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

[mmb1996]

Originally Posted by kurlisola I've tried just about every system & imho, the best (if you get multiples) is to not clip the coupons. The fact is, most coupons go unused...even by couponers. So its a tremendous waste to clip them, file them, and then eventually find and discard them. As for bringing the coupons with you. I bring mine with me. They go in the back of my van in a tote. If I find a deal while in the store, I can go to the back of my van, clip what I need & make another trip. To be honest, this rarely happens though because I usually know the deals & what I'm buying before I leave the house. And if it does happen, 5-10 extra minutes once in awhile is alot better than 1-2 extra hours a week, every single week. If your system overwhelms you...its time to try a new one.

I agree! I cut out 2 complete sets and coupons I know for sure that will get used. I file the rest by date and insert. I don't take them to the store with me because I would fill up the back of my car LOL. I do take my good coupons and 2 of every other coupon to the store with me. I live in town a mile from everything so its no biggie to make another trip if I find a great deal. Every week I will cut out what I need after viewing all the sales flyers. I like the database but I find its easier for me to have one file folder with one copy of every insert I have in it. I put a postit on the top with the date and the mark any coupons included that are really good with the right sale. I also mark when the last coupon in the insert expires so I know when to toss that and the other folder I have with the other 50-60 of the same inserts I usually get. I would go crazy if I tried to cut out all my coupons, 95% of them get tossed anyways.

[kurlisola]

[kurlisola]

Pictures are bigger than I expected-lol! But gives you an idea. Inside each envie, like coupons are stapled together & in alpha order.

Another reason I felt I had to change was for the last couple of years, my other system worked great, but I didn't do alot of trades. Over the last 3 months I've been doing 1-2 trades or raok a week, so I had to come up with something that worked a bit better.

Also, I was worried about my accordian. I've had it for 2 years & never seen one like it. Well I asked dh to check Walmart for it (where I got it) & he found them in purple, pink or black & got me one of each; for when this one goes kaput. They redesigned them slightly...but just cosmetic. So when I go shopping, all of my Walgreens coupons are in my walgreens slot, Target in target slot, etc...As I shop, I put the ones that I've got items for, in the front; and I put the ones that I'm not going to use (I get to the store & find an item is no longer on sale for example) in the very back. Then when I get to the checkout, all my coupons are right up front. When I get home, I pull the coupons from the back and file away in my shoebox of misc coupons (from trades & blinkies & such). I think the shoebox may go the way of the dodo though, because as I get in coupons, I might just find out what insert they came in & add them to my new filing system (so everything is together).

[cutenirish]

That looks awsome!! I have mine in two accordings by date and what once it's full the new ones go into a drawer! I do need to get back on that :) I dont' take mine to stores will me as I don't drive so no car to keep it in. But that box might work since i would fit in my work backpack (if i knew I was going shopping after work i'd take it with me).

[lstiller]

I too have been saving whole inserts (some weeks I get 40+ from the dumpster, some weeks I only get 3-4) and just separating them with manila folders in a cardboard box. I also carry around an envelope with the coupons for each store I go to.

I really like your idea of cutting all the inserts and storing same coupons by insert day. Some people on another message board used this coupon organizer they found on ebay. It might be a little sturdier than the plastic one from Michaels, but I've never used it, so I can't say for sure.

Coupon Organizer Case Purse

I will have to check out Michaels for your organizer! Yea for 40% off coupons.

[TyLog]

This is only my second week at this, but I already feel like I have so many coupons that I don't know how to keep track! I'm not asking about organizing the actual coupons (I read the organization threads and there are some great ideas in there), but does anyone have a method for keeping track of what you have without having to plow through them all every week?

Thanks!

[YouPdWhat]

As far as keeping track in any other way than organizing them in my binders I have found personally it is a waste of time, at least for me anyway. I label my inserts at the top so I know at a glance what week they are from & stack them in a crate katty cornered. If I want to know what is in an insert at any given time without having to go through each one I use the data base lookup.

[watawata]

I read the sticky on coupon organizing tip and there were wealth of information! For me as a newbie, it was a little overwhelming, too LOL I haven't even started getting the Sunday newspaper yet, but I'm trying to see what organizing method would work for me, and I'm thinking of "keep inserts intact and clip as you need" method to start with.

1. If you organize your coupon by "keep inserts intact" and cut up coupons as you need (by matching with sale etc.), how successfull are you? I read that pros are less time clipping, but cons are you can miss deals because you didn't have the coupon with you at the store.

2. I'll probably start with getting one Sunday newspaper per week, and if I do that, do you think my file box where I keep intact inserts would be way too big or thick? Also, for expiration dates, how far back do you usually keep your inserts? 2-3 months or longer? Is the pile of intact inserts thin enough (say, keep them in a tote bag etc.) to carry into the store?

3. With "keep inserts intact" method, matching the coupon with store's sales and/or store coupon is the key to get the rock-bottom price, right? Do you use the GroceryGuide (under "coupon resource"), and/or coupon database to find the match?

4. Any successful tip on "keep inserts intact" method is welcome!

5. Any failing stories to "keep inserts intact" method?

TIA!

[Cheeky]

I'm kind of new also ( about 4 months ) but didnt do so well with the keep in tact method. Mainly b/c i would somehow always be in line trying to ring out and flustered I couldnt find what I needed.

I use a three ring binder with plastic baseball card covers. They are about two and half inches by 3inches and hold nine coupons per sheet. I label my inserts alphebetically by shopping row like Beverages, Canned, Cereal, Condiments, Cosmetics, Detergents, Dairy, Frozen, Snacks, Medicine, Paper, Pets, Misc. I also have a page for store Specific (like Fred Meyer and Safeway) and if I can double those witha manufactured cpn I store them together with the product facing out and up. That way when you are in the cereal line you can flip and see exactly what you have. One slot holds up to six or so duplicate coupons, but if I have that many i choose then to not clip and put in back seat of car....

I also have a three ring zip pouch where I keep my rainchecks, receipts I need to get corrected b/c someone rang them incorrectly, or for returns, a small pair of scissors and a pen.... these seem to come in handy a lot

hope that helps ! There are quite a few good plans out there, this just works for me. :P
good luck-

[amanda66106]

I am a newbie myself but I will tell my experience. I have found if I keep the inserts intact, then I forget what Qs I have. Or I will have to search through them all every time I need a specific Q and they get very ragtag junky. But I am searching for the right method because my Qs have outgrown my little wallet organizer and I dont want to leave any of my babies at home when I shop! LOL