Organizing and cutting coupons can be one of the most challenging tasks to do in saving money.

There is no right way as long as you are organized in your own way!



Here are a few great ways:

1. Bins - use index cards as labels for each product type
2. Binder - similar to bins but coupons are placed in baseball card size sheets
3. File Folder - don't cut any, just organize inserts by date -must be really organized for this one as you will need to know which insert the coupon came in to find it!

Things that don't work:

• Tossing them in your purse/wallet - bad plan you will forget
• Cutting them - putting them in drawer - again you will forget

I use the bin method as I have a lot of coupons. Every Sunday I sit down with all the ads I am interested in. Then, I have a zipper pencil folder for each store I shop in. Each zipper folder is a different color and see through. The zipper folders are stored in a 3 ring binder.

I then determine what is on sale at each store and put it in the appropriate zipper folder. I only bring that zipper folder into the store (so I don't lose all my coupons. (things happen).

Of course if I find something on sale that maybe was not listed in the ad, I just run out to the car to get the rest of my coupons!

Works like a charm. I have tried all the ways above and I have found this is what works for me.

Try a few of them out and see what you think!

Here's to better organization!

Moonflower

My Coupons are my American Express Card - Don't leave home without them!

I love the binder method, it works really well for me.

Desiree

im so disorganized its a tragedy. i have yet to find the one that works for me. i do the binder and the little coupon organizers too. its always a mess. but i get my deals (just takes 3x longer than it should - hehehe)

I like the zipper envelope idea. Thank you for sharing it.

Co-Forum Leader for the Welcome Center and Squeeze Back

It is work to stay organized, but it does pay off in the end.

Desiree

just starting to couponing.have a real issue with organizing,but got $185 for 75 at pathmart this week.Can anyone help with a good method for organinzed and time effient .took me 2 hrs

I use the binder and LOVE it.....I need to break my catagories down alittle.

I am using the binder method, however sometimes its so hard to get them to fit into the little baseball card holder thingys...also I think I need a bigger binder

How do you preserve your memories? Heritage Makers has lots of great ways to do so... Click Here
Sign up for your FREE account today

I had been using the binder with baseball card plastic sheets. but my binder got way too heavy and fat (I buy several Sunday papers), so I started the folder method (file coupon inserts by date) and not cut out a coupon until I need it. I no longer do any impulse buying (positive side of folder method), but don't have all my coupons handy if I see a terrific deal (negative side of folder method).

Here's my method(s):

I use 3 different systems. First, I don't cut out any coupons out of the Sunday supplements. I just date the whole insert(s) and file them in hanging folder in a file cabinet. The hanging folder tab is dated as well and all are inserted in the folder on the left. This way, I don't have to mess with tabbing 1/5 cut or 1/3 cut filing tabs. I also can easily find any coupon I want by searching the coupon database or coupon match ups and going right to the coupons in the dated folder I need. Then I just cut out what I need for the current week's shopping list and return them to their file.

Next, I put the clipped coupons in a small coupon file that fits in my purse along with my shopping list and off I go to the store. I also may cut out extra coupons that I use regularly and keep them with me in my purse just in case I have to run to the store in a pinch.

Third, I use the binder method for not only my loose coupons such as blinkies but also for when I am planning a big trip such as Kmart doubles or I am going to a store that I'm unfamiliar with. I also use the binder for clearance deals at WAGS or whatnot when I find a sale like that going on. The binder contains things that I may or may not ever buy but the coupons are to good to forget about. In my binder I have two zippered pen/pencil bags. I put all of my store cards, ecb's and whatnot in one and in the other I put all the coupons that I pull out of my binder during my trip that I am going to use at the register.

I file my coupons in my binder in 3x5 photo sleeves. (Much easier for me than baseball card sleeves) There are four pockets in each one. I put 3 x 5 index cards in them so I can use both sides. I have A-Z dividers that divide my sleeves into categories. I typed up the categories such as A=Beverages, B=Snacks and so forth. The list or index of categories is in the front of my binder in a sheet protector. I also keep store policies and my shopping lists in sheet protectors as well. The back of my binder has several pockets that I use to put blinkies and any other coupons I find while shopping so that I can file them later. In the front of the binder there are pockets where I will keep store flyers. And last but not least, it contains a pen and a calculator just in case I need it. :-)

I just started couponing and am using an excel spreadsheet as well. My coupons are listed alphabetically and by expiration date. I keep the coupons in a small accordion type organizer which I can carry around easily, but I walk around the store with my list so I don't have to go digging in the organizer until I really need to. So far this works for me, but I've collected a lot of coupons in just a few weeks. We'll see how it goes