Should I stop clipping and filing?

[marysuzannej]

I'm super-lucky in that I usually get 10+ free copies of every insert (my husband's friend has a connection). I'm in the same place that TWOMOMS is now -- First, I clipped and filed everything, then I clipped and filed only the ones I *knew* I would use.

Now, I don't clip anything unless and until I know that I need it that week. I keep all of my old inserts in a file cabinet drawer, in folders by date. I check out the ads for the week, and then I go into the coupon database and find out where the coupons I need are, and clip them. Sometimes takes me 1/2 an hour or so before a shopping trip, but I've found that to be better than the 3-4 hours per week I used to spend clipping and filing stuff that I eventually threw away!

I also use the coupon database to figure out which inserts I can get rid of -- I seach for the date of the insert in the database. If I can't find anything associated with the date, it's ok to toss the old insert. If there's any doubt, I just look through the insert and check the expiration dates. I purge old inserts about once a month.

This system is working for me (for now)! It took a long time to find one that works, for sure. Good luck with finding your system!

[Macaela25]

I have been using the "file and clip as needed" system for 3+ years, and it works great for me. I currently spend a few hours per week on couponing, and that's it. If I were to cut and sort every coupon I owned into a binder, I'd have to quit my job to stay home to care for my coupon collection.

Have I missed out on hidden deals and clearance because I didn't lug every coupon I own to the store? I'm sure I have, but it's worth the thousands of hours I save in the end.

[TheWoman]

I file the inserts by date and clip them when I know I am going to use them. Sure, I have missed out on a few great clearance deals because of this, but not enough to make it worth all the time and effort involved in clipping and carrying them all.

When I file them I write on the front the date that all the coupons will be expired so I know when I can safely toss them.

[chicana]

This is my procedure:
1) I search a particular bin that I find up to 50 inserts from the same week.
2) I staple 10 at a time together so if I need a coupon I am cutting 10 at a time instead of 1 at a time.
3) I file them in file folders with the date marked with a sharpie on the front cover of every stack of inserts.
4) I check the ads every week, check the database for coupons to match with the items on sale.
5) I clip them and store them in a coupon organizer that has a slot for every store I shop at.
6) The first week of the month I go through all my inserts and throw away any and all expired. Now remember I said that I staple my inserts by 10's? Well that means I through that whole stack of 10 away if expired. So if I only have 5 sets of 10 to go through it's a faster process than going through each one individually.

[isis]

I only clip & file the coupons I know I will use, and a few maybe's. I only buy 1 Sun paper, then I ask my 2 neighbors for their inserts when they're finished.
I only get extra inserts (anywhere from 1 - 10) when DH works on Sun or very early Mon. I've been leaving them whole and only clipping when needed. Whatever coupons I'm not going to use, I add them to my HL. If I'm looking at an ad and something catches my eye, I check the dbase for the insert date. Then I can pull the insert and clip as needed.

When I'm not able to get extras, then I trade. But I've been very slack about filing them the past 2 weeks and I have a big pile on my table that's begging for me to do something with them! I go through phases where I'm on top of everything for a while, then I get lax and when that happens, it seems to take a while to get back in order. DH, while he likes that I save us money, gets frustrated by my ever growing piles of little scraps of paper!

[CocoB]

I used to clip and file when I first started. After I joined HCW I read about some people filing in baseball card holders in a binder and tried that-- that did not last long AT ALL. I stopped after about a week. I'm amazed anyone used the baseball card holder- takes forever to clip and then file.

For the past year I have been keeping the inserts whole and arranging in files by date. Ahhhhhhhh. So much better! I use the weekly threads for my supermarkets, CVS and Target and it's great. And Thank God for the coupon database. That saves me so much time.

I would suggest keeping your inserts whole- just try it for a few weeks and see how you like it. When I used to clip I sort of dreaded Sundays b/c that meant clipping and filing- it was taking over my day. Yes, the downside to not clipping is that you may lose out on a few deals b/c you may not have all your qs with you at all but it will be so nice to get your life back!!!

[Sprite_babies]

wow, all this advice helps me a lot

[meems]

I too cut what I know I'll use & store the rest by date. I usually collate all like pages, then when I need to pull something they are stapled together & easy to pull, sometimes I bail on even doing that since that alone can be an hour/two project. I feel most organized when at least that is done anyway.

I also agree that the binder method is too much work, I have a box, close to shoe size (sterilite I think) & store by category..I also keep a smaller reg coupon holder in my purse, that holds what I KNOW is on sale that week...the box usually stays in the car.

[rebate_queen]

I used to clip them all too and file them in a binder with baseball card holder sheets. I actually did this for a year or more and I don't know how I did it that long! Now I just cut out what I'll use or trade (if it's hot) and then keep all my inserts in a big stack (probably not the best way but works for me) and only cut out what I need for the weeks sales (after I check the database of course). All of my cut coupons that my dad mails me or that I get as extras in trades and all my tearpads are organized in piles by expiration date on a little shelf that sits above my desk. Again, probably not the best method but works for me. Like others have said, I know I've missed out on some deals because a coupon I needed was at home, but it's worth all the extra time I have. I still spend a good amount of time shopping, trading, and organizing my deals, so if I had to clip everything and file I would lose my mind! Hope that helps!

[carisal]

I quit clipping and sorting (never really filed, LOL) back in march (started qing in octoberish) - the stacks were too much for me to handle....

I buy 5 papers a week usually, unless its a bad q week or I dont make it out. on a really good week I will buy 10. I sort the inserts each week into like pages together. I need to go through and get the like pages stapled together and start doing that regularly too, that would help me a lot. I keep each insert full until I use the coupons or trade them, I just cut what I need. about once a month- month and a half I go through and get all the expireds and soon-expiring that I wont use out, and trade them or raok them... this works well for me since I can always check the database to see what insert has what couon. helps a lot to keep my have list updated also.

my noninserts I have sorted into small baskets I found on clearance a long time ago for .08 a piece.... I have one basket for peelies, one for mailers, one for blinkies, one for mail in rebates, etc....

this works retty well for me at the moment, I would LOVE to have a working binder system with EVERYTHING filed alphabetically but I just dont have the time.