Organizing Your "Carry To Store" Coupons

[pwetypweas]

Originally Posted by valgal1119 My binder isn't very full, I am just getting started on it. Where can I find a new one that is big enough, zippered, and has a handle?? I'm searching and just not finding much. Any help?? Thanks!!!!!

The other problem is you might be hitting the releases on the binders ends (those little metal flap things) when you're carrying it around.... Hmm...

Case-it makes a three inch zippered binder - they are pretty expensive though - which is why most of us have two I think (mine are 2" and a double sided one that has 1.5" on each side) -- generally you can find them on eBay, Staples, Office Max or Office Depot -- the best selection is during Back to School time though (Sept)

[valgal1119]

Originally Posted by pwetypweas The other problem is you might be hitting the releases on the binders ends (those little metal flap things) when you're carrying it around.... Hmm... Case-it makes a three inch zippered binder - they are pretty expensive though - which is why most of us have two I think (mine are 2" and a double sided one that has 1.5" on each side) -- generally you can find them on eBay, Staples, Office Max or Office Depot -- the best selection is during Back to School time though (Sept)

I think that's what's happening, I just don't know how to prevent it. I'm going to Target today and I'll look through their selection. Thanks for helping! This is so frustrating!!!!

Valerie

[shann196]

Just an FYI--Big Lots has Five Star zippered binders for $6. I think they were over $10 at WM. I got 2 one for couponing and one for scrapbooking(to hold dies) With the zipper I can fling it in the backseat when I get in the car and nothing falls out, or even moves

[tightwadtips]

My coupons are broken down into 48 categories. I know its a lot. BUT, I don't have to wander through the paper towels to get to the zipbags like I used to. I used to have them broken into only 10, but it took wayyyyy toooo longgg to shop. Now I have them broken down into very specific catergories. So, I don't have to look through so many at once. I also have an envelope in the back of my plastic box with hinged lids, so that when I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt I will not use a coupon, I can trade it, give it to friends, or add it to the coupon train I am on. It is quite complicated to have all of those categories, but I know exactly what they are and how to find what I need. If anyone else had to take my coupons to the grocery store, they would not like me very much, lol!

[bonniechriskatie]

I used binders in the past and will go back to too as it was the best way for me to sort my coupons. I'm re-starting couponing after taking a break. My binders were sorted into sections(cereal, drinks, frozen food, snacks, baking, etc etc) and then I would have each section broken down into mini sections(ie-cookies with cookies, can fruit with can fruit, etc). The only problem I had with binders is the sheets that I have to hold the coupons never last and I need to replace them after a few months.

[Queenie31rk]

I do mine totally different......

I put mine in numeric order by the UPC code. That way when I am going down the isle and see something on sale or clearance. I just flip the item over look at the upc code and flip straight to the page that the # should be on and see if I have that coupon.

I have 3 kids and this really saves me alot of time at the store.

I keep all my stuff in a BIG 3 ring binder using the baseball card pages. Most of them I am able to fold to where I can see the upc code easily. (i only file by the first 5 digits which is the Manufacture number on the upc)

when I get coupons that are too fat and too bulky to fold (like 16000 coupons which are the betty crocker ones (i think) those I put in a zip lock bag and punch holes into it to fit in my binder.

I also have a spreadsheet that tells me who each Manufacture is and what their UPC code will start with. That way if I am looking through the sales papers and see tide on sale. I just look at my list and see what numbers tide start with and thumb right to the page.

my binder also has a clear plastic pocket on the front and as I am shopping and find the stuff on sale that i am using my coupon for I pull the coupon out of the baseball card sleeve and put it in the front pocket . when I get to the check out...all my coupons that i am using for that purchase are right there in one spot.

I do get MANY news papers so that I have multiple coupons so I can get a bigger stock pile built up for my house and i usually donate ALOT of stuff away because I can normally get ALOT of stuff for free!!! It has helped me sooooo much with being organized with my coupons.

I usually clip coupons at night while I am watching tv. I let my older child help and it actually goes by pretty quick. I clip the coupons that I KNOW I will use first then I clip the others by the end of the week so that they are done before I get the next sundays paper.

[jeepus]

Wow! I've tried the binder method and didn 't like it - I outgrew it too quickly and it seemed like I was always in danger of coupons falling out of pages every tiime I looked for something. I also just didn't like having to flip thru a big book all the time. I have two metal boxes with lids that I use at the moment. I think I'm going to try the briefcase method next though, that looks great! There's a place for all the paperwork and flyers and lists and whatever in the lid and plenty of room for coupons. I know I have an old briefcase too, but I believe it's buried under a heap of cereal boxes, I'll have to go tidy up the stockpile.

Bizybee, you said your briefcase is capable of extra height, I bet my old briefcase isn't. I may have to start looking for an extra tall one. Thanks for sharing your organinzing systems everyone, it's great to hear about how different all our systems are. Queenie, my goodness, I have never heard of anyone sorting by number. How did you decide to do it that way?

[Queenie31rk]

I sort mine that way because I normally go up and down all the isles anyways looking for things on clearance or on sale. I just look at the product on sale and turn it over and look at the barcode. That way I know what number to look for in my book and I find it really quickly. Rather than looking though "frozen foods" or canned goods, or cold food, paper products...etc. It seemed as if I was always over looking my coupons that way. So when I went to the number system I never overlook the coupon

[allynbayleigh]

i dont organize mine.

i get 50-100 inserts a week, sometimes more. Im not cutting every single coupon out. Too much work time for me to waste.

Instead each is entered into excel, I print and put in binder. Wehn I need coupon I pull it, cut em and then update excel. Once a month Iwill reprint lists and remove coupons I have used.

tearpads/etc/crap are thrown into a banker box. I have a good memory and know what I have so if I need it i dig through the box.

Binder method sucks, filing sucks. This works better for me. (but maybe not for you <shrug>)

[averys_mom_92205]

I knew it was time for a new system when I was trying to find a Q in my accordion organizer the other day at Kmart and I dropped it! My whole HBA section (probably the biggest one) went all over the floor. So I'm going to try out the binder system. I was hoping that CVS might have the baseball card inserts so I could get them with ECBs, but no such luck, at least not where I could see them.