The first step to organizing coupons is to find a coupon organization method that works for you. View the many ways to organize coupons and examples here.
Here are a few suggestions to help you decide what method(s) will work best for you:
File Sunday Inserts. When you receive the Sunday paper label the first page of the inserts with the current date and clip the coupons inside only when you’re ready to use. Blog match-ups refer to the coupon insert date making it easy to find the coupon you’re looking for. You can also use coupon databases to help locate a coupon. I like to use A Full Cup, and Money Saving Mom databases.
Clip and File Sunday Inserts. When you receive the Sunday paper label the first page of the inserts with the current date, clip the coupons you think you’ll use, and file them in your coupon binder/box/folder. Clip the other coupons as needed.
Clip Entire Sunday Inserts, Printable Coupons, and Other Coupons. I have tried all the different ways and right now this method works best for me. It does take more time than the other methods, but I like to have my coupons labeled in a way that I can get to them quickly in the store. I often will find an unadvertised deal or manager’s special and this method helps me save money on those items.
Tip: I try to clip, sort, and file when I know I’m going to be sitting, talking, or waiting, such as: having a long conversation on the telephone, waiting for my kids at school or practice, in the doctors office, traveling, or watching a movie.
Tip: I have several protector sheets in the back of my binder that I stuff coupons I really don’t think I’ll use saving time alphabetizing. These are coupons such as pet, coffee, health, etc.
Tip: If you receive multiple inserts, or print the same coupon many times stack the pages together and cut in bulk. You could try using a rotary paper cutter.
Tip: If you know you’re going to use a coupon stick it in the store shopping folder that way you don’t have to touch it again-or not until your ready to hand it to the cashier.
Tip an Anonymous reader shared: The only thing that is hard to grocery shop on a whim when my coupons are not cut and in my binder. So when I get too far behind I get the hubbie invloved…all it takes is a little bribe of ice cream and he is on board! No matter how much time I have to give to couponing it is always worth it!!!
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Meet Natasha, founder of Saving a Bundle and mother of four rambunctious boys, and LeaDawn writer and new mother of one boy. Raised in a frugal lifestyle we continue the family tradition by cooking from scratch, using money-smart techniques,
living simply, hunting for good deals, have fun with frugal crafts, and use coupons. Join us on our journey as we, two sisters, learn & share ways to live a more frugal lifestyle to reach our common goal to save our families money.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I file by insert, and don't even keep a binder anymore. Between teaching and blogging, that is the best I can do!
I file all mine in an index file according to department, and then alphebetized within each section. Still experimenting, as this can be time consuming.
I like to clip the coupons I KNOW I will use and put them in my store envelopes {I have an envelope for each store}. The ones I clip that I'm not sure where I will get the best deal, I put in a small hand-held size accordian file that fits in my diaper bag and take this EVERYWHERE with me.
The coupons that I think that I probably won't use stay in the insert and are dated and filed. That's my system for now. 