Tips: Organizing / Storing Your At Home Coupons / Inserts, Etc.

[WillUBMyKnight]

I've actually kept my sales fliers for CVS, Rite Aid, and my grocery store for the year...why?? Well...I get a lot of rainchecks - it helps to be able to bring the old ad in with you (I actually prefer bringing the whole ad to cutting the flier up). Same thing with RiteAid - if my rebate doesn't go through, sometimes it's a couple weeks before I notice - at least I can go back to the flier and see what happened. They've also come in handy for have grocery store receipts refunded for an item that rang up wrong.

I do the whole insert thing as well...but I file mine by date.

I have an index card box for my "loose" coupons, sorted alphabetically.

I also have a spreadsheet that I use to track my own coupons. We get 4 different newspapers here, and each newspaper has a different version of the same insert...ie, 1 paper will have $1.00/2 but another will have $.50/1 - I found using the database time consuming and plus I didn't always have what was listed (or mine were different).

[dmm1277]

Would you mind explaining the "staple method"? You sort by date? I have noticed that there are several Q's on one sheet with different dates. I am sure that I am confused as usual! Thanks in advance

[zaxandpax]

Originally Posted by dmm1277 Would you mind explaining the "staple method"? You sort by date? I have noticed that there are several Q's on one sheet with different dates. I am sure that I am confused as usual! Thanks in advance

If I am starting to understand things... they mean they are filing by the DATE the flyer came out in the paper. Not by the expire date on the coupons.

[jolly321]

Originally Posted by dmm1277 Would you mind explaining the "staple method"? You sort by date? I have noticed that there are several Q's on one sheet with different dates. I am sure that I am confused as usual! Thanks in advance

I purchase 10 papers each week. I then disassemble and reassemble the like coupons together, staple the coupons (not on the date, product name, or UPC). Then I file these by the date they were in the newspaper, so normally these are filed based on Sundays date.

Then, if I need to see if I have a coupon I go to the Coupon database and search for the item. The database will tell you the date of the newspaper the item was in. Then I pull the coupons and clip them. I only clip the coupons when I need them.
HTH

[hollyquilter]

Originally Posted by Moma you could look thru the insert and find the oldest date...then write that on the front and when you hit that date...voila..in the recycle bin...or..off to a military family!!

I just thought of that idea yesterday! I was cleaning out some of my old coupons from June/July/August and realized exactly that! If I write on there the oldest date on the coupon packet and the date of the coupon packet that would make my life a lot easier. I think what I might do is post on my blog (just started a blog - holly.luddite.net) the dates when to toss the coupons. That way it will help me stay organized and might help someone else too. Just a thought.

[justlucy06]

I normally get a lot of inserts. I take the first 20 and save them to be clipped. I then put the remaining in individual boxes about the size of a Flat Rate Priority Mail Box and write the date on the flap (obviously there's a lot of room up in our attic). The 20 that I'm going to clip, I put similar pages together while watching tv, cut them and paperclip or staple them. I file them in rubbermaid boxes with individual files I made with large index cards with categories on top.

[homeworker111]

I just got my notebook together with the coupons in the baseball card holders. I was so happy. When I went to the commisary I saved $59 yesterday. The most I have ever saved before this was $40. Plus it was easy to flip the binder and look for a certain one. One lady even told me what a great idea it was.

[spearso2]

I need some advice from all of the couponing experts out there.

I have been couponing for about three months now and I started out with a portable file box with each individual file labeled by type ex. deli, dairy, etc. I am finding that each week I am having to sort through a mountain of coupons to find the match up's in the ads or the coupons that match what I need to purchase any way or I am letting coupons that are good and for items that I need to buy weekly anyway expire because they are buried!! After reading that so many of you use the intact insert method (filing the insert by type and date and cutting later) that I have decided to switch to that method. However, this brings a whole new host of questions that I am not sure of...

What do you do with all of the older cut coupons that you still have?
What do you do with printed coupons?
What do you do with coupons that you did not get out of an insert from a paper (ex. the p and g coupons from the $50 promo)?
What do you do with coupons that are in the inserts but not a sale item or coupon match-up for anything in the weekly ad this week but are things that you would buy any way?
What do you do when you get to the store and there are items on sale or clearance that you did not anticipate? How do you know where to look for them through all of the inserts filed by week not by catagory??

I would be forever grateful for any and all advice anyone can offer. I have come to LOVE this site and can't wait for the new ad posts every week and the tips from all of you veteran's.

Forever in your dept,
Stephanie

[eisor]

What do you do with all of the older cut coupons that you still have?

When I transitioned over, I just kept using my binder until they all expired. It shouldn't take but a month or so for many of them to expire.

What do you do with printed coupons?

I print coupons ONLY when I need them. So, usually I'm only holding on to them for 2-3 days. I stick them in my expandable coupon holder that I have.

What do you do with coupons that you did not get out of an insert from a paper (ex. the p and g coupons from the $50 promo)?

I put all Blinkies, peelies, tearpads and IPs in an expandable coupon holder. Target has them in their Dollar Spot right now for only $1. I usually pick up 1 or 2 every time they are in the Dollar Spot. They don't last forever, but they are pretty decent.

What do you do with coupons that are in the inserts but not a sale item or coupon match-up for anything in the weekly ad this week but are things that you would buy any way?

I don't clip these until I need them. But, I do make a list. For example, when the Johnson & Johnson Baby coupon comes out, I add it to my list. When the electrasol coupon comes out, that gets added to my list. I include a Description, Coupon Value & insert it can be found in. This way, each time I go to a store, I choose to buy one of the items on my list. So, if I'm going to Target, I'll be sure to grab some J&J coupons and buy some Buddies bars.

What do you do when you get to the store and there are items on sale or clearance that you did not anticipate? How do you know where to look for them through all of the inserts filed by week not by catagory??

This is definitely one area that you sacrifice in. I do keep my coupons in my car in a file crate. So, the way I look at it. I could always go through my coupons in my trunk and get the coupon (this is where my really good memory comes in, I can usually remember what week a coupon came out). BUT, usually I realize that I don't really need the clearance anyways, so I just skip over it. If I don't have the coupon on me and it's a really good deal, I'll try to make it over the next day. It's almost like a checks & balance system. I have a weakness for clearance. So, by not having my coupons with me, it usually talks me out of buying stuff I don't usually need.

Hopefully this helps!

[thickbluebug]

I did this during xmas. I was so behind I didn't want to cut anything else and add to my clutter. I was using hanging files in a portable tote box. I am swapping to the crate with used priority envies as my folders.
I don't have your memory for each weeks coupons, so I print off internet sheets of what's in the inserts. I punch holes and keep them in a binder. Plan on putting my q policy for each store in the back section, like I had in my big zipper binder.
It's worked so well for me that I am ready to move my q's to the car and get in on some of the clearance deals.

Originally Posted by eisor I am really enjoying my file crate method. I keep them in my car and clip out individual coupons as I need them. My sister gets 100+ inserts a week and she was having difficulty finding a method she liked for storage. She finally decided on paper bags! She pulls out 20 inserts and puts them in file crates. Then, she stores the rest in paper bags that are labeled, folded over and stacked. She gets them out once she has traded the inserts or needs a coupon.