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.
After many attempts of making a coupon organizer, i found a 3 ring binder. I bought trading cards that holds 9 coupons on one side, and when using the other side I have a considerable about of space. But I love the idea of using CD cases. I have found the binder works great, but quite big to carry along to the store..ty for the great idea.. :-)
I was using a school notebook for a while to hold my coupons, taping my coupons in layers, a set of each like coupon would be together on notebook paper. I'd tape the first coupon low on the page with tape, barely on the top of the coupon. Then the second coupon got taped just a tad higher than the 1st one. Then the 3rd on slightly higher than #2 and so on. I did this style of couponing for quite a few years. I'd use one of those funky little letter openers with a razor blade in it, to clip my coupons I'd need to redeem & place those in an envelope. I had several compliements on my method, even one from a CEO of Vons. Back when they were doubling c/o's. He came to inquire on my coupon notebook. He said, "We've been watching you for a while, you'e got quite a system here, a nice set up!"
I now have my No Exp. Date coupons in a picture album, like the original poster said she uses. It's ok, I can see them clearly when I look thru the pages. But some of the page pockets aren't strong enough to hold a bunch of one like coupons, as the bottom part of the pocket is tearing out, clear tape helps and holds for a while. I've recently purchased a new item to keep my coupons in, it's a Compact Disc carry case styled as a notebook, the pockets are upright, instead of sideways for picture albums, then it zips up & has a shoulder strap. Once I get it all completed with my coupons inside, it ought to be really nice.
I thought the only time you could get a raincheck was if the store ran out of the item while it was still on sale. Can you ask for a raincheck even if they still have the item on the shelf?
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