Organizing Your "Carry To Store" Coupons

[proudtxmomof3]

I use the binder method and also use velcro tiny bit to velcro my pages shut that way they don't fall out. I too get 10 inserts a week. I have a food binder and then a necc. and drug binder. Thats easy way for me. i use to have trouble keeping my coupons in my binder but one of my friends showed me to put velcro at the edge of each section and it worked like a charm!

[camille147]

Originally Posted by proudtxmomof3 I use the binder method and also use velcro tiny bit to velcro my pages shut that way they don't fall out. I too get 10 inserts a week. I have a food binder and then a necc. and drug binder. Thats easy way for me. i use to have trouble keeping my coupons in my binder but one of my friends showed me to put velcro at the edge of each section and it worked like a charm!

Now that is a neat idea.. does the velcro hold up pretty good??

[isis]

I've been using the binder method for a few years now and the only problem I've had is the cardboard coupons. For some reason, those always slide out of the slot. So what I do now is paperclip the coupon to the sleeve.

My binder is a mish-mash of refills. Some of my pages have 5 slots, 2 horizontal/3 vertical with side openings. Then I have a pack of photo pages that are 3 slots,
1 vertical/2 horizontal that have top openings, which I find works great for larger coupons. Then I have a few 9-slot baseball sleeves.

[thickbluebug]

I have used the gem clips too in my binders. I have also taped coupons to the plastic sleeves. When I swap back to my binder I will try the velcro idea. That sounds do-able.


My q storing methods change with the sales and time of year.

The next few weeks will be huge for cereal and cookies and back to school stuff and clearance items.

So, I need to have the bulk of my q's in my car the next few weeks.

I have 100 uncut ss inserts most of the time plus I buy when when we get p&g and gather inserts from friends and family that I try to cut and file - that's where my 10 come into play.

This time of year I set up my vehicle as a mobile office.
A few crates of uncut coupons and my lap top.

I think I am going to try the storage file box with hanging files, zip bags, and use clips then file by sections for the rest of the back to school sales. Will post how I do with it.

edit:
the storage box won't hold the coupons - the handle is about to break. I am trying the tool box/tackle box idea.

edit #2
tool/tackle box won't work...to small. So I am back to the binder (for non groc) with photo sheets and an 8x10 holding sleeve (in the beginning of each section) for stuff I don't have time to load and the coupon box from ebay for my groc coupons.
Then I have my check file for the store.
Then I have the crates of uncuts with my laptop to remember what is in each insert. I was printing them out - but that was too much work.
Anyway
I guess I am going to have to learn to live with less coupons if I want to go down to a small system.

edit #3
pulled out a plastic shoe box for just my kellogg's, nabisco wyb tearpads and back to school coupon booklets. Decided it was better to have them in their own container until all these deals have passed.

[katrina23]

I use multiple accordian files. One is for HBA, one grocery items, one frozen foods only, one household products, one catchall. I have each file organized by categories, for instance, groceries: condiments/sauces, boxed foods, canned foods, baking, cereals & breakfast, juices & beverages, a few others. I pull the category for the aisle I'm shopping, take a glance, and pick up whatever I need from the shelves.

[Lmnde]

This is what works for me [I also use a binder w. zipper and baseball cards + photo sleeves] to keep my binder where it is supposed to stay on top of the kids seat in the shopping cart - on my first binder the zipper puller eventually gave out, and I threaded a small key ring [that circle thingy which overlaps all the way around, mine is about half an inch diameter] into the zipper part where the puller goes. On that I threaded a regular key snap = now the binder goes on the kiddie seat, and gets clipped onto the cart - no more slipping off, accidentally getting bumped off or tilted into the shopping cart with coupons slipping out. Even if the binder should start sliding into the kiddie seat, it only slides an inch at the most [depending on where the key snap has been clipped on] and slides the right way with the bottom first, so no coupons will fall out, other than possibly the ones I already pulled for my purchases.

I'm on binder #3 now, and this has worked so well for me, I always transfer my puller/clip-on system onto my newest binder.

When I have a lot of one particular coupon, or some very slippery ones, I may use a large paperclip to close the pocket or clip them to the pocket they are in. They also make some awsomely huge paperclips - about 3" or so which are perfect to hold the coupons I already pulled for sales, or that hold short dated coupons I'm looking to use asap in the front of the folder...

[ladycat00]

Originally Posted by Joyfulmom4 I tried little pouches and accordion files next. Nice, but way too small for my needs. The binders got huge and bulky and cumbersome. The little accordion files got fat at the bottom and soon became impossible to close. They didn't hold up well to regular use either (tried both plastic and cardboard styles). They'd wear out, tear or break. And you only got about a dozen separate pouches so you couldn't sort into very detailed categories. It was easy and fast to file coupons and quick to look though everything at a glance, but easy to lose something amid the many coupons in one pocket.

FYI I got canvas accordian files lined with heavy vinyl at Walmart. They were only $3-something each, and they have held up extremely well with very heavy duty use.

They are 10 1/2 inches wide, 5 3/4 inches high, and have 13 slots each. They also have inner and outer pockets.

I use envelopes from junk mail to make sub-categories in the main categories.

I use the accordians for loose coupons. I put inserts and All You magazine in hanging files. I carry the accordians with me in a reusable shopping tote.

Everyone has a method that works for them. The way I do it works for me, after much trial and error until I got it right.

[AJSN]

I just wanted to let you know what I've been doing with my many inserts. At Jo-Anne's there was a seven drawer (black) plastic piece of furniture for scrapbooking. Each "drawer" pulls all the way out AND closes entirely on top like an individual container.

I organize my inserts by month. Mostly this stays home, but it fits easily in the SUV when needed as well.

It was pricey, I bought it before I learned to coupon FOR scrapbooking. I think with the 40% off coupon itd still bea bout $30 bucks - but SO convienient

I ALSO have two binders alphabetically organized for NON-inserts.

I ALSO have my "take in store" binder - which I got at flower factory. It's made for scrabooking as well. It's a two sided acordian half length file with a HANDLE!!! Organized by store.

Originally Posted by thickbluebug I have used the gem clips too in my binders. I have also taped coupons to the plastic sleeves. When I swap back to my binder I will try the velcro idea. That sounds do-able. My q storing methods change with the sales and time of year. The next few weeks will be huge for cereal and cookies and back to school stuff and clearance items. So, I need to have the bulk of my q's in my car the next few weeks. I have 100 uncut ss inserts most of the time plus I buy when when we get p&g and gather inserts from friends and family that I try to cut and file - that's where my 10 come into play. This time of year I set up my vehicle as a mobile office. A few crates of uncut coupons and my lap top. I think I am going to try the storage file box with hanging files, zip bags, and use clips then file by sections for the rest of the back to school sales. Will post how I do with it. edit: the storage box won't hold the coupons - the handle is about to break. I am trying the tool box/tackle box idea.

[noahsmommy0716]

First off I am new here TO HCW. But not new to couponing. I am a new mom to a baby boy named Sean he was born on 6/22 and I also have a 3yr old. I am a SAHM while my hubby is at work I juggle feeding the kids, cleaning the house, cooking etc...I LOVE couponing and I save a good bit of money on diapers, wipes, basic household essentials, and food but I am totally unorganized. Right now I have all of my coupons cut into a accordian style folder. Not easy when I'm at the store by myself w/ a newborn and a 3yr old. I need something simple & easy to organize my coupons in. Any one have any suggestions??

[bugface711]

If you do not need to keep a ton with you, keep the accoridan file in your car maybe and use a check file to bring into the store. I paid $1 for mine at target.

I have a good size accordian file with a handle and a few check file ones. The check file one fits into my big purse and is easy to flip through. There are tabs so you can divide it up however you need it.
I have one I use for CVS and Wags and another I use for when I need to carry something small for shopping and do not need all the coupons in my accordian file.

I keep 2 bankers boxes at home with hanging folders for all of the other coupons that I dont like to have on hand.