Organizing Your "Carry To Store" Coupons

[tamsour]

I am strange... I do it both ways.

My food binder is by category. because that is how I shop, I know I need frozen breakfast items and I don't care which brand, I just want frozen breakfast items at a good price.

However on my HBA binder I have it alphabetized. I know I need 3 lorel products to get my ECB, so I flip to the L page and browse for Lorel coupons.

See my difference?

[BzyBee DH]

It depends on how you "think" of things....

She collates the pages from the inserts, staples them, then cuts them out.
She segregates food and non-food. Then, alphabetizes them. Sorts out expireds. She then adds in these alphabetically.

My wife who is absurdly organized wants it to be organized by the brand name. She wants to limit her time in stores, and has help in getting organized (cutting, clipping, alphabetizing).

Categories is too unstructured for her, and subjective.

[Sunshine57]

I have my coupons in a binder by categories which seems to work better for me. If I am looking for health & beauty products, I just flip to that section to see what I have. It really takes time to see which method works best for you - good luck.

[Barb0261]

I know that there are several threads here regarding organization but I have a question that I can't find the answer to.

I can't decide what sections to put in my organizer. I would like to see what sections others have in their organizer...such as baking, dairy, etc... Thanks.

[cutenirish]

I just have mine set up by type of item (no labels)
Deo, toother paste ect in one page (4 slots)
drinks
baby
frozen
ect :)

[mama22qts]

Cereal
Baby items
Frozen Food
Fresh Meat
Rice, bread
Desserts
Canned items
Jarred items
Cleaning supplies
Laundry supplies
Snacks
Beverages
Heath and Beauty
Hair
Mouth Hygiene
Medicine
Paper goods
Prepared foods (like mac and cheese)
Baking goods

[couponnewbiemich]

Let's see, mine are in the following order:

• CVS ECBs/CRTs and receipts ( I put them first because I shop at CVS a lot)
• Frees
• Pet
• Toiletries
• Breakfast
• Pantry
• Refrigerated/Frozen
• Drinks
• Candy
• Meds
• Cleaning products
• Paper goods
• Miscellaneous
• Rebates

[sbp]

I have ice cream in frozen foods.


I have one page per store at the beginning of my binder to keep catalinas and rainchecks in and then 5 Sections: Food, Baby, Pet, Non-Food & HBA

My food breakdown is:

Baking
Baking: Pillsbury refrigerated stuff
Beverages
Breads
Candy & Gum
Canned Fruits
Canned Meats
Canned Vegetables
Cereal & cereal bars
Chips & snacks
Condiments
Condiments: Sauces, salsas, ketchups, bbq sauce, marinades,etc
Condiments: mayo & mustards
Condiments: peanut butter and jellies
Condiments: salad dressing
cookies & Crackers
Dairy: cheese
Dairy: Yogurt
Dairy: misc
Frozen: misc
Frozen: Tyson & Gortons
Frozen: pizza
Frozen: ice cream
Meats
Pasta & rice
Pickles
Soups
Vegetables

My other sections need to be broken down a little better than I have them right now.

[pwetypweas]

I know some people who do binders and just file by the insert -- I.E. they will use a page protector, add a tab with the insert (ex. Valassis 10/1) and then match by searching the database...

We use a hard-case check box which we made our own little envelopes for (it's our second one, I broke the first and this one is headed south fast cause I've over-stuffed it :D) but anyway here's what I can remember without having the box in front of me

Two empties for coupons we pull in the store
Pets
Dairy & Deli
Bread, Baking & Spices
Fruits & Veggies
Snacks & Desserts
Frozen (and yes I put Ice Cream in frozen as well)
Frees
B1G1 (for WTs and other coupons where you have to purchase more than one item)
Rainchecks (we get lots :))
Breakfast
Cleaning Supplies
Bathroom
Soups
Pasta

And there are a couple more that won't come to me in my sleep-deprived haze :)

Hope that helps you some

Hint: most do it by the aisles in the grocery store - makes organization a little easier

[pwetypweas]

Condiments & Dressings - just came to me! :)