Advice on Organizing Coupons

Try www.thegrocerygame.com to learn all about couponing. There is a free message board with tons of info!!

I put mine in a snack size ziploc bag and organize them by how my local grocery store is organized. About once/month I weed out the expired ones.

I use a 4x6 accordian file folder. It's a little smaller than a recipe box. There are sections in it have it divided and subdivided into sections such as frozen foods, produce, paper goods, hair care, breakfast, etc... I've used standard size envelopes to subdivide the sections so it's easier to find what I'm lookin for. It's easy to carry with me.

I get lots of coupons online. Coupons.com, smartsource.com, and pillsbury,com are some of my favorite sites to use.

I've learned a lot from reading moneysavingmom.com. She's got great tips on current deals. I get most of my toiletries free from CVS since learning her system. She also has links to other online coupon sites.

I get a Sunday paper each week and I cut out the ones that I will use. I then keep them by catagory in a 3x5 type file box using cardstock to divide the catagories. I look through the ads before I go shopping and pull the coupons that I need and put them in front, and I bring the box with me.

If you subscribe to SavingsAngel.com they recommend that you leave them in the packet that they come in and you put the date on it. Then each week they tell you which packet (SmartSource, RedPlum, etc) and the date to look for the coupon you are looking for. www.couponmom is a similar service that is free (SavingsAngel is $20 a month, but they have more stores that they go through ads for). I didn't like doing it that way b/c I found that I was keeping a lot of extra paper that I didn't need to keep, a lot of coupons that I would never use and it took more space.

Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me off list if you would like to chat more.

J.

D.,

I organize my coupons the day I make my weekly menu and grocery list. First I make my menu and write up all of the ingredients I don't have on hand, then I go through the store flyers to see what is on sale that week and write down anything I know I'm getting low on. Finally, I look through my coupons and pull out any that apply for that week. I also throw out any I know I won't use or are expired.

My husband and I use the envelope system to pay for our misc. purchases, including groceries, so I put my coupons in my envelope along with the cash for the week. Because the coins kept falling out of a mailing envelope I made a pocket out of a small piece of fabric and iron-on velcro. The pocket works great and I can slip it into my purse whenever I head out the door.

I hope all of the suggestions you receive help you figure out what works for you!

-C..

I just use one of those small file acordian style file holders. I sort them by where they are locted in the grocery store, that way if I "add" an item on to my grocery list while at the store (like something we use but do not need this week but it is half price type of item) then I know where to find it.

I make my grocery list, go through the coupons and then pull the ones I know I will need for sure to the front pocket. When clipping them in the newspaper then and only then do I pull my holder out of my purse.

D. -

I'm in sync with Terri M. I also learned from my mom and I save more than $1,200 each year using coupons and watching for store specials. I NEVER shop without coupons.

I have a wallet size coupon organizer that divides by food categories. Each week I pull the coupons from the Sunday paper and cut out the ones I will use before the expiration date. (Those are two important points - clip WEEKLY and don't bother with any coupons you won't need or use before they will expire.) Any coupons I will use that week, I put with my grocery list, anything for future use gets filed by category. Before I shop, I go through the coupons in each category to see if there is anything there that is on my shopping list. At the same time, I pull out anything that is expired or about to expire and either pitch them or add that item to my list if we'll need it soon. I am very careful not to buy something (or too much of something) just because I have a coupon. If it will used/consumed soon, it makes the cut.

Before I go to the store, I organize all the coupons I'll be using in the order I will find those items at the store. I fold my grocery list in half horizontally and tuck the coupons inside. Then I set the list and coupons on top of my purse in the cart so I can watch for those items in each aisle. Before I head to the checkout, I find an open shelf somewhere so I can double check my list and sort through the coupons to be sure I got everything. It's nice to have some space to sort so you can give the cashier only the coupons you actually used. Another tip: if you have any item that is free with the purchase of something else, put those items together and mention it to the cashier so he/she doesn't have to go searching for the price of your freebie later.

Wow - sorry this is so long. This is kind of my thing. I love saving money with coupons and I've gotten really good at it. I'm loyal to Kroger and I get tons of great bonus coupons by using my loyalty card. My final piece of advice is to always try and shop without the kids. Using coupons requires you to focus a bit more, but my average savings on my grocery bill each week is about 18% and I feel that's well worth the effort.

Good luck! L.

Hi D.

I have used coupons for years. My mom coupon clipped and I just learned from her. I have a small coupon book that has dividers for dairy, cereals, canned goods,etc. It keeps them organized. Every week I see what is on sale at Meijer and pull the ones that I know I want to use. Usually if Meijer has it on sale at a great price, tons of items are cheaper than store brands. So I just budget shop for the most part. I get my coupons from the Sunday Paper, Coupons.com, individual websites, and I also get coupons from: Thecouponclippers.com. This website your purchase coupons (5 cents or so per coupone)...but it is great if there are certain brands that you prefer. Check it out..I use it a couple times amonth. They mail you your coupons and you get them in about 4 days. I hope this helps. T.

Greetings D.,

I get coupons from the sale papers that come in the mail.
I use a plain white business envelope that is kept in my purse, in a zippered section, at all times. (If you have a lot of coupons you could use a small manilla envelope 6x9) I write down the names of the coupons on the front of the envelope so that I know what is inside. When I use a coupon I cross it out on the envelope. When I add new coupons, I label the envelope(and or replace) and go through what I have and take out any that have expired.

Much success to you.
Happy coupon shopping!

Peace, love, and joy,
S.

My mom got me a small coupon caddy just recently. Basically it is a small expandable file folder. Mine is plastic, I've seen them in the past in cloth and a pressboard/carboard type material. She got mine in the dollar section of Target. I haven't labeled my compartments yet (just got it on Friday), but plan on doing it by types of food (i.e. desserts, canned goods, toiletries, medicine, etc.). I personally think that this is probably the easiest way, and more condensed way, to sort them. I'll probably sort them by expiration date inside each category though. I can't help you on sources of coupons besides the paper, as that is the only source for us. Hope this helps!!

Hi D.,
My mom used to subscribe to the Sunday edition of the Detroit Free Press just for the coupons. She had an organizer( like you would keep index cards in) and had separaters labeled "desserts/cookies", "breads", "cleaning supplies", etc. and would sort her coupons that way. When she passed away, my dad kept the subscription to the Free Press because I told him she would give me her coupons after she went through them. So that is how I get my coupons and I got an organizer like she used. Every week I go through the coupons and toss out ones that are expired and add the new ones in. It is quick, easy, and most importantly, organized. If you don't want to subscribe to the Sunday paper, you could always buy one every week. It would be worth the $1.50 to get all those coupons. Hope this helped!
W.

I keep mine in a file organizer i got a the dollar store. It's small enough to fit in my purse so that when i need a coupon its not at home or in the car. I file by what catagory that coupon falls into. EX: mac n' cheese filed under "Dry Foods". That helps me get to the right coupon(s) faster. Try thatand let me know how it works for you.
-S.

Hi. I have a coupon organizer -- it's similar to a wallet
They usually come with set up categories in them but you can always change the set up to your preference.... :)
I put them in the correct area according to the experation date, with the soonest experation date to the front
Then you can either take the entire thing with you when you shop or get an envelope and place all the coupons you should need per you grocery list and just take the envelope with you...
HTH
J.

Upromise offers free e-coupons that you link to a grocery card (like a Kroger card, Meijer card, CVS card, etc.) There are no coupons to cut out - simply choose the coupons you want and link them to the grocery card of your choice (it's very easy to do). When you go to the grocery store and swipe the card, the coupons are deducted from your card. You get the benefit of having the coupon without the hassle of keeping up with them or having to cut them out! It's proven to be a time and money saver for me. I check for new coupons once or twice a month and there is no limit to how many coupons you can have stored on the card! Sometimes I link coupons to the card without knowing for sure if I'll buy those items or not. It's a nice surprise when I go to checkout and I've forgotten about the coupons, then I swipe my card and boom, instant savings! :)

Upromise also offers a college savings program where a pre-determined percentage of your purchase total goes into a savings account for your child's college tuition.

If you'd like to know more info about the e-coupon program or Upromise, just shoot me a message.

the BEST thing i discovered with coupons is to NOT CUT THEM! Yep, so that piece of paper is all the same size , you take the entire stack with you in a simple folder. all the same size, and you find them SOOOOOMuch easier that size, not 50 different cut up sizes... and take a small pair of siscors with you, so when you need them, you clip them in line waiting to unload! Good Luck!

Hi D.,
I've created my own coupon pouch using small white envelopes (about 10). I reinforced the edges/corners with clear packing tape, tucked the top flap inside and on top wrote things like: meat/dairy/veggies; baby; health and beauty; baking/breads; canned goods/pasta/rice; misc....I tried to group things together in a way that works for me. Then keep the stack of envelopes in my reusable shopping bag (Meijers ones have a handy pocket on the front that works perfect) that stays in my car and goes into the stores with me. I have paper punched holes in the envelopes then reinforced with hole punch stickers then put them together with a small ring or two - which keep the envelopes together but takes up some of the holding space. I got through the coupons periodically when I add new ones on Sunday to sort out. This takes a little time to put together, but it works for me, and it usually lasts a few years before I have to make a new one.
There are websites like coupons.com or product sites that offer coupons for free - you just have to print them if you don't get the Sunday paper.
Good luck with your coupon adventure!

Hi Dani, I have a expandable file that is in alphabetical order. My coupons are in there by brand. When I cut the new coupons I tend to do inventory of the ones I have, check expiration dates, and may even throw away if I know I don't need the item in that time period. When I do my grocery list, I put a "c" by the items I have coupons for so I don't forget them. It really has helped me.

I have a plastic coupon holder. I just saw a similar thing the other day at Target in their $1 section. There's about 10 different sections that you can label. Hope it helps!

I get a majoritiy of my coupons in the newspaper and file them in a small accordian style folder by category as several have mentioned. When I make my grocery list I go through and pick out the coupons that I will use for the week (I buy name brand products on sale and use the coupon at the same time and it is usually less than store brand and I get to use my favorite products). I keep all of the coupons that are going to expire during the current month in a separate section and every month go through and throw out any I decided not to use and pull the ones for the next month out of each category. That way if there is a product that I have a coupon for that didn't go on sale but I still want to buy it, I can use it before it expires.

Most of my list is sale and coupon items and I see it as a challenge to get the most groceries for the least amount of money. Happy shopping!

I know there are coupons on line but I haven't really used them. I shop at Kroger so I think I can go on line with them. Kroger also sends me coupons. It'd be worth getting weekend newspapers. I get 2. I bought a little plastic file very cheap at a discount store (try drugstores too) - Target I think - and I file them in there by category. I made a section for those getting ready to expire within a couple of weeks. I go thru them every 2-4 weeks and pull those out. I sometimes forget to use them. I write on my grocery list if I know for sure I have a coupon for an item to help me remember. I still forget the coupons sometimes or forget what I have in there, but when I use them, I can save up to $20. You could save even more with small children. Also, I check the sale fliers that come to my home, and sometimes will make a trip to another store for items. I find new stores with good deals this way. I also belong to Sams Club (no coupons tho) and go to Trader Joe's and American Bulk Foods and sometimes a small produce market. This all takes more time but you can save money. Good luck!

D.,

I very rarely use coupons because if you compare an item to a store brand, the store brand is usually cheaper even WITH a coupon. When I do come across a coupon that I want to use I put it directly in my wallet, I also put a huge star next to the item on my grocery list to remind me that I have a coupon to use at the check-out.

My mom does use a few more coupons than I do and she just keeps them in a plain envelope in her purse at all times, so if she is out and about and runs across an unexpected sale, or is making a quick run to the store she knows that her coupons are always with her.

When I clip coupons I try to organized them by date and category. Mine are just in an envelope for now. I have them on hand when I make my grocery list up and take the ones that I am going to use with me. I, too, put a C next to the item on my list so I know to look at my coupon when I pick the item out and pay.

WOW what a good question. I thought I was the only one who had all this probs with coupons.
Sometimes I don't even bother with them, but I know that I could be saving alot of money if I did use them.

Hope you/and I get some good responses for help.
Cindy