I have been getting lots of requests for tips on how to organize coupons. Here are a few methods you can check out and see what works for you. If you are brand new to using coupons, I always recommend you do it for a few weeks before you invest a lot of time or money. It is nice to really see how much time you have to dedicate to this first because this can become very time consuming!
OPTION #1: CHEAP AND EASY.
This is the method I use almost exactly.
I have a small makeup bag that I use- it has color coded envelopes inside that are labeled meat, produce, dairy, baby etc… I only cut coupons on Sundays that I am pretty sure I will use- say diaper coupons or coupons for eggs or high value toothpaste coupons etc… I file those away when I can in each envelope and the makeup bag is usually in my purse. You can probably get a small expanding envelope like this and accomplish the same thing.
When the time comes to do my shopping, I make my list and then I actually go back and cut the coupons I need for the week. In my opinion, this is the least time consuming method but you will miss out on deals from time to time by not cutting tons of coupons. For me, I would rather miss a coupon here or there than spend hours each week managing a complicated system.
PROS: Very simple, easy to manage, inexpensive, less cumbersome, small time investment.
CONS: You will not have every coupon available to you at all times so you may miss out on random deals you find in store.
For the inserts, I have two storage bins that I put them in. I put the most recent on the top and I toss them quarterly. One box is for SS inserts and the other for RP and P&G. There are times that the coupons have not yet expired and I miss out because I tossed them. But again for me it is all about the least amount of maintenance possible. So I’d rather miss a $1 coupon here and there than have to manage piles and piles of coupon inserts.
Some people will organize the inserts by date in a file box. That is even better than my method but it does take a few extra minutes to label the files and put the inserts away. Also you will have the investment of buying the file box and folders etc..
You can watch a video to see exactly how this works here.
OPTION #2: MORE COUPONS.
The binder method is really popular for couponers. You can take a ton of coupons with you everywhere and this might be a good option for those of you that do massive trips, like to buy large quantities of products, get a lot of newspaper subscriptions etc…
You can purchase a zippered binder just about anywhere and most people use baseball trading card inserts inside. Some people like to organize their coupons in categories- such as meats, produce, health and beauty supplies, cleaning supplies etc.. and some like to organize alphabetically.
I believe the majority of people that use coupon binders tend to cut a lot of coupons each week and file them in the binder. If you decide this is the right method for you, keep in mind that you do need to stay on top of expired coupons. So this method is going to be much more time consuming.
PROS: Lots more coupons readily available when you shop, coupons are easily accessible.
CONS: Considerably more time consuming and bulky to carry around.
You can see a video on exactly how to organize a coupon binder here.
What method do you use to organize your coupons?
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Melissa you can use one manufacturer coupon per product that you purchase.
If you have 5 coupons from the Sunday paper, you can use 1 of them for each item you purchase.
Has anyone else’s stores started to decrease the number of like coupons you can use? My Target never used to have a limit as far as I know. (The most I ever used was 4.) Now they’re crazy strict on a limit of 3. I still love my Target but this is kind of a bummer on buy 4, get a gift card sales. My Meijer has gone down to 2 like coupons!
Honestly, when I watch the extreme couponing show, I feel that it doesn’t really represent everyone. I live in southern CA and everything here is SO expensive that even when you try to coupon, it doesn’t save you as much as the families in that show. The stores are much stricter with coupons and some coupons have such odd rules or description of that specific item, that you go crazy trying to find anything. Just yesterday I had a coupon for a free starbucks canned drink. The coupon specified that the amount could not exceed $1.74, but those drinks are no less that $2.34 at the stores, even when on sale. So, some coupons don’t get used at all.
Hey Annie, I hear ya girl it is expensive here too! Plus they lie a bit I feel. If someone pays with a gift card or catalina that is not saving money with coupons
I guess a show was just taped up here and the person went in and purchased like 100 money orders. They cost $1 in fees at this store and then you get a $1 off $10 purchase coupon back. Well she used all those coupons to pay for a large trip… Now tell me. How is paying $1 to get a $1 off coupon saving money with coupons? They will show her using all those coupons and won’t mention that she paid for them all in cash.
Anyway, I wanted to tell you to check Vons. I heard they have the drinks for $1 this week. I haven’t checked it yet but might be worth a shot
My husband tells me the same thing, that they’re probably hiding a lot of important info. And thanks for the vons tip, I’ll check it out.
I live in an area with 2 grocery stores the one closest to me does not double coupons and only accepts internet coupons from shop at home. I have not checked the policies on the other one. do know that they dont double coupons I have to drive an hour away to get a store that doubles coupons.
Charlene, I want to thank you for all of your great tips. I am a newly stay at home mom and looking for ways to save money now that we are a one income family. I look forward to trying your coupon sorting tips, so as not to lose out on some great offers. Thank you again!
I’m not a fan of the expiration date file system. The reason is: what if you see an ad for something you use & know you have a coupon for. Which expiration month do you look in?? Much simplier, for me anyway, to file by category/product (ex: beverages) then slip the newest, longest to expire coupons in back as you collect. That way the ones next to expire are always in front.
BTW, has anyone tested to see if any stores take the expired ones?? I keep wanting to try this, but am usually in too big of a hurry. I would only do it if I had another to take it’s place or refuse the item altogether.
I would like to where are these people on extreme couponing getting the free product coupons for up to $12 (TP)? I have had a store manager stop me and ask if I knew. He coupons too, and this store is real friendly to couponers. Can you help me to learn more?
I just want to say this website is really helpful. I am new to couponing, just started this week and well after watching extreme couping I got a lot of ideas that I have relized wont work as well as they did on the TV show. So thank you again for putting couping in a better perspective of what is more reasonibly attainable.
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