How To Organize Your Coupons | Let’s Get Organized!

How to ORGANIZE YOUR COUPONS

This is PART 2 of our Beginner’s Guide To Couponing Series. If  you missed PART 1. Head on over here and catch up—-> Beginner’s Guide To Couponing  – then come on back and learn how to get and stay organized!

You’ve made it! So far, we have decided to start couponing, grabbed some great free coupons, and are ready to continue. It’s time to get organized and STAY organized.

There are many ways to organize your coupons. The two most popular methods are the  “hanging file” method and the binder method. Let’s start with my favorite, the hanging file method.

HANGING FILE METHOD OF COUPON ORGANIZATION

I love this method. It saves so much time.  I do NOT cut out all my coupons from the newspaper because I get MULTIPLE papers each week. (Check out why I get multiple papers each week here). Instead, I file my coupon inserts by date! Did you know that the date is typed on the spine of the insert? I didn’t realize this for months! Each week, when my papers arrive (I receive 4 subscriptions) I remove the inserts, and file them in hanging files, by date & insert name.

Example:

9/27 Smart Source
9/27 Red Plum

OR you can choose to have just 1 folder each Sunday. All of the inserts would be put in the same folder for that week. It’s completely up to you.

There is no need to clip every single coupon UNTIL you actually need it!  The reason this works so well is because websites that have store matchups will list the date/section that the coupon came in, so they are easy to find! Here is my routine on Sundays. And, yes, you will want to do this right away on Sundays so you don’t get behind. You also want to be sure ALL your inserts are there, if not, you need to call your local newspaper to request what you’re missing. Sunday mornings I get my paper, pull out all the inserts, and place in that weeks labeled hanging file. Make sure you write the date in pencil so you can reuse your labels. You may also want to print out our 2016 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule and place in your hanging file box.

Now, when a sale comes along, you can use the coupon database to locate your coupon OR, even better, check online matchups that are done for you already. They will have the location of the coupon needed for the sale/items you want. When I go to the store, I don’t take my file. I take my list with all the coupons paper clipped to the front. Easy peasy! If you’re at the store and find a clearance, no worries. Many stores will allow you to purchase it, then come back with your receipt and coupon for a refund.

Don’t forget to purge your coupons once a month, as needed. (when they expire). You can send them to our military in some areas!

BINDER METHOD

What is the binder method? The binder method requires you to clip each coupon and place it into a folder categorized by food category or by aisle in your store. I will say that I do have a binder that I use. However, I ONLY use it for coupons that didn’t come in the paper OR for coupons that I clipped from the paper and didn’t get to use.

You will need to purchase a binder. I recommend one that closes/zips up so no coupons fall out. It will need to have pockets and 3 rings to hold all of your pages. You will also need dividers with tabs and baseball card holders.

We have a full Coupon Binder Packet that you can print out to help you get organized FAST. It has everything you need for your binder. Store policies, a list of categories, and empty sheets that you can enter your own categories. Easy peasy. You may also want to print out our 2016 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule and place in your binder.

As I said, this method will take a little longer. On Sundays, you would receive your newspapers and clip out all of the coupons. Then, you would separate into categories. Next, place each coupon into the baseball card holder under the category it fits. Now, you can locate your coupons under the categories.

 

TIP: Make sure the expiration date is showing when you put your coupon in the baseball card holders. It will make it much easier to purge when they expire.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS?