Organizing Coupons

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to organizing your coupons, you could:

• Clip nothing and file all inserts by date (located on the spine of each insert) and clip only what is needed (Locate coupons quickly by viewing the Coupon Data Base HERE).
• Use this if you HATE to clip coupons, don't have time to clip coupons and you prepare your shopping trip before leaving the house.
• Don't use this method if you love to peruse the idles of clearance items because you'll never have your coupons with you when you find a super deal!
• Clip coupons for items your family loves and keep in a “coupon file”
• Use this method if you are loyal to specific brands and wouldn't want other items, even if they are free.
• Don't use this method if you're hoping to pick up really inexpensive (or even free items) for your family or others who are in need.
• Clip everything and organize in one of the following ways:
• Envelopes, by category
• Write Category on front of envelope. Tuck flap into envelope, then place coupons in envelope FACING back of envelope.
• Alphabetize envelopes in a suitable container.  (NOTE: Using a slid-out storage drawer (shoe box sized) allows you to view all envelopes at once.)
• Start with basic categories (Like BAKING) then expand as needed (BAKING-Basic, BAKING-Mixes, BAKING-Oils, BAKING-Spices) 
• View "Coupon Categories" post for ideas for labels
• Envelopes, labeled alphabetically
• Limits envelopes to 25 ("A", "B", "C"...)
• Allows you to sort coupons quickly.
• Difficult to find the lowest priced item in a store (IE. If you need cake mix and are standing in the baking idle you would have to look at the sticker prices, then take out "B" for Betty Crocker, "D" for Dunkin Hines & "P" for Pillsbury.)
• Works great for some people, but very confusing for others.  Read more about this in Ellie Kay's Shop, Save and Share.
• A binder using clear pages for baseball cards or Cd's.
• Great for folks who are visual.
• Makes finding coupons in the store super easy (like when you have 4 kids with you)
• VERY time consuming, and difficult to fold & store coupons so product, expiration date and value are all visible at the same time.

I clip ALL coupons (OK, I really don’t clip them all because I skip those for alcohol and cigarettes) I choose to cut my coupons and take them with me b/c I find clearance and unadvertised sales I can take advantage of if I have coupons in tow. I started with envelopes, by category. I read how great ABC order was and got new envelopes and labeled them A, B, C (IE. Crest coupons went in the “C” envelope, Aquafresh in the “A”) Later, I moved my coupons to a binder with see through sheets intended for baseball cards. Even though I had read how amazing these other forms of storing coupons were, I hated the ABC order because I would go down the toothpaste idle and have to look in 5 envelopes! I was frustrated with the “baseball card storage” (it really takes a lot of time fold coupons and slip them into a little rectangle)…I went back to envelopes.
Because I have lots of other responsibilities in my life, I don't always have time to browse, so I now carry a small "respectable" coupon envelope.  Each store I normally shop in has it's own envelope (Kroger, Walgreen's, ETC.)  As I organize my trips for the week, I place all needed coupons in the appropriate envelope.  I keep this in my purse and can pop into any retailer in a moments notice!


Here are a couple bonus tips to make your coupon box run a little smoother

• In addition to your grocery & household envelopes, have specific envelopes for “Retail”, “Restaurants”, “Fast Food” and “Rebates”
• Use a stiff card slightly taller than my envelopes (use as a marker when taking an envelope out, to avoid searching when replacing it)

The following strategies make the task of clipping and organizing lighter:

• Stack several identical sheets and cut once (cutting slightly outside the coupon to avoid cutting off important info)
• lay cut coupons in general piles (IE. All baking coupons together) then separate each pile and file all coupons at once
• file store coupons in the envelope for that particular store (when planning a trip to that store, add coupons for items you plan to purchase that day and/or a shopping list)

Happy Clipping!