dead deal~ please delete

[kjo890]

I use a binder with baseball card dividers. I got the binder from the dollar store & the dividers from my brothers. I wouldn't necessarily recommend baseball dividers as they are hard to store some coupons (you have to fold the bigger ones), but I got them free from my brother so I'll take what I can get!

I also organize them into sections and then alphabetically. The sections I use are: grocery, healthy & beauty, household, pet care, and then baby. I have a lot of grocery but I just was lazy and didn't feel like organizing it into subsections.

I would also recommend checking out dollar stores, garage sales, and thrift shops for supplies!

[mysunshine2004]

I bought the coupon organizer, and it is worth every penny! I was tired of changing my system every other month and it never worked for me. Since I got the coupon organizer, I have no problems. I should have bought the larger one though, I run out of space!

[dookersmom]

I like these threads! I've been a coupon shopper since about 1998, but my use has gotten progressively heavier over the years. I started off with one of those little nylon cheapies from Harriet Carter. I moved up to a Price Planner, and used that for YEARS! Unfortunately, I overfilled it to the point that it exploded. The strap that held it closed popped off and fell in the floor one day in Kroger, much to the amusement of the lady behind me! After I killed the Price Planner, I retired it to holding fast food coupons, and I went to a binder system, and so far it seems to be the best way for me. Now, I'm all about organization and stuff, so I googled "binder pages" and "coupon organizer" and found several different options. There is an organizer that looks like a fabric wallet with elastic sides, filled with dividers (it has two sections), a box system that looks like a briefcase, and just about a dozen different kinds of binder pages. At one point, I even experimented with making my own pages! I may still attempt it, but the first try was a total flop! There are so many options! Some dealers sell binders and pages either separately or in package deals. Just depends on you! I see lots of binders and boxes in the store, especially on saturdays, and one lady (I swear I'm not joking here!) uses her purse! I don't know how she does it! They're all tossed in there with her wallet and keys and sunglasses and lipstick, and she always seems to be able to just pull out what she needs. It looks like a newspaper exploded in there! Anyhow, my suggestion would be the binder, but make sure to get a zippered one with lots of extra pockets!

[TiaSerra]

I have only been actively couponing for about 6 weeks(IE collecting and using more than the occasional one) and just joined here a week or so ago. I am currently on my 2nd binder setup(and 2nd binder, outgrew the first). I use a 3-fold system. I have my binder, which I divide by category(freezer, snacks, cleaning etc) which I have separated into about 15 categories and then the baseball card holders I separate coupons by both product and type( .6cent coupon and a $1 coupon for same product are separate.) My Fiance` also created an excel file with the same categories and as I sort new coupons they are entered into it along with any specifics. When the sale fliers come out, I enter all sales from the 7 locations I shop and it tells me who has the best deals based on my coupon and the sales available. When I go to shop, I put the specific coupons I plan to use at that location in an envelope labeled for that store and note what ones are inside. My binder goes with me too since I often run across something extra. After shopping, I use the notations on the envelopes to know what I used and remove them from my excel file.

Yes it is a time consuming to setup in the beginning but once done is pretty quick to manage unless I get a big influx of new ones at once and now I have every coupon in my file at my fingertips and can say at a moments notice what Qs I have, how many and where to shop this week.Getting ready for a shopping trip is fast and easy. my fiance` is helpful in reading the coupons off and sorting them while I enter them into the computer, since I am vision impaired. We have turned it into a 'together' time and have fun with it.

In my 6 weeks, I have saved about $800! Good luck finding a system that works for you!

[ioncewasamjskeptic]

WOW, TY all for the wonderful ideas!!! I am soo sorry I am getting back late so I am keeping you in tia:-) I am Pm'ing the selected winners for addys:-) I think I am going to go larger on the accordian type organizer! I'm sure this wont be the only change though! LOL Thanks again everyone!

[ioncewasamjskeptic]

mysunshine2004, JustSaveMeTheMoney, Gardencook, TiggerToo, rdubin are the winners, there were many more good ideas though! TY all! Lorrie