Okay so I've been couponing for almost four years now. I've done envelopes, accordian folders, binders and all have worked really well! But with our one year old I'm finding it harder and harder to sit down and have time to cut all my coupons and file them!! So I was at a loss as to what to do. So I decided that I'd stop clipping!! :SHOCK: I needed to find a better system that worked for me. So I decided to go to staples with a 20% off coupon and hunt around for a new system that I thought would work! Well that was three months ago, and I'm very proud to say that I LOVE my new system!!

I call it Bins & Baggies. The system is super simple, it requires some space, folders, and plastic bags (an little coupon folder will do nicely also.)

How did I get started? I went to Staples and got three clear plastic bins. I also got three different colored folders. Each bin has one color folder which makes it super easy to remember! Redplum is in RED, Smartsource is in BLUE and P&G and others are in YELLOW! If I find a tearpad or blinkie, I file them in the Yellow Bin b/c the P&G is more of a monthly insert (and therefore there are not as many as the RP or SS).

How does it work? All inserts are filed by TYPE and DATE. Each bin is dedicated to either SmartSource, RedPlum or P&G/Other. The inserts are then filed by date. All inserts have a date on the seem so it's easy to see which is which.

Clipping Coupons? This is also very easy. I read WUC, check out my sale paper and then make a list. Lets say I saw that FSC and Kelkers (users here on WUC) posted that Pampers & Rotel Tomatoes were on sale. If they didn't list the origin of the coupon, I simply head over to our coupon database, search for the coupon, grad the insert, clip the coupons. I then paper clip that bundle of coupons together and place them in a plastic baggie. I return the insert to it's spot in the bin and I've got coupons clipped and ready!

Shopping is always super simple because I know what I'm buying before I go. I always have a list. We plan our meals ahead, so let's say I need pasta sauce, I check to see if there are any coupons, if there aren't any, than I look for the cheapest sauce at the store.

Pros to this system: You don't have to clip all your coupons, they filed by date so sourcing with match-ups is super easy

Cons to this system: You don't have all your coupons with you at the store. If you see something is clearanced, you've got to come back to the store.

Hope you enjoy some of the pictures!

You are very organized.

help me!! I am so confused...how do you have soooo many coupons? The ones I find seem to expire 2 weeks or sooner after I clip them! Also so many stores take double coupons "up to .99" Well I've NEVER come across a .99 coupon before! Does that mean if I use one that's a dollar or more they'll just give me an additional .99??? I'm very lost...Thanks in advance.

Love it! Thanks for sharing your system!!!

Awesome!! Looks much easier than lugging a huge binder around!!

Thanks Nate for sharing! I might try this system cause the binder system isnt working and I havent clipped in forever. So my kitchen table is full of inserts, blinkies, peelies, etc and I cant take it anymore! LOL

Thanks for sharing!! I am just starting to figure out how to organize my q's and playing with a bunch of different concepts to see what works for me!

thanks for sharing

I'm not sure how it works at the stores you frequent but most stores that double usually double any coupons up to 50 cents, making that coupon 1.00 off. If it says up to .99 then I would assume they would double .99 and give you 1.98 off the product. If the coupon is 1.00 or over, they usually don't double that coupon so it would just be 1.00 off the product.

Of course, things may be different where you live so most times they have the fine print on the weekly ad and you could read it to see exactly how that particular store doubles coupons or speak to the manager there and I'm sure they could help you.