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

[Little Birdie]

No, not everyone does.

I do, mostly. I get several copies of each insert, so I sit down once week to match like pages within the inserts and clip some things.

I have two small envelopes in my purse for clipped coupons. I clip brands/products that we use regularly. I clip hba stuff that doesn't exclude trial sizes. That way I have these with me if I happen across a good deal.

Then I read my store forums. If you see deals there that I want to do, I can go straight to the insert, clip all my copies of that coupon and move it to my purse.

Best of both methods. (for me)

[jenjacobs]

Here is what I do and it works for me. I go through the insert each Sunday and clip everything I know we will use or would want to use if it is free or near free. Usually this is only food or items I know will be free or near free from similar deals in past (ex. $3 off Glade plug in)

I file them in my coupon binder. Then I file the rest of the insert - it is quicker for me to go through it and clip what I need for sales at Wags/CVS/Target than clipping all the inserts and trying to put them all in the my coupon binder.

Trust me as you start couponing longer and longer you DO NOT want to clip every single coupon from inserts. Remember some inserts have coupons that last months so pretty soon you will have a ton of coupons clipped that you will never use and it will get to time consuming to go through envies filled with so many coupons.

It is easier for me to keep whole inserts and check them against the database and see if I can toss them. Remember in the comment field in the DB type in the date and it will show you what coupons have not expired.

[Macaela25]

FWIW, I file my inserts flat by month in storage drawers.

This system doesn't allow for spontanaeity - (your lotion example), but because I only shop once or twice a week with a detailed list (based on coupons I've pulled) it works for me. I probably miss out on some good clearance deals, but if I see something I make a mental note to pull the coupons on it and come back another time. I may get it, I may not...them's the breaks :).

You need to find the system that works best for you and stick to it. It took me 8 months+ to get mine worked out. I tried really hard to do the binder thing...HATED it.

[Sabrinalynne]

The coupons I have up for trade I try to separate into categories (Food, Drink, Baby, etc.. ) and then keep them alphabetical. This seems to be the easiest way for me to try and stay organized. I keep them in baby wipes tubs.

[momofmany]

I do it be brand name alphabetically. It's what works for me!

I also don't clip everything; only those I think I have a reasonable chance of using. Then I keep the rest of the inserts by date and can go find what I need to add for specific sales.

[kalvarado]

I file alphabetically by brand name... C for Campbell's, P for Pillsbury, etc. :)

[angielee]

Originally Posted by kalvarado I file alphabetically by brand name... C for Campbell's, P for Pillsbury, etc. :)

I do it this way also. I also put several common letters like C and P into 2 slots. Sorting by the second letters. A-AM An-AZ And C-CM and CN-CZ. If that makes sense.

[SchwoomsMom]

It seems like I would have too hard a time figuring out the mfrs!!

I do haircare, lotion, toothcare, firstaid, vit/min, stomach stuff, makeup, razors, bodywash, baby, misc, drinks, breakfast, boxed, frozen, jars/cans, condiments, snacks, sweets, baking, 'smellgood', kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, dust, floor/upholstery, clorox, lysol, scrubbing bubbles, misc

Probably a few I missed, but it's easy for me!
I use envies in a tub that fit the small envies perfect!

[EriksGrl71]

Ok, well my decision was made for me today, as to how to organize my coupons. I had them filed by date and source (like all of the SmartSource 1/13 coupons together, etc). I spent the morning cleaning, since baby was been incredibly good. After all was done, I notice my 3 year old "helping me" with my coupons. By that, I mean dumping them all on the floor! Now to spend afternoon nap time re-organizing the coupons by product (all refrigerated together, all frozen together, etc!). At least the like coupons are stapled together, or else I would have had one giant coupon mess in my living room!

[jolee]

I use 2 of the Sterlite 7 drawer towers for all of my inserts (I get 30-50 per week)
4 of the drawers are small and 3 are big (I wish they were all the same size though)
I really could use a 3rd drawer- because one tower is about enough for one month- and some coupons don't expire for a few months.

In one drawer I put my trades- not very organized LOL!

I cut out what I need, but if there's a huge sale where I might get overage or free items- then I cut out all of *those* Q's.

I keep one of each insert intact on my desk- so I can refer to them while surfing HCW. :)