Organizing Coupons

Find what works best for you! If you’ve organized your coupons efficiently you will maximize savings by using the coupons before they expire and you will be able to find a coupon when you’re looking for it.

Print and cut
Leave the coupon booklets intact write the date you received it on the outside. The coupon match-ups will refer to the date you received the insert and name, for example, 8/7/09RP. For the Memphis area, if you are using this method, when you receive the RP insert on Tuesday write the upcoming Sunday’s date on the front. All match-ups and coupon databases refer to the Sunday date.Clip as you are ready to use each coupon. I used this method for a few months with the accordion file to keep my shopping trips organized. It worked well for me at the time.

Accordion file
You can find these at Wal-Mart and Target for a few dollars. You can label each section alphabetically, by expiration date, or by product category. You could also use the above method and use the accordion file for your weekly shopping store stash like I did while I learned the ropes to couponing. Here is an example of this method.

Box
Get a box of some sort. Ideas are shoe boxes, Rubbermaid, or a recipe box. Use envelopes or recipe cards to label each section by product categories, by expiration date, alphabetically, and store name. See an example here.

Binder
This is what I have and it works great for me. I bought a 3” binder with the accordion folder on the front. The very front pocket I use to put coupons that need to be organized.

The front accordion has five sections; Ads/E-coupons/Store Policy, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, and Other Stores. All but one section in the accordion is devoted to shopping trips. As I print and clip coupons throughout the week it is easy to stash them here as I know I’m going to use them. This also makes shopping a lot easier because all of the couopns I need for each store are in the same place and ready to use.

I keep pens, a pair of scissors, highlighters, and a calculator inside the front pockets.  The blue pencil pouch in the front is for coupons expiring that week. This helps me keep my binder up to date.

I have my coupons organized in 3×5 picture protectors by product categories. Baseball card holders work well too. I used the picture protectors because it’s what I had around the house. I have my coupons organized in categories; Baby, Cereal, Snacks, Cleaning, Medicine, etc. Each category is alphabetized by the product name so I can quickly find a coupon if needed.

In the very back I have page protectors where I put coupons I will most likely never use, restaurant deals, receipts I need to keep, and rebates.

The one complaint I have with my binder is there is no strap to make carrying it easier. As I usually have two kids with me when I shop it can be difficult getting this into the store.