Organizing Your Coupons

Couponing 101: Part 2

Organizing Your Coupons

Now that you have begun collecting all of these coupons what are you supposed to do with them? I think that organizing your coupons is key to getting the most use and the best deals out of them. You must have them filed by category to ensure that next time you are at the store and see something you need on sale or clearance you can grab your coupon and get the best deal. I can't tell you how many times I have run to the store and not brought my coupons along thinking I will not need them because I only have to buy a certain product that I do not have a coupon for and then I find some great deal that I know I have a coupon at home for and miss out!

So the lesson is Always bring your coupons in the store! Like I said organization is key. Everyone thinks differently and different methods work best for different people; do what works for you.

I started out using a plastic shoe box size container and put envelopes with recipe card headers on them. I put my coupons in each envelope by category. As I have gotten into couponing more I outgrew this method.

What I am currently using is a bag with straps (which makes it easy to bring into the store) that has plastic file dividers in it. I put my major categories on the file tabs i.e; Store coupons, Grocery, Health, Beauty, Children, Other.

Inside each file section I have smaller envelopes that I made with construction paper for more specific categories. For example in my Grocery file section I have envelopes for Produce, Juice, Canned Goods, Quick Meals, Bakery, Frozen Foods etc... I try and file them in the order my grocery store is laid out to make it quick and easy.

Other methods I have heard of are to use a binder and get baseball card or photo inserts and put your coupons in them. I have also heard of people who simply file their inserts by date, however this process may be quicker in the short term but you will be left scanning through inserts to find the coupon you want.

You need to do what works for you. I hope this post has got you thinking of ideas that will help you organize your coupons!

If you have any questions feel free to comment and I will reply!