How to Organize Your Coupons and Coupon Organizers
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Well Organized Coupons Save Time and Money!
Using coupons to get great discounts, deals and even free stuff is a great way to save money! If you don't organize your coupons though, you might not be saving as much as you could and wasting a lot of time trying to find the coupons you are looking for.
The biggest challenge in organizing your coupons is deciding what type of system is going to work best for you. Once you have started everything becomes much easier!
There are many different ways you can organize your coupons- some people prefer a file system and others prefer binders with clear pockets, some people sort the coupons by expiration date while others sort by product type, store type or even alphabetically!
This page will show you some of the different ways that people commonly organize their coupons as well as offering tips to speed up your time spent couponing and hopefully help you to figure out what type of system will work the best for you!
The biggest challenge in organizing your coupons is deciding what type of system is going to work best for you. Once you have started everything becomes much easier!
There are many different ways you can organize your coupons- some people prefer a file system and others prefer binders with clear pockets, some people sort the coupons by expiration date while others sort by product type, store type or even alphabetically!
This page will show you some of the different ways that people commonly organize their coupons as well as offering tips to speed up your time spent couponing and hopefully help you to figure out what type of system will work the best for you!
Contents at a Glance
- How do you organize your coupons?
- Coupon Organizers: File Box System
- Great Coupon Organizers!
- Coupon Organizers: Wallets and File Boxe...
- Coupon Organizers: Binder with clear poc...
- Great Coupon Organizing Systems
- Unique Organizing System: The Couponizer
- Fancy Customizable Binders I Designed!
- Great sites about Coupons and Organizing
How do you organize your coupons?
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Coupon Organizers: File Box System
Many people say they prefer the file box system
I have tried a file box system in the past and there are some pros and cons to it. The coupon file systems are the most popular organizers for coupons right now.
The Bad stuff
I will start with the challenges I found using the file box systems. I am very much a visual thinker and have ADD and horrible vision. When I go shopping, my husband and child are always with me and it is usually noisy and crowded. I hate standing in the aisles feeling as if I am blocking someone else and I found that the way my brain works is just not compatible with the file box system. I found that because I have horrible vision, the writing on the tabs and peering at an angle to see the coupon while my ADD was acting up and making me look around at all of the activity just made the whole thing frustrating and time consuming. I found myself getting irritable trying to find things in there with everything else going on (and we usually have a lot of fun shopping together).
I absolutely do not recommend the file box system to anyone who is an extremely visual thinker.
The GOOD Stuff
That said, there were many, many bright spots
~ I put the downside first so we could end this section on a happy note :)
The coupon file box systems are easier to re-organize if you choose to change the ways in which you categorize your coupons. If you initially want them in alphabetical order, but then decide to organize them by aisle it is maybe a half hour project and it is physically much easier to do.
Once you find the coupon you are looking for in the store it is easier physically to take the coupon out and it is easy to have a special section in the back or front to keep together the coupons you are using during that trip- which (if you are able to see/ find the coupon in the first place) is a huge time saver.
The coupon file box organizers usually fit nicely in the seat of the shopping cart - the binders can often rest across the seat and fit well, but those shopping carts with the small seats are really hard to manage with the binders while the boxes usually do still fit. *this does of course depend upon the file box system you have and the cart itself.
Wallet Coupon Organizers: File Organizers
Deluxe Coupon Organizer
Deluxe Coupon Organizer II
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
Coupon Organizers: Wallets and File Boxes
- PDF SEWING PATTERN Coupon / Expense Organizer by iSew on Etsy
- I searched around for a completely handmade coupon organizer on Etsy and didnt find one, so I made my own. Now you can make your own too.
- Fabric Coupon Organizer /Budget Organizer by GrandmasLittleLilly
- Using coupons is the easiest way to save a huge amount of money on your grocery bill. Organizing your coupons can be confusing and
- Super Large Size Coupon Organizer /Budget by GrandmasLittleLilly
- Pick your fabric! This listing you can choose your fabric in a super size organizer! Pictures are numbered for your convenience. NOTE:
- Coupon/recipe boxorganizerfrench by ShopGreenOwl on Etsy
- This is a pretty organization box to coordinate with my Kitchen Dish Towels. Great for organizing and storing Moms favorite recipes! It measures
Coupon Organizers: Binder with clear pockets system
Easy for visual thinkers, may be tough for people with fine motor problems.
Green and Barcode Binder by Sidther
Browse more custom vinyl binders on zazzle.com
I use a binder system right now and I love it!
First, the bad news (and simple ways to deal with it)....
With the binder system, you use clear pockets to organize the coupons so that you can see them all as you flip through the "book". These pockets can get expensive if you are trying to build a massive coupon organizer all at once ~I spent $72 on the stuff to make mine- but the first time I used it I saved $68 on my groceries... so really the second time I used it, it had paid itself off.
The other BIG problem with the binder and clear pocket systems is that people with disorders that effect their fine motor skills may experience a lot of frustration using them. Issues like arthritis, Parkinsons, MS and many many other issues make a binder system more challenging. I have found that the most challenging part of dealing with the pockets is when you are organizing or reorganizing the system- putting them in is really the worst part.
I did get a binder with netting pockets inside the cover (that sticks out beyond the pages) for stashing the coupons I am going to use during that trip which helps with speeding up the process. You can also bring an envelope or clip to hold the coupons as you take them out of the binder in the store.
The good stuff.
As I said earlier, I am a visual thinker. The binder systems with the clear pockets allow me to see the coupons (and the images) all laid out in front of me. I can glance from across the aisle at the open page to see if there is a coupon for an item that is on sale that I hadn't anticipated buying that day!
If I drop my spiffy binder (a regular occurrence) the coupons stay neatly organized!
When I add or reorganize the coupons I don't have to take them all out to check the dates, the dates are visible!
Having a front and back of each page makes it easy for me to keep all of the coupons together for each category and still have a simple method of separating the different store coupons so I can price compare as I shop! For example, my frozen foods category, the left page contains coupons that are for the commissary only, the right page contains coupons for HEB only! Across the bottom 2 rows of coupons on both pages are manufacturers coupons for use at any store! I can see it all at once!
Zipper Binder
Case-it Locker 3-Inch Q-Ring Zipper Binder, Red, LKR-Q-03-RED
Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)
Organize your Coupons with Clear Pockets!
Great Coupon Organizing Systems
Binder Style
- Coupon Binder Kits | Extreme Couponing Supplies | Coupon Organizer | Mom Saves
- A great site for coupon binder kits and couponing supplies. This site has supplies for even the most extreme couponer . Access to cool downloads such as shopping lists, guides and meal planners with purchase!
- Qubie Coupon Organizing System from OrgJunkie on OpenSky
- Buy Qubie Coupon Organizing System from OrgJunkie on OpenSky. Shop with celebrities and experts for special sales on their favorite products.
- Coupon Organizer - Mrs. A's Grocery Coupon Organizer
- Mrs. A's Grocery Coupon Organizer allows all coupons to be seen at a glance. Its award-winning, patented design increases money savings, decreases time spent couponing, and eliminates coupon clutter. Includes free coupons.
- Coupon Magic Organizer-Deluxe Edition - Coupon Magic Organizer
- "Turning Coupons Into Cash"...comprehensive coupon organizer binder system. Become an extreme couponer with the system used by most!
- Coupon Binder - The Coupon Binder Organizer Pro is a Coupon Organizer Binder which makes organizing coupons fast, easy and profitable. Premium nylon coupon organizer binder.
- Coupon Binder - The Coupon Organizer Pro Binder is a premium grade nylon coupon organizer binder with many compartments. The coupon binder has a variety of insert pocket sizes which makes organizing coupons fast, easy and profitable.
Fancy Customizable Binders I Designed!
Black and white stripe and pattern by Sidther
See other custom printed ring binder on dazzle
Polka Dots and Stripes Pink, Black and White by Sidther
Browse other customized binders on zazzle.com
Black and White Polka Dots by Sidther
Browse Black Binders
Great sites about Coupons and Organizing
- Stay a Stay at Home Mom
- Grocery coupon organizer holders are important parts of a Coupon Queens hobby. Learn how to organize coupons by developing a Coupon Organization System, such as a Coupon Binder, that works for you.
- Organize Your Coupons - Saving My Family Money
- Great tips on organizing coupons efficiently and tips on saving money.
- Build-It-Yourself Coupon Organizer for Extreme Couponing and Non-Extreme Couponing
- How to make your own coupon organizers as well as great couponing tips, money saving tips, printable coupons and more.
- CouponClutch.com ~ Organize Your Coupons in Style!
- The Coupon Clutch is a fabric binder cover that looks a designer tote! Now you can organize your coupons in style and never be embarrassed to carry your binder into the store.
- Coupon Industry Fights Illegal Extreme Couponing | Yes, I Am Cheap
- Extreme Coupons shows people committing fraud using coupons and coupon manufacturers are not taking it easy. Find out how everyone loses. If you are new to couponing this is a great page to learn about following certain ethics and etiquette when couponing.
It can be time consuming
There are a few ways to speed up your couponing!
After some practice, I have been able to cut my couponing time down to about 40 minutes per week of looking for, clipping and organizing my coupons (except when there are big sales going on- then I do a bit extra) and I am now able to get through the stores without having to stop and search! Once you get the hang of it and develop your system to be simple for you it doesn't need to take a long time for big savings!
- Know your Store's Coupon Policy: Keep a printed copy of the policy in your organizer and check for updates regularly.
- Look through your coupon organizer regularly and get rid of the expired coupons!
- Don't grab a coupon and go through the process of clipping it and "organizing it" just because it is a coupon if it is something you won't buy or donate- it just takes time and space.
- If you have multiple coupons for one product, arrange them by date so you will use the one expiring soonest first.
- Invest in a paper cutter!
- Keep your system as simple and de-cluttered as possible
- Found a loose coupon? Organize it right away! When you do a little bit at a time it saves you from doing extra all at once.
- Make a note on your list if you have a coupon for the item- this way you don't need to hunt through all your coupons while you shop.
- Glance at the circulars as soon as you get them, make mental notes of important things to look at again before your shopping excursion. This way, you are not rushing to read it last minute!
- Sign up with manufacturers for email alerts about special promotions and coupons- then check your email before you go shopping! It comes to you, no hunting required!
- If they are loose or grouped by product type, I put all of the coupons I am NOT going to use together in the pockets in my binder that I call my "Karma Coupons". My son is too old for diapers, so in the front pocket of the divider for the hygiene section I have a wad of coupons for baby stuff like diapers and wipes. As I pass by that section in the store, I whip them out and give them to young parents (who usually look relieved to save anything on diapers).
- If you bring a child to the store, try to give them a very important task to keep them busy, happy and away from those little things they sneak into the cart! I used to scan and print a new copy of my list and give a copy to my son with a crayon to cross things off- this helped him practice reading and gave him an impotent job! Now he is older, I read the item to him when we get to the aisle and he gets it while I pull out the coupon!
How to Organize your Coupons
Which will work best for you?
It really depends upon how you think and organize. Either way, there is no right or wrong.
I personally organize my coupons by aisles in the store. Not every store keeps everything in the same places, but I am very familiar with the two stores I shop at the most and if I go somewhere else I usually know far enough in advance to fish out the coupons at home.
When I say organize them by aisle, I don't mean using the aisle numbers, I mean the types of products that are usually grouped together in aisles. Things like Taco shells for example in our store are in the same aisle as things like Hamburger Helper or those boxes of rice with broccoli and certain types of canned foods (but not all). Those coupons would all go in the yellow section in my binder and the blank list that I print out before hand has a matching yellow bar in the header for that section.
See the free printable shopping list with a place to not coupons above? You can print as many copies of it as you like (please link back if using it online). This is how I organize my coupons, I assign a corresponding color to each section in my binder and separate items in the list by type. Then I write the usual price (by now I have most of them memorized) in the column with the $ sign and then if I have a coupon I note it in the column with the scissors. If the coupon is a Buy one get one, I write BOGO, if it is for cents off I write the # of cents and the # of coupons I have ( x2).
I removed the categories so that no matter how you organize the coupons this list might be helpful for you!
Not everyone does it the same way, so please, if this is not quite right for you, explore some of the links to great couponing sites. The sites were all chosen to feature here because there was something unique about them that you may not find anywhere else and they do offer great tips and advice!
Stuff I design...
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Couponing issues make the news!
- State House News -- Senate, House both look to allow prescription drug coupons
- These coupons appear in magazine ads and online, but they are worthless in Massachusetts because of a 1988 state law that forbids any rebate for health care purchasing, with penalties of up to $10000 fine or even prison time. That could change soon.
- Free Itinerary Builder and a Mobile Coupon App
- Amazon and Xbox have plenty of streaming videos for you to choose from, and clip your coupons mobile style. If you're planning a vacation this summer and would like to actually make a layover worthwhile, you'll definitely want to check out this new app ...
- Coupon learning curve steep but short
- Armed with a stack of coupons, Amanda Ostrowski paid just $51.67 for $1175.33 worth of groceries on TLC's reality show "Extreme Couponing." I remember watching that episode and wondering if I could do that. Ostrowski admits that that kind of savings is ...
- CVS Caremark Keeps Heat on Drug-Maker Discount Cards
- s pharmacy-benefit business is prepared to escalate a campaign against drug-industry coupons that the company says encourage unnecessary use of expensive brand-name drugs. The Woonsocket, RI, firm's push against so-called "copay cards" has highlighted ...
How do you Organize your Coupons?
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GeniePark
May 15, 2012 @ 4:07 am | delete
- Interesting how collecting coupons is almost becoming an art form.
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Paul
May 1, 2012 @ 4:32 pm | delete
- This is a great page. It points out that no one solution works for everyone. Along the lines of ADD, Ariane Benefit has written books about having ADD/ADHD and how to stay organized.
I like clear pockets. The value of organizing anything is the time it saves you in the future. If you can see all of your coupons at a glance, you don't waste time looking for them. Many people build their own organizer using baseball trading card holders. The two problems I've seen with them is that, being clear, you see thru to the next page and get eye clutter. Secondly, it can be hard inserting/removing coupons. One company, Mrs. A's Coupon Organizer, puts clear pockets on white vinyl pages. Thus, no eye clutter, the time savings, and easy in-out. Their pages are patented so no one else has copied them. You can get the turn key product, or buy the pages and build your own. No limit on how many coupons you can hold
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Upon-Request Feb 14, 2012 @ 8:09 pm | delete
- I use a coupon wallet but I think a binder with clear pockets is a great idea - much better visually!
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Deeishere
Jan 30, 2012 @ 9:37 pm | delete
- I just recently purchased a binder. So far it's a lifesaver! It's so easy to just look though and see what I want. It's just a pain to put all the coupons in it. LOL. I enjoy couponing and saving so much money. Great lens!
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raphaelo
Jan 23, 2012 @ 4:47 pm | delete
- So wonderful work of you.. my dear friend :) A kind of coupon organizers is new to me. In my hometown rare not to use them. I'll sure you'll get another purple star or LOTD from here. Have wonderful times.. always.. dear lady :D
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cffutah
Jan 20, 2012 @ 8:24 pm | delete
- nice organizing tips.
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Back to .....
Many of the coupon organizer links on this page go to sites with affiliate programs- please note that I am NOT an affiliate of any couponing site I decided NOT to apply to become an affiliate for any of those sites specifically so that I could list what I thought were the best sites without bias.
I do however get a small commission from Amazon and WalMart if you choose to buy anything from them through this article.
I do however get a small commission from Amazon and WalMart if you choose to buy anything from them through this article.
- How do you organize your coupons?
- Coupon Organizers: File Box System
- Great Coupon Organizers!
- Wallet Coupon Organizers: File Organizers
- Deluxe Coupon Organizer
- Coupon Organizers: Wallets and File Boxes
- Coupon Organizers: Binder with clear pockets system
- Zipper Binder
- Organize your Coupons with Clear Pockets!
by sidther
Hi! I'm Sidther, A stay at home Mom and Army Wife! I use lots of coupons every time I go shopping and it is essential that you organize your coupons... more »
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