organizing your trading coupons?

[klrodrigues]

, I have been couponing for about 2 years & use the binder system but I have recently started to trade more & notice that cutting ALL my Qs for the binder is tedious & ridiculously heavy for carrying. I have thought about getting one of those plastic snap shut boxes & making some type of divider for that. I tried organizing by dates but it wasn't exactly 100%... I figured if I cut them & organize that way it may be easier? I was wondering how you guys organize your Qs for trading?
any advice would be great
TIA!!

[bugweena]

I don't have mine organized for trading yet, but since I clip all my insert coupons, I thought I would put my keepers in my binder and the others for trading, RAOKs, etc. in an accordian folder/check file folder/coupon files in alphabetical order by product title. But I haven't done anything with the non-keepers yet other than putting them in envelopes marked trade/give! I would agree that it would be cumbersome and time consuming to put all coupons in the binder. Then you would have to look through all of them to get to the ones you really want to use.

Looking forward to see how others respond to your question!

[tmsmalley]

I cut everything out and put stuff I might ever actually use in my binder. Everything else goes in a shoe box with just minimal dividers (non-food, meds, pets, baby, food). That keeps the big pile of stuff I'm never going to use out of my hair and if it doesn't get traded, it goes to the overseas military.

Tess

[berlie123]

i have the same problem. I am just starting to trade and my trade coupons are in an envelope. i need to get organized my computer desk is one big coupon (mess)

[5swans0805]

I keep all of my coupons in a box - shoe box size and have them alphabetical order. Then if I am looking at the store or for a trade and I see I need Hunt's tomatoes - I look under the h's and there it is. I find that the easiest way for me. I don't get but about 4-5 inserts a week, so I don't have 100's, but that is a thought. I have used it for 8 years and love the alphabetical system.

[borntoshop]

If you're not ready to buy a snap-top box, start with a shoebox like 5swans0805 mentioned. I started with a recipe box, then moved on to a photo box, then large shoe box and now a snap-top box. I cut up old file folders for dividers. I file them the same way I file my coupons; by category. That way, if I change my mind and want to pull something from my trading box, I'm using the same system and can easily find the coupon. Really, it's what works for you. There are a lot of different ways to do it and the one you choose is the best!

[isis]

I keep my inserts in a shoebox (boot size), after I've cut the ones I need. I write the date in a sharpie on the front page of the insert and how many copies I have to trade. Some weeks I'll only have 1, other weeks up to 10. That makes it easy for me to flip through when I get a trade.

All of the other coupons (ips, blinkies, mailers, etc) get placed in a plastic 12-month check file that I bought from target dollar spot. I file those according to month of exp.

[tori729]

Ok so I am running out of space in my recipe box to file my coupons. What's my next method? If I use a shoebox, I know I'll have way too much space so how would I keep the coupons from falling down?

Currently, I organize alphabetically and I just started organizing my trades by exp date (under each letter) so I can easily get rid of the expireds.

[hokiegir1]

Right now I just have mine in an envelope. This week (my second week clipping) I will take the time to at least alphabetize them. If I start to get too many, I might do a small organizer thing, just alphabetically.

[manders13]

I have little rubbermaid (mayb sterlite?) cube things with drawers. Got them at cvs on clearence last may.

I have 4 of them (12 drawers)

They are labled:

My inserts
My peelies
My Tear pads/blinkies
Stamps
Rainchecks
Trade Inserts
Trade tearpads/blinkes
Trade Peelies

I have a huge overflow into the other 2 units


It works.. andi tend to have a general idea of what q's i have. When i have more then 5 of anything i ALWAYS list it in my have list on the db :)