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

[mayanfire]

I'm in desparate need of advice. I get a ton of papers/coupon inserts every week and need an organization system.

My basement is stacked with boxes, bags, and just loose piles of coupon inserts. I don't have very much free time between work, family, and shopping. Sometimes it takes hours to locate a specific coupon insert (not joking) and more than once i've missed out on a great sale or great coupon because i just couldn't find a specific insert.

I need organization!! I'll RAOK a big envie of coupons to whoever gives me the best organization tips/ideas. I feel like i've tried everything.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Inserts: Since you don't seem to have the time to clip them out I would suggest that you leave your inserts whole. When you get your inserts each week divide the pages into like pages and staple together. Then go and buy some filing boxes or a filing cabinate (thrift stores usually have them) and some hanging filing folders. Give each file folder a lable with the insert date. And file each insert by insert date Like:

11-19-06 SS
11-19-06 V
11-12-06 SS
11-12-06 V
and so on.

Then all you have to do is look up your coupons in hotcouponworlds coupon database (or others, but I like to plug our database cause I think its cool LOL) and then go to that file for that insert, find your coupons and clip and shop.

As far as non ss coupons or coupons clipped. I would think you could do a binder for them or file box.

If you have a little more time to spare you could create an excel file of what you have (you can copy and paste from the database into excel to save some typing) for all your coupons incuding qty of each that you have to facilitate trading if you do much trading. That way you can easily pull up your excel file and see if you have something from someones have list. And you can also sort your excel file by exp date and delete out the exired coupons (unless you can use expireds) that way you are only looking for your current coupons. Once an insert no longer has any current coupons you can toss them all.

[BzyBee]

First, limit the number of inserts you get...shocking to some of us, I know!!!
But, being able to manage less is much better than being frustrated and not finding coupons if you have too many. You might find that you are able to shop more and be more productive if what you have is manageable to you.
I like Queen's organization suggestion for the inserts you have. It seems very reasonable and workable.

[tohimbeglory]

I have finally found a system that works really well for me. I keep all of my inserts intact. only cutting the ones I am planning on using for the current sale. It sounds like you are doing this as well. It saves so much wasted time, I think. Secondly I use file drawers to hold them, seperated by date and type. For example, for the week of 10-08 I have to hanging files, each one holds a manila folder. One folder is labeled 10-08 V, the other 10-08 SS. I do not label my hanging files so that when an entire insert has expired I can throw the insert away and re-use the file. The reason to use a manila folder within the hanging file is for my convenience, I am able to pull out the entire folder and take it with me, ( I often do my cutting at our local frozin custard shop!). If you are going to be cutting coupons from multiple inserts this is great at keeping them all seperate. I would be more than happy to send pictures if that would help.

[carriann]

Get seperate file boxes, one each for valasis, smartsource and proctor and gamble. Put in manilla folders and organize by date. I can't really think of any thing else, I'm not too good at organizing, lol.


Carrie

[Tiffany]

I have a three drawer cart on wheels that I file all my inserts into. I don't get as many as I used to or else I'd have more than one cart.

You could label each drawer with the date(s) and pull and clip when needed.

I like Queen's suggestion too but I don't use many of the coupons I get so all that sorting like pages would be a lot of work that I don't need to do.

[TheWoman]

Some people don't cut their inserts until they need the coupons--they just file them by date and use the database to find what they need for sales. There is also a thread on how to cut inserts faster How to clip coupons - Hot Coupon World

[bexx09]

I've thought that leaving them intact, but I like being able to go to the store and pull out a coupon for an unexpected sale or unplanned purchase. I've just been cutting what I need this past week, but I really, really just want to have everything neatly organized... and maybe I'm just expecting too much from myself. ;)

I did watch riffparker's video (someone posted a link) and tried to do a similar technique (minus stapling) but I think I was just too limited on space. Also, just with filing last night's stuff - my binder is REALLY heavy now.

I'm just overwhelmed... I have to find a system before I drown in coupons.

my new system goes a bit like this.
I use a bankers box with those hanging files and manilla folders. you could of course use a filing cabinet, but i can bring my box into any room of the house to work on so Im still w/ the kids.
anyway, my box has 3 hanging folders. i have one big folder for edibles and another for non edibles, each folder has manila folders w/ categories on them, fridge, freezer, produce deli and meats etc. broken up the same way my binder is.
i have a 3rd folder in there for "need to clip sort etc" so they are all in 1 place, all new coupons and trades go in this one so I can keep the paper piles out of the way.

its a pice of cake to grab my fridge folder and put it all into my binder at once when i have a minute.
my binder still has a lot in it, just not everything.
So far, its been easier to find what I need before the coupons get into my binder than it was to sort through big crazy piles everywhere.

does that make sense at all???

[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.