x4 & are stackable. I have index card dividers with the following:

air Fresheners
baking
BBQ/Marinades
beverages
breads
butter
cakes/brownies
candles
candy
cat food
cat litter
cereal
cereal bars
cheese
chips
cleaners
coffee
condiments
cookies
crackers
dairy
deli
dental
deodorant
desserts
diapers/wipes
dishwash
dressings
feminine
film/batteries <--- see how long I have had these ... haven't had to buy 'film' in years
first aid
foil/wraps
froz bread
froz meals
froz meats
froz pizza
froz snacks
froz veggies
froz waffles
fruits
ice cream
juice
laundry
lotions
m: chicken
m: fish
m: fish
m: pork
m: turkey
medicine
mexican
misc
napkins
oatmeal
pancakes
paperware
paper towels
pasta
pasta sauce
pickles
popcorn
potatoes
pudding/jello
rice
shampoo
shaving
snacks
soap
sodas
soup
spices
sugar/flour
syrups
tea
tissues
toilet paper
trash bags
veggies
yogurt

I used the larger size index card dividers. I don't have worry about the big coupons sticking up over top the divider tabs. I know this seems like a lot of sections, but this works well for me. It's a quick glance to see if I have something. Oh - I also paperclip all the like coupons together.

Sorry this is so long - but maybe it will help someone.

Shut up skimo ... I know you are going to see this & laugh your butt off !!!

Your system sounds similar to mine, except I do mine by mfg/brand (such as "E" for "Easy Mac" even though it's Kraft).