Shoprite: How do you organize your coupons?

[neglectarino]

Carolina rice is still on sale for .99 this week. For those of you, (like me) who have piles of coupons all over the house waiting to be filed and then forget where they are and think they have missed a sale, only to find them the next week. Is there anyone else out there who does that?????

Kristen

I used to clip & file inserts--I haven't done that since Jan. I've got too much on my plate to see that being done any time soon. Now I scramble to find the insert & hope that the coupon's still there & clip as needed. I just filed the past 2+ months worth of coupons from trains & pal exchanges that I'd participated in. I too miss sales because I haven't had the time to get reorganized & I waste a ton of time just digging through a box or a paper pile or whatever looking for that "I know I had it!" coupon.

[reg036]

I used to clip & file inserts--I haven't done that since Jan. I've got too much on my plate to see that being done any time soon. Now I scramble to find the insert & hope that the coupon's still there & clip as needed. I just filed the past 2+ months worth of coupons from trains & pal exchanges that I'd participated in. I too miss sales because I haven't had the time to get reorganized & I waste a ton of time just digging through a box or a paper pile or whatever looking for that "I know I had it!" coupon.

Been strugling myself with the coupon organizing, I have no problem getting the inserts, I like to staple them and place in a dated hanging folder, but I get sidetracked, just got past 3 weeks done on Tue. Now I have to figure out what to do with all the extra clipped (left over from sales or wrong items), tearpads, and etc. I tried a binder but I can't stand it as it takes up to much space. I think I'm gonna go back to boxes and just do A-Z by brand so it will be quick and easy to find.

[C.A.S.H.Mama]

Been strugling myself with the coupon organizing, I have no problem getting the inserts, I like to staple them and place in a dated hanging folder, but I get sidetracked, just got past 3 weeks done on Tue. Now I have to figure out what to do with all the extra clipped (left over from sales or wrong items), tearpads, and etc. I tried a binder but I can't stand it as it takes up to much space. I think I'm gonna go back to boxes and just do A-Z by brand so it will be quick and easy to find.

I know, I am not thrilled with the binder either, but I spent so much time getting it together, I don't really want to change. I can get the weekly inserts filed, it is the extras like blinkies, peelies, All You coupons, ones that you don't use on shopping trips that have to get refiled, etc. that end up anywhere but in the binder. Sigh, just too busy! I'm just glad I am not the only unorganized one! thanks!!

[neglectarino]

Been strugling myself with the coupon organizing, I have no problem getting the inserts, I like to staple them and place in a dated hanging folder, but I get sidetracked, just got past 3 weeks done on Tue. Now I have to figure out what to do with all the extra clipped (left over from sales or wrong items), tearpads, and etc. I tried a binder but I can't stand it as it takes up to much space. I think I'm gonna go back to boxes and just do A-Z by brand so it will be quick and easy to find.

I use boxes too. File by category for coupons available for trade or products I don't often buy, alpha for my own stash (much easier to paw through in the store). I have two boxes for categorized available inserts (had to break it up) & one for non-inserts (made digging through the boxes easier to separate by type). I use the photo/craft boxes they sell at the craft stores. Then a smaller wipes box w/ my own stuff alphabetized. The only downside is needing a coupon while at the store that's in my trade box at home. But I can't carry them all around, so the tradeoff is occasionally missing a good deal or having to return to the store.

[pkchicken]

I used to clip everything and file in a box by type.

Now I leave the inserts whole and put the date on the front page and file in an accordian file. If I end up with a mother load of inserts in a given week , I keep the extras on a separate shelf and put an arrow on the front page of the insert in the accordian file to let me know to look on the shelf.

So, now I still file coupons according to type in the coupon box but they are mostly blinkies, peelies, IP's and extras from inserts that have outdated except for maybe 1 or 2 coupons.

I find that at any given time, the accordian file has 12-15 full slots. By that time some of the older iinserts are outdated and I can clip whatever is still good and toss the rest.

I use the database alot when I want to find a certain coupon from my inserts.

I carry a small pouch to the stores. Each store has a list of deals I want to get and wraped inside the list are the coupons I will need for the deals.
I also keep coupons that I might use in the back of the pouch just in case.

I don't take the coupon box to the store with me , just the pouch. I also take a pen and write on the list any other deals I discover while at the store so that I will make a new plan and find coupons when I get home.

I have to write it down because I will certainly forget the deal from one aisle to the next in the store and then leave wondering "now...what was that deal?"

pk

[reg036]

Nice!!!!!!!!!! A new thread.

For walking into stores I found these zippered nylon bags at Walmart, they are water resistant and fit a full sized envelopes in them. They were on one of those hanging strips in the office supply section. In them I use colored envelopes for each store (Wags, CVS, Rite Aid, Acme, Shoprite, Target). I have a seperate bag for Kmart doubles, one for reciepts, my main one, and a spare one for CAT deals like Acme this past week. I found they are a lot easier then boxes as you can just zip them up and throw them in a bag. I also keep a notepad, calculater, paperclips, and pens in it.

I have also started using either a spreadsheet or word program on my Iphone to help with calculations as it will figure out true oop with tax for me.

[arubagirl]

I clip ther things I know we will use or would donate and keep them filed in baseball card holders in a zip binder... i do not cut the PG ones I just slip the whole insert in the back of the binder.

[PraiseAdonai]

Shoe boxes. (The one that has a flap to cover it.)

One for "Food" and one for "Non food". I file them A-Z and then I pull what I need and put them in envelopes with the name of the supermarket. I also take a clear folder so that I can place the coupons when I am shopping and not get mixed up trying to look for them at the checkout. I bring the boxes too.

I have tried the binder and doesn't work for me. Only for show. LOL. ("Oh, wow you are so organized!". People have told me. Good Idea for those who like it, though.

I have also tried the "throw it in a box" and go method. (Two boxes though, one for Food and one for Non-food). This does work work well with me but, I spend hours at the store trying to look through it. (But, I guess it is the same amount of time at home, LOL.) I once got a response, "Wow, that is the best ever", from a gentlemen. He must of been a visual/touch learner like me. LOL.

(I do enjoy this way, though. I can go through all the coupons and sometimes I get stuff I wouldn't of gotten by pulling them out of the box. Yeah!) But, the downside of this is, you can't find it once you put it back in the box. You have to make seperate piles. LOL. And one accident with the cart and it is all over with. LOL!

I am also backed up with clipping. I am in a slump. Anyone else?

[jillynoodle]

i am in a major coupon disorgaized slump!!! i have tried the binder, it was great to find things quick but the putting them in and all that was just too much for me although im thinking about trying it againn whoo knows...now i do the acordian check holders..they have to be the older cardboard kind though, the newer ones dont expand on the bottom so i can fill them up as much...i have a food one and a non food one...then i have a big purse in my car when i go to cvs or wags of i bring in the non food one for clearance or sales i missed and my grocery stores i usually bring in the food one and every store has an envelope for what i want to use or check on prices...i clip all coupons and they get filed but i do wish there was an easier way to get better organized for me...i think im ready to try out something new..again lol

[talk2ham.1]

My coupon organizing is about to undergo a complete overhaul. I have been keeping inserts filed whole by month, date and insert type. Then I just pull and clip them as needed. But as I'm collecting more and more inserts, it's just overwhelming now. I think I am going to stop buying inserts and start trading only for what I need. Then I will only file the inserts people from church give to me.

And I will do a file box for the loose coupons. Though, my loose coupon stash is enough to drown a small child in Q's as is. And when my one-year-old gets into them for a moment . . . Aaaaagh!