Organizing Coupons
There are so many ways to accumulate coupons, that you can quickly become overwhelmed by the stacks of little paper you have amassed. Coupons can save you a lot of money, but the key to using them properly begins with organization. If you have a stack of coupons in your purse or pocket, rifling through them at the checkout can be a mess. In order to be prepared BEFORE you hit the supermarket, it’s best to have your coupons organized and ready to work for you.
There is no right or wrong way to organize your coupons, you need to implement a system that makes sense to you and will be easy for you to follow through with. Because we all have a different shopping style and tolerance for chores like clipping and organizing coupons, no one system will fit everyone’s needs. I hope to give you some ideas and please feel free to share some of your own.
I like to use a “categories” based system, and I think it is a great idea for beginners as well. Develop your categories using the coupons you currently have and you can add, subtract and rearrange as needed when you start to accumulate more. Your categories can be as general or as specific as you like, I tend to think things are better if they are simple, so I use a general category approach. Use what feels best for you. If you don’t like the idea of categories, you could try filing alphabetically, or by store aisles or sections.
After separating your coupons into categories, paper clip each category’s stack together and label them with a sticky note or scrap paper. Put them into a small envelope or choose a small envelope for each category and staple the envelopes together. There you have it; cheap, easy, effective. The best part of this envelope system is that it can go with you very easily-just slide it into your purse or pocket and you are ready to go.
I began with the envelope system, and it has evolved into a price book/coupon organizer. I have a small 5 subject notebook with pocket dividers. The pockets hold coupons for each of my five categories and the notebook pages in between contain all my price information for those categories. This system works well for me and it fits easily into my purse, so I am ready for any unexpected bargain finds.
As you get more comfortable and coupons become a routine-try something new. I have seen so many elaborate coupon organizers, the possibilities are endless. You can devise your own system, like mine, using what you have on hand or you could buy a handy little coupon organizer or mini accordion file that you can find at any office supply store. You can also go with a binder, manila file folders or any other office supply store find. If you don’t care to take ALL your coupons with you and want just the ones you plan to use with you when you shop; a manila file folder or even a recipe box with dividers can work nicely. You can then use the envelope system for just those you are planning to use when you hit the supermarket.
Regardless of how you set up your system, you should always keep it simple enough that you won’t be discouraged and that you can easily find what you are looking for. It is a good idea to sort by expiration date, especially if you have multiples. Be sure to set up your system in a way that is not only easy to navigate, but easy for you to store and easy to grab when you need it. I keep mine in my purse at all times, I tend to be forgetful, so I just drag it along everywhere I go.
For more great ideas, tips, tricks and inspiration in organizing your coupons, check out the following:
Gooseberry Patch Organizers are so cute
Money Saving Mom-Coupon Organizing Methods
Grocery Coupon Guide-The Organizer
Dollar Stretcher-Organizing Coupons
I hope I have given you some good ideas to get those coupons organized and I would love to hear how you have done with your coupon organizing. If you missed my post about finding coupons, be sure to check it out before you go. Stay tuned, next time I will be going through the best ways to get the most bang for your coupon buck!
Happy Couponing!
Topics: Shop Smart |
February 14th, 2008
great post! Happy Valentines Day!
February 14th, 2008
Thanks for featuring my post!
February 14th, 2008
Hi…
I have a question - I am an avid coupon user, but can sometimes end up with a significant number of really terrific coupons that I’m not going to use. I hate to throw them in the recycling bin. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do with them? I would love to have somewhere to donate them…
Thanks for any ideas you may have
February 15th, 2008
Dawn-
That is a great question! One suggestion I have is coupon swaps, I have written about these in the past, you can check out that post here http://www.mommygetspaid.com/coupon-swaps/.
Also, check places like craigslist and free cycle-people often request coupons that you may have. You can also check with your local stores-many times they will collect coupons for charity purchases.
Take Care
LJ
February 15th, 2008
[...] you have started accumulating a collection of coupons and you have them organized to suit your needs, how does this translate into dollars [...]