My husband and I are attending Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership in Atlanta today (we've never left our daughters and gone on a business trip together so this is a really big deal for us!). I'll be taking a break from posting until later this afternoon or evening. In the mean time, enjoy the coupon binder tutorial below and have a wonderful day!
Considering switching to a coupon binder to organize your coupons? Check out this very comprehensive post by Jessica over at the Utah Deal Diva.
She almost–almost!–convinced me I should switch from my coupon box organizational method. I'm still not 100-percent swayed though, especially since I've been using my method for over 10 years so I think it's just about near-impossible to change now. But if you're not satisfied with your current coupon organization method, you'll definitely want to read her post.
How do you organize your coupons? A binder? The whole insert method? A coupon box? Or something else? Are you happy with it?
Subscribe for free email updates and be entered to win $100!
{ 101 comments }
I’ve used both a binder and an accordion-style wallet. Loved (and disliked) both for different reasons. The binder did make it so much easier to see what coupons I had, but it was big and I didn’t always have it with me. When I had another baby, I couldn’t carry the binder plus the carrier, diaper bag, etc., so I switched back to my small wallet. It fits inside the diaper bag, so I always have it with me, even for unplanned stops. Right now it is stuffed into distortion, though. A gung-ho couponer might need 2 to fit all the coupons she clips. And I find myself continually digging through a category to find the one I want- always near the back, of course.
I am VERY happy with my method which is sort of a dual system. The Coupon Binder and a “no cutting” folder system.
I am a very visual person so I enjoy having the Coupon Binder with me in the store which is sorted by categories. I am not embarrassed by it at all and it goes with me all the time. Often I am mistaken for a store employee and it opens the door for me to share the benefit of using coupons with other shoppers.
I spend the time cutting my coupons at my in-laws over Sunday dinner while the children play. (Because this is where my papers are delivered) So, it doesn’t seem time consuming or like a waste of time to me.
Plus, seeing, cutting and filing the coupons helps my brain register what I have and what I’ve used. The one thing I do different from other Coupon Binders that I have seen is having colored sheets of paper inside each pocket so I can organize coupons on both sides of the sheet protector. Really helpful!
I also use the “no cutting” folder filing system for any extra inserts that I am given by friends and family. Even though I love my Coupon Binder I find it to be a time saver to not clip the extra inserts until I need them. The folder filing system enables me to find them as needed for additional trips to the store when I know there is coupons I want to clip & use.
Here is pictures of my Coupon Binder:
http://www.couponmommie.com/search/label/Coupon%20Binder
So, a dual system is what works for me.
Happy organizing!
I’m a binder girl, though not a zip up binder. I had a case it with a strap and the thing broke in less than two weeks after buying it, so I went back to my plain hardback binder. But as a whole I think the binder method is awesome, I can see where each coupon is, so getting it to get the deals is easy
I tried, I really did, to use the binder method, but found it too time consuming to keep up with and it seemed I could never find anything. I’m back to a badly overstuffed nylon coupon filing envelope and a couple of rubber bands to hold it all together. I should upgrade to a baby wipes box. LOL.
I started using you coupon box methed last year and I love it.I have a nice box with a handle that I just carry into the stores with me it fits in the basket seat. I use to have them all bunched up in an envelope. Thanks for the new method! Enjoy Dave Ramsey!
I changed to the binder a couple of years ago. I found a bunch of baseball card inserts at a garage sale and thought it was worth a try.
The up-side of this method is that you have all of your coupons a glance. For example: Your Kelloggs, Kashi and General Mills are easily seen which is not so easy with my previous method.
It is tons easier to shop with this method. The notebook can be propped in the baby space of the cart or can be held in your hand while you are pushing the cart if the baby space is occupied.
I think I am able to take advantage of more unadvertised specials with this method since my coupons cannot “hide”.
Another upside is that you can always just add another sheet if you happen to have a time where you have lots of a certain category of coupon.
The down-side in that it takes more time at home to file them since you are not just filing types of coupons, but each specific coupon. Sometimes the coupons have to be folded to fit correctly. If you have a bunch of one specific coupon, they sometimes need more than one slot.
The other down-side is that if you drop the notebook, more coupons will fall out than if you were to drop a closed coupon box. I am pretty clumsy, so if it works for me it will work for anyone.
I use a laptop case to keep them in. I have one notebook for non-food and one for food. I file my Target coupons in my food notebook. I put my uncut coupons and my scissors in this case which can be convenient to file coupons while I am waiting somewhere.
When I started using this method, I tried it for just the coupons that I knew that I was going to eventually use. When it worked well for me, I started using it for all of my coupons.
I use a little 4×6 photo album that I keep in my purse at all times. It is small enough to always have with me, but has about 200 pages for me to store coupons easily. Plus, the coupons are protected and easily accessible, which makes shopping with a 1 yr old and a 4 y/o a snap.
After being an accordian file user for many years, I have switched to the binder method 6 months ago. I love it! I thought I would never change and I was very content with my two accodians; non-food and food. It wasn’t until I asked my binder using co-blogger for a coupon and she found it in a split second that I realized the convienance of the binder. She asked me for a coupon too and it took me a very long time to flip through my stash! It takes a bit of time to get the intial system set up, but from there on it is was easy. It is easy to see the expired coupons and of course much faster when you are searching for a certain coupon.
I do use a coupon book method such as this & it helps so much that I can flip to a page to see what coupons I have or need to do my shopping.
I use a coupon box, but I have been thinking of switching to a method that I could more easily tote to the store with me….. I always plan out my list before I head out to the store, but often I find an item marked down on a managers special at Kroger, and I am kicking myself thinking I have a coupon back at home for THAT item which would make it more than free, but my coupon box is at home! I would love some ideas on a “take along” method”
I have been using a coupon binder for almost two years now and I LOVE IT!!!!! It is so easy to go through stores and find unadvertised sales, then I am able to just flip through my coupon book and find the right coupon. Thanks for all of your hard work Crystal on posting all of these great posts. My family has saved so much money in the last two years my husband is just unbelievably happy. He brags about all of my shopping trips at work:) Hope you and your husband enjoy your day at the meeting with Dave Ramsey…another one of my favorite people:)
I just started seriously couponing a few months ago (around the same time I found your site!) and I started by organizing a coupon binder-much like Jessica’s. I LOVE it. The only drawback is the time it takes to sort coupons and then put them away in the binder. But that would be the same with any couponing system. I have seen my coupon savings skyrocket since checking out couponing blogs and using this binder.
I use the Couponizer for my stash when I head to the stores. I use a file folder for coupons I use to trade with, each space dedicated for food/non-food and by date.
i personally use this method. yes it does take a little longer to initially organize your coupons when you first cut them out, but when you go shopping it makes it so much easier. oh that items on sale and i didn’t know it, let me flip to that section…since every coupon is in see thorugh lining you can immediately tell if you have a coupon for something.
A binder is definitely the way to go, for me at least. I like having all the coupons in clear pages so that they are easy to find and it’s easy to see what I have. I do think it takes a little longer to keep them organized, but the payoff is SO worth it!
I’m a coupon box sort of gal, but I’m very willing to change my ways, or at least, modify them.
I’ve just switched to a binder, and it has made it MUCH easier to sort through my coupons. I actually had a bunch of inserts in the back of a closet, so it didn’t cost me anything to start up.
Yesterday, someone actually stopped me in the grocery store and asked about my binder. I’ll admit, it was a little bit of a thrill – especially since I walked out having shaved nearly 70% off our grocery bill!
I wish I had known you were going to be in Atlanta. It would have been so nice to meet up with you
I started couponing a few months ago and use a similar method to the binder, but found it to be much more affordable. I purchased some very inexpensive photo albums that hold 2 4X6 photos per side of each page. I have one for food, one for personal items and one for home items. Each holds about 64 photos (or categories of coupons). I haven’t put tabs on the pages, but I did use labels for each pocket. They are much smaller than a binder so I can shove them in my purse. Also if I am only getting groceries I only have to carry the one album. It is great to be able to quickly flip through the album as I go down the aisles and see what coupons I have that might match up with any unexpected deals.
I file the whole insert in an accordian file that I carry with me (just in case). What makes this SO easy for me is DealingSeekingMom.com–she now has a coupon database! It is amazing!!! You can search for coupons/inserts…anything! It goes so fast and then I don’t have to spend hours cutting and organizing coupons!!! It’s perfect for me.
I used to clip and do the shoe box but I could not stand clipping the coupons every week for hours. I now have a small file box. I put each weeks coupon inserts in a folder by date. I print the master of what coupons are in each insert. (Many web sites have this if you search around). Then I keep the masters in another folder. When the sale ads come out or I see a deal on here I need the coupon for. I simply go to the date and clip what I need. Then put those clipped into my little fold out coupon organizer from any dollar store by store. For example: Say CVS add comes out I match up deals with what coupons I have. I clip just them and put the coupons in the CVS slot in my little organizer. Then when I go to CVS I pull them out and know exactly what to get. I also keep in there my ECB and RR and store coupons by catagorie. It works great for me and saves me hours of clipping and sorting those dreadful coupons. Oh I always keep my file box in the car just in case I see a sale or clearance Item I may need a coupon for plus I keep my restaurant coupons and service coupons such as haircuts and oil changes in a folder in there also. When looking for you master file to print make sure it’s one that shows when the coupons expire. That’s it. It takes me about 30 Min to compile my list/and plan my attack each week. That’s how I do it. Can’t wait to hear how everyone else does it. I love new ideas.
I’m using a box for all of my food coupons and a binder for my toiletries, meds, paper stuffs, cleaning & misc. I usually take my box with me; he binder comes with me sporadically (because I usually don’t need so much of these items all the time).
Not sure about the binder yet – it’s convenient because it’s zippered to keep things from falling out /getting wet. But I think I prefer the box – I’m a visual person so I like ‘seeing’ the coupons and it’s easier just to pull out expired ones & put in new ones.
I’ve wondered whether I should just have 2 boxes, but the thought of carrying around 2 boxes is a bit much. The shopping carts are not designed well enough
!
I use a zippered binder with sportscard holders in it and organize it by types of food all canned foods, breakfast items, snacks, etc. I have many other types over the years but by far this is the fastest and easiest method for me. I cut all my coupons out and file them in, tried the whole insert method and it just gave me headaches and fits, I couldn’t find anything! Plus it was hard to keep track of all my interent coupons.
My local Giant Eagle doubles every coupon (even the $1 ones!) so coupons are really important to us to keep our food bills down esp with number 3 on the way. Getting baby wipes for .49 to .59 after coupons really helps the budget out! I got free juices last week due to my coupons!
I use a binder but I keep the inserts intact in multi-page sleeves & file them by date. Then I don’t spend hours clipping Qs I may or may not use. I only clip them when I need them for items on my list. Works great!
I organize my coupons in a basket with envelopes… inspired by you!
http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/2009/04/organizing-my-coupons-in-cute-basket.html
I use the whole insert method. Saves me TONS of time and I always always have every coupon for any deal that peaks my interest. Cut what I want when I need it. While my type A personality like the idea of the binder I would never be able to keep up with it.
http://www.thespottosave.com
I use a coupon box and it works well for me. I find that it helps to pull the coupons you plan to use and attach them to your grocery list. I also keep a small photo album in my purse where I store all my free coupons, register rewards, gift cards and so forth. That way I always have them with me.
iheartcvs.com taught me the monster insert method. She describes it so well here: http://iheartcvs.com/2008/09/collecting-organizing-coupons.html I get three papers and this is so easy and the way people blog about where to find the coupon makes it so easy to find…no cutting three times, since they are stacked together you just cut once. I do print out a master list of the coupons and set it in front for easy reference if I want a certain coupon. I like this site for that because it is in alphabetical order. http://www.taylortownpreview.com/id118.htm
I’ve recently reorganized my coupon file after realizing that I really don’t use them that much for my “regular” shopping, but only when Harris Teeter (or someone else) does triples up to $0.99 or super doubles. So I went from sorting them by category to organizing them by amount (separating those that are for a single item from those for multiple items). So when I planned my trips to HT last night, I didn’t have to sort through to find the coupons that were the right amounts!
If I’ve done all my math right, with three trips to HT this week we should get $133 worth of groceries (some at sale prices, so really this number is higher) for $36!
Someday when I have room to stockpile, I’ll probably change them back, but in the meantime, this is working out great for me!
I use an old diaper wipes container and I made the insert divders by using old file folders cut down to size, then I use the label categories you suggest on your site. Works great!
I love my coupon binder…she (AKA:Bertha) goes everywhere with me. Mu hubby & I tease that it’s like my 3rd child.
The binder makes it easy to carry in the stores with me and take advantage of getting clearance items for free.
I use a coupon box. I have tried the binder method but found that it takes me longer to put the coupons away. I need a fast simple method. The box I use is a CD holder actually. It opens up at the top so the lid goes down and sits perfectly into the top part of the shopping cart with room on the left for crushable things like eggs and bread. I do need to make my dividers higher though because sometimes it gets too low and i can’t find the category I want.
I love my binder and I keep it with my cloth bags so I remember to take them to the store as well. I tried the box, but I missed some great deals or free items by not having them on hand with me.
Hello! I use a spiral photo album that holds about 200 pictures…the 4×6 slots work out perfectly, and its not too big and bulky to carry around in the store!
Brandy
I did a little video on how I organize mine here…
http://theivanovskys.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-i-organize-my-coupons_31.html
I Personally like the binder best for the amount of coupons I use.
Tiffany
My problem with a coupon binder is that it’s so bulky. I like to take my coupons to the store with me so that if I see an unadvertised deal or need an additional coupon, I don’t have to kick myself for leaving my extra coupons at home. I have a couple of coupon books from the Target Dollar Bin (1 for food and the other for non-food). I’ve labeled each slot and then have envelopes in each slot to break it down for easier searching (for example-SNACKS, then have envelopes labeled CHIPS, CRACKERS, COOKIES, CANDY, etc). It’s very similar to your method, but allows me to throw the coupon books in my purse. I plan to post about this very thing soon. I’ll let you know when I do! Thanks for sharing!
I do a binder also- had started with a small accordion file, but it wasn’t long before that thing busted at the seams and I had to come up with a better solution! Loved her post- it’s VERY similar to my new method, which I am really loving! Have fun on your trip today
I like having the binder since I can see my coupons all at once. I don’t like to only bring with me the coupons I need from home since invariably I remember I need something else. The downside is it takes a lot longer to organize them and put them in the little slots.
I totally throw them in a box. That’s why I don’t save any coupons less than 50c or for things I won’t ever buy (even if they were free after coupons).
You can see how much I save even with a crazy disorganized method, at http://thesuburbanjungle.blogspot.com
I only look at them once a week (when the sunday paper comes). Gotta remember life is more than wrangling coupons.
I use an index card accordian (sp?) file. Bought it in college to hold my flashcards when studying for tests. It’s been repurposed ever since to hold my coupons. I have them divided according to: food, cold foods, health & beauty, pharmacy, misc., dining (restaurants), and shopping. Works really well and it fits in my purse!
I was perfectly happy with my box until I outgrew 2 boxes! Now I have a binder (SO MUCH quicker to find them than fishing through the envelopes-even when I had tons of sub categories) for food items and a small box for non-food. I HAVE to clip because I find freebies that way every week at Kroger (manager’s specials + coupons=free or cheap). I just take my binder only if I am only looking for food items. If I’m going to cvs or wags I usually take the box for non-food coupons. I rarely bring both the box and binder into the same store. But by having them in the car-I’m ready.
My {current} hybrid method: I cut out the ones I KNOW I will use if the item comes on a good sale/clearance. I file these in a photo box by type. I used to toss the rest, but I now keep the rest of the insert, and sort the inserts by date in an accordion folder.
I also keep all the current ads, loose coupons, and my shopping lists in a big, black washbin tote. It’s easy just to toss anything shopping-related into the tote so it’s all together and not scattered about the house.
I use the coupon binder and LOVE IT! It allows me to quickly see what coupons I have just by flipping through when I am in the grocery store. By having all my coupons visible, I know I am not missing out on a great last minute deal! It took some time to initially put the binder together, but it is very worth it. I switched from a coupon “box” to this and the binder is 10 times better! I don’t have to worry about my coupons falling out when I want to just pull one out and I know exactly what coupons I have and when they expire b/c I can see them quickly.
I say, go for it!
I considered a binder but I didn’t want to pay for the supplies. I use an old photo album and I love it! Especially since it was free and I was able to upcycle something I already had. To learn more about my method and to see what my coupon keeper looks like you can visit
http://www.thecheapskatemom.blogspot.com
I have thought about a lot of options but for me I use 2 cheap small photo books from the dollar store. I use 1 for groceries & the other for household items. Each page will hold categories (deodorants, laundry, shaving, etc.)
Then I have a 3rd coupon book from dayrunner.com that I have written the names of specific stores on each page. That way when a store is having a sale or I have register rewards or ECBS I have a slot specific for those coupons I need to use at that store.
They are easy to throw in your purse and I leave them in my car so that when I run in any store I have them. You never know what is on clearance that you can get great deals on.
Perfectly timed post for me – I’ve been using two accordian files and they’re both so full I can’t close them. Embarrassing disaster in the making! Thanks.
I have a binder just like this. The coupons are in baseball card holders, and I’ve separated 35 categories by tab dividers. I love it! But I do have to do extra trimming and folding to get my coupons to fit the way I want them (so I can see the product and the expiration date from the window).
I do the Coupons binder.
1) Coupon big binder for most coupons, it stays in the car (mostly), there are coupons I might possibly use in the grocery store.
2) And I keep 3 clear plastic colored envelopes in my purse according to store. CVS, Kroger and Publix and as I read deals for the week. I throw the coupons that work that week in these envies. That way just in case I happen to stop by I have them with me. Also when I am in the store, I am reminded to use the coupon because they are right in front of me.
3) I have one mini photo album in my purse of drug store stuff (shampoo/razors) and any restaurant coupons. Again you never know when you might run in and see something on clearance.
3) The remainder of my coupons are left in the inserts filed by date.
Help, I would like some tips on storing these inserts (I have 5-10 of each one). My big accordian files have busted from overstuffing. I didn’t like inserts in hanging file folders either, they tended to slip into middle and not stand straight up when you are trying to read the dates on the binder.
I do a combination of the binder and whole insert method. I use my binder mainly for internet printable and non-insert coupons. I also file the high dollar and BOGO coupons as well as coupons for products I am brand loyal to in the binder.
I also operate a ministry called Coupons for Christ and have lots of inserts donated from the ladies at church so the whole insert method is the least time consuming to keep up with all these.
I switched to a binder recently & just love it. It is so easy to compare coupons for the best deal. It took a long time to organize it, but now it’s finished!
I am a binder person primarily- I use a small purse size organizer for store trips that are planned out – list, coupons and any store specific coupons and reward in each slot ie CVS / Walgreens / Target etc. I do keep my big binder in the car in case I see clearance or unadvertised sales.
I leave the Procter & Gamble inserts whole since they expire in one month and all the coupons expire at the same time there is no sense clipping and filing. I use a sheet protector to file them in my binder.
I use a small photo album. I like it because it doesn’t look like a coupon folder! I can stick it in my purse easily and the slots are a good size for each of my categories.
I started with with a binder set up ( I became a stay home mom and had everything I need to recycle to make this binder work for me) I love my binder it fits fine in the cart, and its manageable with my 2 small children. My three year old loves being able to carry in/out of the store.features that work well for me are I can see when the coupon expires and what the item looks like,I have it organzied by item for example all baby items,personal care,cleaning products all together.I have also place some of the folders with pockets in the back to keep all the store ads in, in the front of the binder it holds my siccors,calulator…Before I go to the store I pull my coupons out and clip them to the store folder I will be shopping at with a list of what I am buying, and if I see any other deals I can look thourgh the binder quickly to pull any other coupons I may need.
I organize my coupons in a binder for my internet, mailed and peelie coupons. I have an accordion folder for my clipless system. I loved the binder but after a few months i found it was taking up my time, almost more then the actual shopping took.
I used to use a binder but now I’ve switched to your method and I don’t think I’ll ever go back. It just works well for me:)
I say stick with the envelope system. I have a scrapbooking container with nearly 150 envelopes neatly color coded in 6 main categories and then alphabetized within categories. It’s easy to add or delete envelopes as needed. It’s also large enough to hold all 5 sets of papers that I cut each week. The binder seems to be the preferred method in my area, but I’m convinced that they wouldn’t hold nearly as many coupons.
I tried the binder and I didn’t like it, mostly because I felt like it was too bulky to haul around while shopping.
I did the binder method for about a year, but it’s just too big for my needs. It was hard to haul around with me. I often found myself at the store WITHOUT my binder and wishing I had it. I like my small coupon holder that fits in my purse and is always with me. But then, I don’t save EVERY coupon I ever get (I mostly use home printed ones) so my coupon stash is small compared to most.
I use two photo albums I found clearanced at Wal-mart for my printables, blinkies and other non-insert coupons. I have one for grocery and one for household/baby/pet/etc. I attached tabs to the sides of the pages to organize sections like dairy, meats, frozen foods, etc. The coupons are easy to organize because they slide right in (but don’t fall out of the slots) and easy to locate. I also use a hanging file box for whole inserts because I don’t clip them individually. I make separate files for each weekend. My area doesn’t get very good inserts so I haven’t found it worth my time to individually clip them.
I tried to switch to the binder system and found that it took a lot of time to put the coupons in the sleeves. I spent so much time that I was never caught up. But, I will say that it was nice to be able to flip the pages and see everything. I did switch back to a coupon file holder, but adapted some of your ideas. I now have multiple envelopes for each section. I have found that this works great and keeps my coupons very well organized and I don’t spend hours putting them into the sleeves. Thanks for sharing your coupon box system with all of us.
It’s so funny that you posted about this. I am been complaing to my husband about how frustrated I am with my little $1 plastic coupon organizer from Target. Last evening I was looking on ebay. I couldn’t believe that some of the nicer organizers were $20-30. Maybe I will look into your box system.
Thanks for your blog. God Bless.
I switched to a binder last year. I use baseball card holders and put things in alpha order by brand name. Love it!
I have a photo album that I got at Target with the clear pokets and I divide it by categories, works fine for me, but some times it runs out of space.
I also use a coupon binder. I have some pictures and explain how I created it here:
http://www.savingcentswithsense.net/2009/05/new-coupon-organizer/
I use a box method similar to yours. I have only used this for a year, but it is still hard to think about switching! A creature of habit, I suppose. I clip all coupons that I would possibly use. If there are coupons that I would never use/purchase, I don’t clip those. If I can find someone who could use those q’s, I pass them on or place them in the basket at our public library for someone else to use!
So I am new to this whole coupon thing. Though I have used them before, I have never realized the whole savings oppertunities until I found this website!!!THANK YOU!!! I was curious though on your organization. Sounds great but where in the heck do you find FREE items?? Am I missing something?
I use a combination of the whole insert method and the coupon box method. I date and save all of my inserts, but before I put them away I clip all the coupons for items I regularly would purchase or deals that are too good to pass up ($2/1 A-1 sauce, for example) and keep them in a little collapsible coupon holder along with any printables. I also keep envelopes for each of the stores I frequent (HEB, CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and Target) and place shopping lists and coupons in them as I plan my trips. All of this takes only about 30 minutes per week, so it works well for me!
OH, I had a question too…I don’t know if you’ve mentioned this before or not, but do you shop with all three of your kiddos? I have two under two and I can make simple trips with one or both of them, but for my main ‘groceries with coupons’ trips I have not figured out how to juggle kids and coupons without getting entirely frustrated and exhausted after only an hour. So usually I go when my husband is home (and the kids are napping). Any tips???
I have used a coupon box for years too. Hard to switch when the box work so well. I think the binder is a good idea but lots of work. My box seems easier to me. But whatever works for a person is great. Just as long as the coupons can be found and used.
Funny, I just posted about my coupon binder this week too!!
I do a very similiar thing as Utah Deal Diva! Here is my link if any wants to check out another binder person!!!
http://dailyessentialsanddeals.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-i-organize-my-coupons.html
Have a great trip Crystal!
Considering how poor I am at getting photos into the sleeves, I can’t imagine getting thin slick coupons in and out. You’d have to be on top of getting the old ones out and make way for new ones. I’ve considered this method as well, and stick with my trusty plastic expando-file.
I do an alphabetical binder. I use the baseball card holders.
I do categorize some things like Pillsbury, Kraft, Cereal, Soap/shampoo and cleaning products in their own sections. But everything else is alphabetical.
I love to organize and have tried many coupon organizing methods until I found the one that is right for me. First I tried the box method with dividers for each category. It was a little to sloppy for me plus I had issues with the coupons staying in the right category. Then I tried the binder method. This was definitely a lot better for me than the box method. They fit nicely and it was very easy to flip through and look at them. However, I still had a really hard time determining which category each item went in (some items could go in multiple categories) and I had to spend a lot of time clipping all the coupons. Finally, I went with the whole insert method, and I wondered why I didn’t do it sooner. I have these things from barnes and noble called “Report binders” that have clear plastic sleeves bound together. I put one insert in each sleeve and label the outside with the type of insert and the date. When I’m looking online and find a coupon I want I can immediately go to the right insert.
Been there, done it all, but the best method for me is the binder. Yup, it takes a lot of organizing, but I tend to do it while watching TV or something. It eliminates the old “Oh, man, I had a coupon for that!” when you get home from shopping. You can see all of your coupons in a catagory easily without shuffling through a bunch over and over looking for something. A friend of mine came up with an idea that I have yet to try to make weeding out expireds or close to expireds easier. She uses several different colored highlilghters to make a small mark on each coupon while she is cutting them out. The color corresponds to the month it expires, and she keeps a “cheat sheet” with what color goes with what month. That way, she is able to pull some that are about to expire easily, without having to pull each one out to check the date. (with the binder method, you sometimes have to fold a coupon to fit, and the date doesn’t show). Maybe one day I will get adveturous and try it! Thanks for all of the ideas everyone!
I did a vlog on My coupon Binder.
http://happyhomemakercindy.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-coupon-binder-vlog.htmln Binder.
thanks for posting this. ive been looking into the binder method, since ive been discouraged with the wallet system im using now. i just cant see everything.. and i feel like i need numerous wallets just to have enough catagories to suit my needs.
thanks!
I just switched to a 3 ring zip up binder and love it. I don’t double side so I can see the expiration dates on the ones folded over just by flipping the page and stack the duplicates with the earliest to expire on top. I have my Target, Walgreens, etc. in front and then go into the mfg coupons after that. I take it in the stores with me and found it sits nicely in the cart seat.
I saw a woman with 2 binders at the last Kmart double coupon. She was major organized with her transactions all neatly placed in bags sitting in her cart. She cleaned out the shelves on the good deals but my hat is off to her for getting there first and fast.
I started with an accordian file, then a binder, but now have my coupon box and love it. I currently am using a photo box with little files. I file alphabetically and that seems to work well.
Here is a posting about my coupon box:
http://thecouponaddiction.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-coupon-box.html
About 15 years ago I used the binder method with great
success. I used old photo albums. Needs to be the ones
with the ends open for easy in and out access. Since I
started couponing again after retirement I went back to this
method. I am a visual person and this way I have all of them together. For example when Walgreen’s had the Starbuck’s ice cream on sale several weeks ago I was instantly able to see that I had 6 coupons. The only drawback is that I keep 2. One is for food and the other is for household and drug store items because I have so many.
Most of the time after I have checked the sales I know which book to take where. It took longer to cut out all the
coupons than it did to put them in the books.
I too have a zipper binder for my coupons and love it. Prior to the zipper binder I kept my coupons in a box separated by dividers and found it incredibly time consuming to find the right coupon quickly. It does take some time to start the binder coupon system, but for me it is so worth it.
I love the idea of using 4×6 albums for storing coupons in your purse! No more missing or overlooked coupons at the checkout counter. Thanks.
I have a giveaway on my blog from Revlon – Acrylic Nails. I’m not sure if your ladies would be interested.
http://www.laura-abroad.blogspot.com
I prefer the “no-clipping” method. I just date the front of the inserts with a sharpie every Sunday, and stick them in a labeled filing folder. I have a filing system of all the inserts. I look up the deals each week, and simply cut what I need. I find this easier. It makes couponing less stressful for me, and saves me a lot of time. For all the loose coupons I have that I collect in stores, print from the computer, etc…I just store those in an small accordion file that I take with me to the stores. Along with many labeled sections in the accordion file, I also have a section for CVS and a section for Walgreens. This method works great for me!
I really tried the binder system after using the shoe box for over a year. I just could not make myself like it. It seemed to take longer to file my coupons. It it much easier for me to file by the envelope method and use a small shoebox. I pay a small bribe to my 12 yr old to pull all of the outdated cpns every month. I carry my box with me everywhere. I am now lost as to what to do with all of the expensive baseball card sheets that I bought.
These comments are really helpful to me since I’m trying to decide if I should up-size to a binder. Currently I use a coupon wallet I bought at Dollar Tree. I like that it fits in my purse, but I have to fold larger coupons to fit in the slots.
Because it takes time to locate each coupon in the wallet, I have found it useful to match up coupons to my shopping list ahead of time; I sort my coupons into store-specific envelopes. But I still usually take the whole coupon wallet just in case. I don’t like running back to the car, especially if I have kids in tow.
Thanks for your great posts. I also read her post and commented to her, that Im shocked at how much she spent on a binder system. I spent MUCH less making mine and in fact selling them for others who don’t want to bother – you can check it out here – http://soothingwatersbath.com/47033_Coupon_Binder.html
Also, I use BOTH sides of my BCard sheets thus have fewer sheets, and mine are NOT flimsy at all. Anyway, I LOVE IT also, I just sling it over my shoulder and that’s it.
Thanks again for all your helpful posts!
I love the binder system. It might take a little time to cut and put away, but it make sit so easy when it comes time to find them. What good are coupons when you can’t find them when you need them?
But- with a crazy two year old, I never take it with me to the store. When new ad cycles start, I make a list, pull my coupons, and put them in a small plastic accordion A-Z holder that’s big enough to hold coupons, but small enough to fit in my purse. I keep it with my all the time so if I want to stop at the store on a whim, I don’t have to worry if I have my coupons with me. I also keep my fast food/ oil change coupons in there. I put the bundle of coupons for that week’s sales in the slot that goes with the store’s name. (A for Albertsons) It works out perfectly. I go to Kroger most often, so it gets 3 slots- one for shelf foods, one for refrigerated/frozen, and one for non-food. When I shop, I put my purse in front of me in the cart, pull out my list and when I grab and item I take out the coupons for that item and put them in the very front slot. Then when I checkout, I can easily pull my coupon from the front slot to give to the cashier. It has worked very well for me. Juggling a big binder in the store would never work for me and I don’t have time to browse the aisles while I search through the binder.
I, too, recently switched from an envelopes-in-a-box method to a binder with baseball cards. So far, the binder method is working so much better for me. I do one thing different from some that I’ve read here. (I haven’t read all 87 posts, but I read nearly half of them so someone may have already suggested this.) My biggest problem was that I was constantly searching for coupons I knew I had, but couldn’t find. I was using the category system and even though I expanded the categories, I was still “dealing cards” trying to find a specific coupon. I don’t even get multiple inserts. In any case, I use 9 baseball card pages and I use the bottom 3 pockets of each page only. I tried 6 per page, but using just the bottom 3 allows me to put the Internet printed ones and the tall ones in with no problem. In the top pockets I have one letter each i.e. “a,” “b,” “c,” etc. as a marker and I ALPHABETIZE the coupons by manufacturer. This has been awesome! I’m not loaded down in the “household” category or the “baking,” etc. If I need Kelloggs, it’s in “K,” Pillsbury in “P.” This has been very liberating. Best of all, I can now bring my thin binder to the store and take advantage of unadvertised deals. It works! I can see if I have a Yoplait coupon or Eggos, etc. Pockets in front for printed but unclipped. It works for me.
Hanging file folder system which is a no clip system. Great for those working outside the home. You simply sit down on the weekends and make the grand plan.
When I started couponing I tried every method I could get my hands on and found what works best for me is to combine a few organizational tools. I use mainly check files, but I also have file folders and a box for “overflow”.
A few months ago I wrote a quick post about it on my blog…
http://www.once-upon-a-coupon.com/coupon-basics/organizing-coupons/
I just switched over from the box method to the binder method, and I must say I LOVE the binder! It is the same principle as the box in that you clip individual coupons and have it organized in sections that make sense to you — however the plus is that you can see all of your coupons at a glance, and don’t have to sift through one by one. This saves time and sanity — particularly if you are shopping with little ones. Also, you can add more inserts as you need, which keeps your sections very organized and virutally painless to maintain.
I got a nylon binder at Target for $9 that zips up (keeps all the coupons from falling out), and it has this great accordian system attached to the front. I use a mix of baseball card and photo inserts for the main part of the binder, then I use the accordian filer for specific stores that I frequent. Also, the front of the binder has a zippered section where I put my rebates, G/Cs, etc.
My husband surprised me with a coupon binder for my birthday in May. I tried it for three months an it did not work for me. It was very time consuming and too cumbersome. I like my smaller coupon organizer which has about 20 labeled slots. It’s always in my purse so I’m never without it. If you want a binder I’ll be getting rid of mine soon.
I use a coupon box and love it. I file everything by manufacturer (ie: kraft, dannon, general mills, etc). I carry my box with me to every store. I try to organize my shopping before hand by placing the coupons I think I may use into an envelope before going into the store so I have it all together but if I find a deal I just open my box and browse through it. The box is a bit cumbersome but fits in t he seat of the shopping cart well. I invested in a pretty photo box and put alphabet inserts. My family expects us to bring it with us everywhere, even on vacation if we are driving! I can’t imagine using another system.
I have a question,
Where to put coupons that can fit into different categories at the same time?
thanks
I have a plastic shoebox with custom dividers – a lot of them! 4×6 index cards fit perfectly, and most coupons do not need to be folded to fit. My dividers are done by store aisle, and then also by type of food. Some aisles are more prone to having a wide number of coupons available at any given time – like cereal or pharmacy aisles – so they have more dividers. My cereal aisle is divided by major brand, granola bars, gummy snacks, hot cereal, etc. This works extremely well for me because I do 90% of my shopping at a single store, only occasionally cherry-picking sales at other places. Unadvertised sales can be easily matched to coupons because I don’t have to look through all canned goods to get to the beans on aisle 8B. The box fits in the child seat of the cart and there is room on either side to stash a pen, pending rebate forms, and other pertinent items. I used a different color cards for the non-food dividers in the first half of the box. Oh, and the very first divider is for free coupons, as I found that I was forgetting what I had free when I filed them in the proper section. As I’m shopping and I get something for which there is a coupon I stash those in the freebies section also until checkout.
I actually put together a coupon box tonight! My mom brought over a bunch of inserts from last week’s paper (bunch of good coupons there!) and after clipping them I realized I had way too many to just be keeping them in a big envelope and sorting through them before I went to the store every week. I actually ran out of small envelopes the second I finished, so I just plopped my coupon envelopes right back in the box. How’s that for easy? I’m tickled to death with this method so far (even though I just put it together) and I’m hoping it’ll work out for me even better when I go to the store this week. Up until now I’ve left the coupons I wasn’t planning on using at home, which I’ve kicked myself over many times before, but it just seemed like too big of a pain!
Thanks for your tutorial on the coupon box. It really helped me out.
Are you going to post anything about your financial seminar? I would love to hear how it went. I just checked out Total Money Makeover from the library because you had talked about it a while ago. I have loved it so far!!
****************
Money Saving Mom here: I’m planning a post on Monday or Tuesday with details on what we learned at EntreLeadership. It was very inspiring!
I’m not a hard-core coupon-er, but at my husband’s suggestion, I started using a cheap $1 photo brag book to store all my coupons. I can easily keep it in my purse and the coupons are all stored by category behind the clear plastic sheets. I think it has the advantages of a binder and an accordion file in one! Also, I couldn’t justify spending up to $10 on a binder and sheet protectors that would hold something to save me money.
I use the binder with baseball card inserts. I love it because I”m a visual person and being able to flip through and see all of the coupons helps me remember what I have. I also like that ALL of the coupons with me in the store, since Fry’s (Kroger) often has unadvertised specials/clearances. I’m also pretty picky about which coupons I use because we try not to eat too much processed food. I cut out the coupons that I want, then pass the inserts along to a friend. I also can easily expand/contract categories of coupons as needed simply by moving my pages around.
What I DON’T like about the binder is the amount of time required to cut and file the coupons. I tend to not do it every week, so sometimes it takes me a few hours to get everything up to date again. Having to fold them doesn’t really bother me.
No one may even be reading this by now, but here’s my method: My dad is in management at our local newspaper’s circulation department, so he gets me at least 4 extra inserts per week. Clipping is just not an option for me, as the mother of 3 preschoolers who are practically triplets! Oh, and my family of 5 has had to temporarily move in with my parents (that’s 7 people in a 3 BR house) until we sell our other house, which is in another state. Needless to say, efficient planning and couponing is essential! I have a huge plastic accordion file divided into 4 catagories (SS, RP, PG, and MISC). Each week on my planning day (usually Sunday), I flag the top of each insert with a post-it note labeled with the date, then I file it in the proper category. I have a BusyBodyBook Wall Calender, which has 6 separate columns. The first column is our “Everybody” Column, which has the menus for the week. I plan out our meals according to store deals, make my list, clip/print the appropriate coupons (very easy to find), then file them in a smaller index accordion file to be put in my purse. Also in that small accordion file, I have a pen and small notebook. While at the store, I get only what’s on my list. Also, I check out the closeouts and unadvertised deals and then write down the items I need to come back and get later. Once I get home, I can then go to a coupon database and find appropriate coupons for those items. So, the downside of my method is that I can’t make any impulse purchases, which is a good thing for me. I also have to go to some stores twice per week if I want to get closeout items. The positives are obvious: no clipping and careful planning=more time for my family or for ME
I keep my coupons in clear plastic page protectors labeled by category. However (!!), I have a coupon spreadsheet that organizes the coupons by category. Then I keep track of when I got the coupon, when it expires, and when I used it. It helps!