Organizing Coupons

A bunch of coupons cut out of ads in the newspaper.

Clipping coupons can be worth the time, if you can find them when you need them. Here are some tips about keeping track of coupons. This is a guide about organizing coupons.

Solutions: Organizing Coupons

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Create A Coupon Book For Shopping

Every time I shop, I have someone ask to look at my coupon book. I have shared it on here before a few years ago, but will again to kick off this new section of my blog on saving money.

First, understand I only use a coupon on an item IF that allows me to get it cheaper than the generic, or cheaper than at Aldi. Often, when combining coupons with sales, CVS bonus bucks, or Walgreen's rebates, I get items free; such as toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo. But, to take full advantage of this, you usually can not be brand loyal.

Also, remember that often stores such as Dollar Tree and Dollar General also take coupons and also have name brand items at much less. This allows me to get name brand cereal often for $1 a box or sometimes free.

My coupon book goes everywhere with me. My kids and husband will attest to this, we can't leave the house without it! You never know when you may come across an unadvertised special or discounted item that you have coupons for, and you want your coupons with you-not at home.

After having my coupons in folders, envelopes, boxes and coupon holders, I came across keeping them in a 3 ring notebook binder. Inside the binder I have clear plastic photo sheets (the type with pockets that hold pictures).

Each pocket is labeled with a different category, and they are arranged in alphabetical order. I don't like standing in a store searching, so I have lots of categories--so I can find a coupon quicker. I have around 50 pockets. Some of my pockets are labeled as followed: air fresheners, baby, baking goods, batteries, beverages, bread and crackers, candy and gum, canned goods, cereals and breakfast foods, chips, etc. You will want to adjust your categories for your needs.

After my pocket section, I then have a section of my book that has the large plastic page protector sheets. I have around 7 of those. Inside those sheets, I keep the current weekly ad for a store. Each store has its own protector sheets. As I study the ad, I move coupons for the sale items to that pocket for the store I plan to use them in. As I enter the store, I can easily flip to that ad and see those coupons for that visit. So, I have a page for Dollar General, CVW, Walgreen, Price Chopper, HyKlas, HyVee and Office Depot.

For my area, most of these stores are just a couple blocks from each other, so I don't waste a lot of time or fuel going from one to another. Also, I generally do not hit all these stores in a week.

As my coupons expire, I pull them out and pass them on to a military family who can use them. (Most commissaries take expired coupons.)

I generally spend about 90 minutes a week clipping my coupons and organizing them with the sale ads. My time to do this is on Sunday night while the kids are in youth group. We live 30 minutes from church, so I take them and then go to an empty Sunday School classroom and do my coupons. Sometimes a couple other moms join me in doing the same.

If you see an item you can get for free or next to free that you don't use, get it anyway and then donate it. I have given several blood sugar testers to our local food pantry to pass on to someone who could not afford one. They were ones I got free at CVS after rebates and CVS bucks. When you donate them, be sure to ask for a receipt for your taxes for donation purposes.

Also, check your area and join the free frequent shopper programs, such as CVS bonus bucks, Price Chopper frequent shopper and Office Depot work rewards and many more.

By mom-from-missouri from NW Missouri

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Remembering to Use Coupons

Occasionally I have forgotten to use my coupons at the checkout only to remember them when I get home. I've started highlighting the items that I have coupons for on my shopping list with bright neon highlighters, that way they constantly jog my memory as I read my grocery list.

By mother of 5 from Canada

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Keeping Track of Email Coupons

This suggestion is about coupons you receive from restaurants or grocery stores by email. To keep better track of which to use first due to expiration dates, I forward them to my email address with the name of the restaurant and the expiration date in the subject bar. All I have to do is scan the list instead of opening up all of those emails.

My new subject bar will look something like this: "Sweet Tomatoes, exp. June 6". It is much easier to keep track of coupons this way and I don't waste paper and ink printing out the coupons, only to not use them.

By Cookwie from Richardson, TX

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Organizing Coupons

We only eat out as a family if we have a coupon to do so. But keeping track of all those dining out coupons can be difficult. I created a coupon file just for this purpose. Using a small check organizer file, I labeled sections with titles such as: fast food, ice cream, pizza, buffet, diners, etc. There is even a section for entertainment (bowling, mini golf, movies). We keep this file in our car along with my grocery coupon file so we remember to use them before their expiration dates.

By Deb from Manchester, PA

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Keep Coupons With Your Grocery List

When I find a coupon that I'd like to use, I put it with my grocery list that I keep clipped to the refrigerator until I'm ready to head to the store. I remember to use it when it's with my list that I check as I walk through the store to find my groceries.

By Jackie from Enumclaw, WA

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Store Coupons In Photo Album

I purchased a small photo album that holds 3x5 inch photos. I use the clear double sided photo holders to place and organize my coupons so it's easy to thumb through at the store and goes easily in my purse.

By mom63 from Rochester, MI

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Organizing Restaurant Coupons

Organized restaurant coupons taped inside cabinet door

On the rare occasions we eat out, I usually only remember to look for restaurant coupons when we are leaving. Since the coupons were not readily accessible, we failed to take advantage of them and let the coupons expire.

To organize them and jog my memory, I cut 2 strips from a clear plastic sheet protector. The bottom already has three sides enclosed, so I hung it with thumb tacks to the inside of a cabinet door and placed the coupons inside. The other strip needed the bottom taped, and then it was ready to hang. As a bonus, my family can also find coupons and save money as well.

By Dee from TX

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Use a Vinyl Coupon Sorter for Receipts

I have a vinyl coupon sorter that is divided into categories (Grocery, Target, etc. and family members names and receipts awaiting reimbursement or rebates) Each time I purchase an item, I place the receipt in the corresponding file. Be sure to get into the regular habit of doing this or your file will cause you more aggravation than it is worth!

When I need to make a return or request a price adjustment the
receipt is available. About once a month, I empty the receipts in an envelope and save for about a month before shredding. Occasionally, I'll get to the grocery store without my coupons. When I get home, I match up my coupons with the receipt and have them redeemed the next time I am at the store.

I recently had a $20 price adjustment made on an I-POD Shuffle I had purchased for my daughters birthday. I took the receipt to the customer service area and asked for the adjustment. It netted me $20. YEA!

At Christmas I sort gift receipts by families and keep the file with me as we celebrate in the event someone needs to make an exchange or return. I also tape receipts to the lid of the gift box when shipping items to friends and family out of state.

Organization is the key to saving money!

By Diana from Prospect, KY

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Keep Coupon Organizer in the Car

I keep a coupon organizer in my car just for non-grocery coupons. I have fast food, nice restaurants, clothes, and other misc. stuff. That way when I am out and about, I always have my coupons close at hand, if we decide to stop for a meal or something. I use a lot more coupons because of this!

By Amanda from Wichita, KS

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Coupon Tackle Box

I use a small tackle box for my coupons. It has a sturdy latch and handle.

Deb

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Organize Coupons in a Index Card Box

On Sunday, cut out coupons from the paper and file them in a box for 3x5 inch index cards. You can bring this with you each time you go grocery shopping. Then if you see something on clearance, you have a coupon for. You can often get these items for free!

By Laurie from Arizona

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Organizing Rainchecks and Coupons with a Photo Album

This tip is for organizing store rainchecks and coupons. I try to get rainchecks each time I visit the grocery store, so I may purchase these out of stock products at my convenience, and maybe I have also found coupons by then.

Sometimes the items on sale for this week are not what I purchase. So I get out my rainchecks, and I purchase what used to be on sale. If you get good at it sometimes you can purchase all your groceries with rainchecks and some coupons to save even more.

I always pick up instore coupons off the shelf, a couple each visit even if I'm not going to buy them that day. I choose the coupons for products I consistently buy or might buy when they are on sale for a good price. Especially if they don't expire for 6-12 months or more.

Doing this I have accumulated a large supply of coupons and rainchecks, and have had to come up with a different system to organize them. I had a photo album I wasn't using, the one that has plastic inserts that hold four pictures per side (eight pictures per insert).

I put my rainchecks in the front couple of pages, and the coupons in
alphabetically after that. But you can put them in the album by aisle or any way that is convenient for you. These photo albums are too big to bring with you so one has to plan ahead of time before they shop, which means making a grocery list and referring to the flyers for the sales. Hope this system will help someone else.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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Attach Coupons to Products as a Reminder

I do not use many coupons. However, the ones I do keep, I kept forgetting when I went to the store. I found a way to help me. I simply tape the coupon on the item in the cupboard. Then when it's gone, I grab the coupon and put it with my grocery list.

The dog food I take out of the box and store in a canister type container. Therefore, I tape the coupon to the outside of that can. I tape the coupon for my vitamins on the inside of the cupboard where they sit. The bottle is too small to tape a coupon to it.

I also have short hair and only use 1/2 a tube of hair color. I tape on the inside of the door in the vanity the measurements I need for splitting the portions when coloring my hair. That way I do not have try to read the small print on the tube and figure out 1/2 portions of color and 1/2 portion of developer. I also tape information from the hair color box, the color and product I use to the inside of the door. I know it by heart but you never know when I may forget.

By Little Suzy from Ohio

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Questions

Here are questions related to Organizing Coupons.

I Need Help Finding And Organizing Coupons

I am trying to save money on groceries by using coupons. I know to save coupons from the Sunday paper, but does anyone have any suggestions for other places to look or of any websites that have some?

I'd also like to find more information on the web about knowing when to use coupons and the best ways to keep them organized.

Thanks,
Amy in Texas

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Use Day Runner to Organize Coupons

By Gida05/31/2009

I took an old DayRunner I had from when I worked at IBM and used the larger index cards cut on an angle and taped to the dividers to make pockets. It zipps and has a place for all my reward cards, calculator, grocery list etc.

Ann
New Orleans

Separate Store and Entertainment Coupons

By kcrc01/11/2005

The prior advice is excellent; however through the years I've outgrown mine & now have 2 seperate plastic shoeboxes with dividers. One shoebox holds manufacture and store coupons for the grocers; the other holds entertainment coupons (restaurants, mall, recreation). My grocery coupons are set up by the rows of the store that I go to most often. You can save lots of $$$. Good luck. Besides the Sunday paper, ask neighbors who may not use them if you can have them. For your favorite products go to their individual sites for great offers. Hope the info helps.

kc in mesa

Organizing Coupons

I'm starting to become an avid coupon clipper. I've joined a coupon train and just purchased 150+ coupons on eBay for less than $6.00. Now, I'd love to learn a good, effective way to store/sort them in like a binder or something. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions? I'm just trying to save some money and get the most out of my coupons! Thanks.

By Jaci from Missouri

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Store Coupons in Recycled Envelopes

By jeantdd01/19/2012

I like all the ideas especially the one using the CD holder. Thus far my "system" consists of two recycled envelopes, the size you get a large greeting card in, preferably coloured. I use two envelopes, one for grocery coupons and one for restaurant coupons. I keep them in the door storage slot in my car.

Before I go into the grocery store I check the envelope. That's the time to edit the outdated ones. I may take coupons out and put them in my wallet or I may take the envelope in. I am a shift worker and like to grab a breakfast sandwich on the way home. I always have my coupons with me.

Organize Coupons in CD Storage Case

By HAPPYINHARNED09/23/2011

I found a CD storage case for my coupons. It is about 8" by 12" and has around 24 pockets. I labeled each pocket with an index card inserted into each pocket. I found the CD case at a yard sale for 10 cents. It works well. I also use an accordion style folder for the weekly coupon inserts from the paper. I used several videos on youtube about coupon organizing. Good Luck

Previous: Organizing Restaurant Coupons

Next: Making a Coupon Organizer System

Organizing Coupons

Here are some common household items you can use to help keep your coupons organized.

Paper Clips: Easy for the cashier to handle at the check out.

Envelope: Take a junk mail envelope and stick it to the fridge with a magnet. Put coupons you want to redeem the next time you go to the store in it and your list on the envelope.

Note Card Box: A note card box works well. Many have A to Z dividers. I see these a lot at garage sales.

Old Check Book: Easy to carry with you and convenient at the check out.

Accordion File: They make accordion-style files for cancelled checks that work well for coupons. You can sort them by aisle or the month that they expire.

Clothespin: Works well for keeping the coupons together while you shop.

More ideas:

Use A Highlighter

Highlight the expiration date with yellow marker.

Luzianaboy

Keep With Your List

I store my coupons in an old paper check box and put them in a notebook with my list when I shop!

Alekscat the frugal feline in Richmond,VA

Organizing With Envelopes

I have any envelope for each month and sort by expiration date. This way I can use them before they expire.

Judy

Make Your Own Zipper Pouch And Keep In Your Car

I make my own zipper pouch (fake leather vinyl) for my coupons, I punched two holes, inserted a gromet and used a leather thong so I can slip it over my shoulder if I want to. I do not carry a purse. Determine the size that best works for you! Save the envelopes that you get with bills, seal the flap inside the envelope, and label the type of coupon you put in it. Then put the envelope into your coupon pouch, with the address facing the back. You can use these to section your coupon pouch. You can also reuse some of your incoming mail envelopes too! Add some scotch tape at the top edges for stability, since you will be thumbing through them often. Keep the labeling simple" i.e. Candy, Beverage, Bakery Items, Canned and Jar Items, Frozen Food, Meat & Cold Products, Ice Cream, Miscellaneous and boxed items, Soap and Household items, Paper Goods, Personal Items, and FREE Coupons. Don't worry about expiration dates because you always get new ones. Once a month while watching TV, sort your coupons and discard the expired ones.

Most Important: Be sure to keep your coupon pouch under the front seat of your car (or in your glove box), so you will "always" have the coupons with you. You never know when you might need them!

By Syd

Keep Coupons, Club Cards And Receipts Together

I use a kangaroo ziploc bag. It hold my coupons in one pouch, frequent shopper cards in another and receipts in another. It is stuck to my fridge with a magnet!

By homeschoolin_mum

Organizing Coupons With Sales

A way I save time and keep from wasting coupons is to scour the grocery ads as soon as they come in. I have a list that I keep with different stores' names listed in different sections (only ones that aren't too far). When I see an item on sale that I use, I go through my coupons and hopefully find one, then paperclip the coupon on the paper under the store's name. I make a grocery run once a week and hit all of the stores close by and save lots of money.

By Lisa

Keep Your Coupons In The Car

Always leave your clipped coupons in the car. This way you will always have them on hand when you need them, not at home.

By Karen

Organize With A Coupon Divider

I keep my coupons in a coupon divider (small accordion). I label specific foods/areas under their section, dairy, cleaning, pet, etc... When I first cut them out, I write the expiration date with a flair pen on the coupon so I can readily see it when in a hurry. Then I divide and file in specific area in my case, Then in each section, I paper clip the coupons expiring in the current month. I like having the coupons in section, so I don't have to constantly go through the whole batch. I can then take my coupon case to the store, in case something I use often is on sale, I can go ahead and cash it in and get two bargains in one, if I have a coupon for it. I have lost out so many times that this seems to work for the whole family.

By Karen -N.C.

Website For Local Shopping

A great tip to help sort through your coupons and compare to the store sales flyer, check out the website, http://www.cutouthunger.org/. Through this web site at no cost, you can browse a listing of your local coupons as well as a local grocery store and see what savings you can find. It really cuts out a lot of time of sorting and comparing.

Allie

Organize By Product And Date

Buy a coupon organizer and keep coupons organized by product and date. Go through it weekly when you add new coupons so that you can use the ones that will expire soon.

By jennifer

Velveeta Box

Need a place to put store coupons until you get them separated and filed? Take the bottom cardboard portion from a loaf of Velveeta Cheese, and glue expired coupons until all surfaces are covered on all sides, overlapping them at angles to cover. Use household glue. When thoroughly dried, keep this easy to locate box somewhere in your kitchen. You'll never again have to hunt for where those loose coupons are, it lasts for years and will accommodate even those extra long coupons. Even someone who doesn't read well will recognize this box for what its intended purpose is!

By Ronsan

Organize By Date

Organize coupons by date in their separate compartments. This will help you keep from missing expiring ones.

By Linda

Baby Wipe Box

I use a baby wipes box with alphabet dividers. I've used the same box for 12 yrs and the lid is just about ready to leave the box. I don't have any more babies so I don't what I will use next. I'm not sure the wipe boxes come with the full lid anymore - I think they just have the cut out center.

By petunia

Alphabetically

Alphabetically file food categories in a small index card size box, using color tabbed dividers. Example/Breads, Beverages, Canned Goods, Dairy. I also store store coupons in back and clean out the expired coupons once every month.

By Snerd

Folding Wallet

I keep all of my coupons in a folding wallet and have them in alphabetical order as to what type of product they are ex: cereal, condiment, meat, pasta. This way whatever store I go into I have my products in some sort of order for quickness.

By Carol

Coupon Clipping for the Coupon Challenged (Like Me!)

I finally found a coupon system that works for me. I put sheet protectors in a 3 ring binder, after clipping open the sealed edges of the protector. I separate these into sections as they are in the grocery store: Produce, canned items, prepared foods, breakfast foods, etc. (Use what works for you). Then I cut out coupons every week and tape them onto the sheet proctors. I can easily see which coupons I have and don't have to flip through them one at a time as they are on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet and I can see many at once. For some reason, I use many, many more coupons this way and often save 50% off of my grocery bill.

By Cheryl

RE: Organizing Coupons

If you get the sheets used for baseball cards, you can just fold the coupon and slip it into a pocket - you won't have to tape the coupons to sheet protectors. The baseball card sheets are already hole- punched so you can fit them in a notebook. Then you can use tabbed dividers to separate the sheets into categories. (11/14/2006)

By Heather

RE: Organizing Coupons

I use a thin photo album for 4 x 6 prints; the ones that hold about 20 prints. I slip the coupons that I want to use into each page as though they were in page protectors. I keep this little album in my purse and can easily flip through it at the store as I shop and find the coupons that I need. Now I don't forget the coupons at home anymore and I can keep coupons of different sizes all organized in one album. (02/20/2008)

By Janet

RE: Organizing Coupons

I just use regular long envelopes, (like what you mail your bills off in). I've cut off the tops of these, and labeled them alphabetically, I purchased a plastic box about the size of a shoe box, and I keep them in there. I also have sub-categories in some of the letters that have many coupons (I organize by brand name, not category) My subcategories are, Food, Medicine, Beauty, Dog Food, Cleaning. I buy several papers, the coupons I'll make multiple purchases on, I cut out several and file, the other inserts, I just keep whole. (08/15/2008)

By Ashlee