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

[gr8Idea]

I usually have multiple inserts, and I tried the "Keep Intact" method, but I always felt like there were too many steps between deciding to buy something and actually buying it, so I always felt like I was behind the 8 ball. I also tried the binder method, but I didn't like reaching into the pockets. I couldn't just "flip through."

So now I clip everything.

1. First I sort the like pages of each insert, staple over each coupon, and then cut them out. Where two coupons are close together, I need to cut first, then staple so I don't mess up the exp date or the bar code.


2. As soon as any coupon is stapled/cut, I make a decision right then and there that it goes into one of the following 4 stacks on my table. I think of this like a flow chart in my head translated to a "manipulative."

The categories are:

FOOD: with subcateories for:
a. refrigerated and
b. non refrigerated.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

HOUSEHOLD (everthing from cleaning supplies to batteries)

STUFF I DON'T NEED (this category is for trains/trades, and I've used this category twice this week to trade for things I need!): subcategories for:
a. baby,
b. pet,
c. medicine/senior citizen,
d. coffee/creamer,
e. places (includes restaurants, etc),
f. air fresheners/cleaners I don't use,
g. food we won't eat

_______________________________

Now it all gets put away - the same night! Or I'll never get it done. My thought process is that I don't want to see it when I wake up, so I don't start it if I can't finish before bedtime.

I have a photo box (for food coupons), a slightly larger wooden box with handles (for non-food), and a third box slightly longer than the photo box (for stuff I don't need).

Since the stuff I don't need is "sorted enough" for my purposes, that gets put away first. For each sub category of stuff I don't need ("a" - "g" above), I have a regular business envelope labeled with the subcategory name, and all of those coupons go in there. The box has a lid and goes in my closet when I'm not filing or trading. When I need something from there for a train or trade, I just need the right envelope (baby, pet, etc.).

Next, I break down my two main food subcategories into the sections I've written on the 4 x 6 index card dividers in the photo box with non-refrigerated in front and refrigerated behind it: starches, canned food, sauces, drinks, snacks, baking and all my other non-refrig categories; followed by refrigerated: meat, frozen meals, dairy, and so on. The stapled food coupons obviously go behind each labeled index card. I love having stapled multiples! I can flip through them quickly and know that there's not a loose one stuck in there, and if I drop them, a stapled stack of 20 is a quicker clean up job than 20 loose coupons.

The non-food box follows the same system, with health and beauty in the front by categories (moisturizer, hair stuff, soap, deodorant, etc.) and the household things following behind (laundry, dishes, cleaning products, etc.), all separated by 4 x 6 index cards with the category names.

When I have planned a trip to the store using the circular and HCW, I will go through my food and non food boxes and take the coupons I need and put them in a small accordian wallet-size thing that's probably intended for cancelled checks.

But it's when I make the unplanned trips that I really appreciate having everything I need, because when I am not sorting and filing coupons, those food and non food boxes are always in my car so I can just be prepared for whatever deals I find. With the non-food box a little larger than the food box, I push the coupons back to about a 45 degree angle in the non-food box and put the food box on top of it. Sometimes, when I haven't planned my shopping, I will take both of them into the store stacked like that, and put them in the child seat of the cart (my kids are grown - LOL). When I am going to CVS, I usually only need the non-food; and when I am going to the supermarket, I usually only need the food box.

I really like this system.

When a cashier compliments me on my organized coupons, I will ask them what they would like, and share generously. I've helped a lot of cashiers out with specific coupons they've requested, and trust me, it pays off! I've shared with the same cashier two nights this week, and tonight she said she's bringing me a goody bag from her son who works for Colgate/Palmolive. Of course, I'm hoping it's not all toothpaste, since I have tons of it, but still, she was sooooo happy to ask for specific coupons and I could put my hands on them right away for her.

... but I have to admit, it's being able to put my hands on them right away for myself that really rocks!

I think you just have to try different systems until you find what works for you. For me, this is it. Good luck!

ETA: Yikes! I guess I really shouldn't have posted this in this thread, since it's for "storing your uncut inserts!" Sorry!

[p6waite]

I put this, I think in the wrond thread earlier. I think it should be in here:
I posted the system I use a long time ago, but I would like to offer to share what I know to make couponing simple. Basically, I want to share my work so others don't have to duplicate the efforts as much. Besides, there's alot of work behind it, and it would make me happy to have the final results be of more use than to me alone. I live in the Kansas City area, so if you'd like more personal, that's the area where I can travel to help.
Every week, I get my papers- the rule of thumb I learned/like is 1 insert per family member, 2 to build a supply. If this number is too little or too much, adjust it as you need. Our local paper has all the coupons of the big city paper, but is $0.50- $0.75 depending on where you get it for the Saturday paper that has the coupons in it(they don't have a Sunday edition). I stack my coupons. Please PM for further explanation. This takes 20 minutes a week, but when I go to clip a coupon, I only clip it once and have 10 of them.
I then put my stacked coupons in a file folder by week.
I keep an ongoing excel spreadsheet of our active coupons for our area. This is similar to the coupon database, but is specific for my region's coupons. It is pretty easily changable to area specific inserts, so if you're interested,.... My husband knows how to do alot of stuff in excel... he's a stud!!! Love excel... Again, PM me for more information.
When I get my weekly circulars, I look through for sale prices. I then query in excel to see if I have a coupon for an item. If I do have a coupon, I use my judgement to decide if the after coupon amount is decent- i.e. is this a price I am willing to pay, or not, and do I stock up at this price? THIS PART is SUBJECT TO MY JUDGEMENT OF WHAT MY FAMILY WILL USE AND IS MY FAMILY-SPECIFIC.
I make a list like this every week. If a store doesn't have enough to make me think it's worth my gas, I don't go there.
I never clip until I am ready to use it, and the system I use makes it very easy to find.
I would love to share. I enjoy couponing, I am good at it, and I like to help others use what I see as a valuable tool.

Thanks for listening. Good luck. All my best.
Ka

[politjunkie]

Just curious how many cut vs not cut each week. I got about 25 of all 3 inserts today and spent about 2 hours cutting them. I like having them cut and organized but not sure its worth it

[Coupon-Crazy]

In the beginning, I did not cut. I lost out on so many deals and when I needed something it was very time consuming to gather them. THEN.... I saw this video on YouTube.

Riff Parker's - How to clip coupons

(By the way, RiffParker is a member here.)

It made my life SO much easier!!!

[Macaela25]

I don't cut - I have problems keeping them organized as it is. If I cut we would drown.

I don't feel as if I have missed out on a lot of deals because I don't carry everything all the time. I keep a few key coupons in my wallet all the time for diapers and essentials, but the rest stay at home. All my stores are within 2 miles of my house (except one) and on the way to work, so if I did find something awesome it wouldn't be an issue to go back with coupons. I rarely find clearance/unadvertised deals that would be phenomenal "if I only had that coupon!", so cutting everything out doesn't do anything but cause me stress. I'm much happier making my OCD lists & scenarios and organizing only the coupons I need into an envelope with a list.

[gettinrevvin2007]

2 words:

Electric scissors

[nrpeace17]

I usually just cut the coupons I know I will definitely use on a regualar basis, and the rest as I need them.
I have a file system with my inserts, so it is easy for me to just check the Database quickly for the insert date and just go right to the inserts I need to clip. I have too many coupons to clip them all, I would be drowning in them.

[PMFan]

i cut only coupons i know i will use. stack insert pages = one cut = multiple coupons.

i file remainder of uncut inserts by date and V or S and pull when/if a deal comes along that i care to take advantage of.

[Doreen]

I only cut what I am going to use!

I keep the rest in gallon ziploc bags labeled by date. They are readily available to cut for deals.

[mrsjschultz]

Originally Posted by PMFan i cut only coupons i know i will use. stack insert pages = one cut = multiple coupons. i file remainder of uncut inserts by date and V or S and pull when/if a deal comes along that i care to take advantage of.

This is what I do as well. I do pull out the coupons I KNOW I will find a use for or if I know the items are regularly on-sale/clearance/etc.

The rest I leave as is and pull as needed. I used to cut and it simply became WAY to over whelming :hectic1: