Organizing Your "Carry To Store" Coupons

[TammyH]

I thought I posted this but it didn't show so sorry if you see this twice.
I use a binder, and this is how I do mine. I seperate into Grocery, Personal Items, Pharmacy, and Household goods. Then I seperate the grocery into can goods, meat, frezer, dairy, etc. I use clear sheet protectors and slide a harder piece of paper into the sleve then I use scotch tape to stick my coupons on the sheet protector in its section. I put multiples on top of each other. When I get a product off the shelf then I stick the coupon on it, when I get to the checkout I just pull the coupons off and hand them to the checker....This makes the checkout pretty quick which keeps the checker happy and me less confused.
Here's a pic.. It is really quite simple
~Tammy~

[Sabrinas_Mom]

I finally got my coupons clipped and sorted. I am using a zippered binder with the baseball card sheets and I file them alphabetically by brand name. Shopping is sooo much easier now. I go through my ads and then pull the coupons I plan on using for each store and stick each store in a slot in the front of my binder as I bring the binder in the store just in case . I have pockets for my pen, calculator, circulars, gift cards and frees in the front as well.

As far as making the coupons fit into the slots on the baseball card sheets, I am anal..I clip my coupons as neatly as possible and take off all excess paper. That way I find I only have to fold a few.

[Mom2my3sons]

Uh Oh -- my wife left the computer on this site, and then left the computer unattended. That means that I, her DH, get to chime in....

Karen just upgraded to a lap top computer carrying case. I told her she should have skipped that step and just gone straight to one of those suitcases with the pullout handle and wheels on one end.

Off I go now before she gets home.....Oh, who am I kidding, I'm already in trouble...

[Mom2my3sons]

BLAH! ! ! I spent the greater part of the day trying to figure out a better organizing system.

I found a terrific soft side breifcase at Goodwill the other day. Perfect for toting them around in. But because it is soft-sided there isn't enough structured to keep the coupons in one place, so I need something to put them in, in the breifcase.

I tried the baseball card holders, but most of my coupons were too big for the little slots. And the coupons are hard to get in and out. It seems like it would take forever to put them away on clipping day.

So I found some Fruit Jammers boxes that are the perfect size for the coupons. I like to keep my food coupons separate from the non-food, so 2 boxes would work well. But the boxes are just a bit too big for the briefcase. I can still zip it up, bit it's a tight squeeze. I could take off the tops of the boxes, but I'm afraid the coupons would slip out and make a HUGE mess.

I just can't figure out a system that works for me. I get multiples of the inserts, so I have quite a collection. I hate going to the store with only a few coupons, because I always need something I left behind. But at the same time, I am throwing my back out carrying about a 20lb bag of
coupons.

any suggestions?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

If you like filing your coupons this way how about some sort of plastic shoe boxes? Which you can fit 2 or 3 in an average sized tote bag. If the weight of the coupons are too much for your back you could always put them in a backpack or perhaps even a rolling suitcase. Although you may draw attention to yourself with that.

Finding a system that works for you is one of the challenges for organizing these scraps of paper called coupons. Most people try on various methods before finding one that they like well enough.

I myself have done binder, shoebox, this scrapbooking organizer tote thingy I found, accordian files, and even a file box with un cut inserts.

And now I am back to binders with baseball card pages and a few photo album pages because that is what works for me.

If you get multiples of inserts you may want to clip and file and tote into the store the coupons you KNOW you might use and file in a file box the rest by insert date and leave them in the car.

[MaryMary]

I bought a cute photo file, which looks outside like boxy purse. It has handle, lockable lid, over 15 sturdy departments made with hard plastic, not cardboard.
Originally $16, on clearance in S&S for less then $4.

Sure it wouldn't fit all my coupons, cut bulk I keep in a shoe box file.

[kimeejo]

What does everyone think of the case it binders with the Dual D Rings? Is anyone using this one? How is it working out for you? I just found mine at Target and am "testing" it to see if I will like it.

[couponsally]

I just have a small black coupon organizer that I got at Target. It fits in my purse. I admire the binders and cases though, but I don't have the dedication to get them that organized. My little organizer is a step up from the plain white envelopes I was using.

[gettinrevvin2007]

I just purchased a binder, and pages, at Wallyworld. Got coupons, got binder. I am ready to go! Psyched!

[Q_ponQ]

Ok, when I first started more serious couponsing...
I clipped everything and put them in my binder...well, as most of you know, several Qs just expired....
After I removed the Xs from my binder, I felt as if I did too much work, that maybe I wasted my time, KWIM?
I did the stack and staple thing, because I get multiple inserts (most times)
the question is this:
If I just file my inserts, with the date How do I remember what is in there?

what/how do you do it when filing?
TIA
:-)

P.s. there is just my DH and myself, so I don't stock pile like most of the couponers with larger families..