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How to Organize Your Coupons
Whether you’re a veteran couponer or just starting out you’ll need to have your coupons organized or otherwise you will get overwhelmed and frustrated each time you look for a coupon.
It happens to all of us – you can’t find the coupon you need when you’re at the store and then when you do find it, it’s expired!
This is why you need some sort of system put together to organize your coupons. You also want to find a system that works for you.
You have all these coupons lying around collecting dust, you need to get them organized. You need to be able to find your coupons when you need them and be able to bring them with you easily if you’re out and about shopping.
Organizing your coupons is critical to helping you save money. If you’re struggling to find coupons when you need them you will end up quitting.
I’ve been couponing for years and because I had noticed all the coupon pros using coupon binders I thought I needed one!
Well even though I coupon often the binder did not work for me.
I found it frustrating to spend time filling it only to watch most of the coupons expire. I quickly got rid of my coupon binder and went back to using coupon wallets.
This isn’t to say that it isn’t for you, I may just be lazy or find spending the time to clip each coupon frustrating but you may like doing it.
I wish I could tell you there was one perfect way to organize your coupons but everyone does it their own way for what works for them.
So it doesn’t matter if you pick up one of those coupon folders that looks like an accordion wallet or if you have a filing system that’s state of the art – just use something and use it without fail. Check out some options below.
COUPON ORGANIZERS
Small Expending File
13 Pockets Accordion File Organizer comes with tabs so you can easily label the sections. It also has great reviews you can check it out here.
Grocery Coupon Organizer for Purse
This modern style grocery coupon organizer includes 24 plastic card coupon dividers and a dual-purpose velcro wrap and a wrist strap; The velcro strap allows you to attach it to any shopping cart as well as holds coupons tight so they don’t fall out.
Check it out on Amazon here.
3-Ring Coupon Organizer Binder
This 3-Ring Coupon Organizer Binder expands to hold up to 80 pages. It includes a categories list (on the back cover), Coupon Terminology Sheet, and 40 assorted clear coupon pages.
Check out the details and review on Amazon here.
Coupon Saver Binder Bundle
This coupon binder bundle includes everything you need to become an “extreme couponer”. It’s an extra heavy-duty “Pro” binder that stands up to lots of wear and tear.
It includes 50 assorted pages in five different styles. It also includes Avery extra-wide dividers, writable, printable and completely customizable for your filing system, a zippered pouch for your scissors, pens, calculator, money, etc. and a clear plastic sleeve to carry loose coupons.
If you plan to go extreme than this may be a great option. You can check it out here.
COUPON ORGANIZER CATEGORIES
There is no one way to organize and categorize your coupons but you will need to categorize them so that you can find what you need when you need it!
I’m going to go over some basic categories most coupon organizers have and then you can add which ones that are relevant to you.
For instance, if you don’t have a baby you probably don’t need a baby category. The same goes for pets and so on.
List of Basic Coupon Organizer Categories Used:
- Baby
- Baking
- Beverages
- Breads
- Breakfast
- Can/Jar Food
- Cleaning Supplies (laundry care, dish soap, etc)
- Condiments
- Dairy/Refrigerated Items (soy milk, butter, cream etc)
- Dry Food (Pasta, Rice, Etc)
- Frozen Foods (if you want to separate Frozen items from their main categories like frozen veggies, frozen waffles, frozen pizza’s etc)
- Meat & Fish
- Pet ( (You can break down into cat, dog etc if you have multiple animals or leave in one section)
- Produce
- Misc (for anything you can’t categorize)
As you can see these can be broken down even further if you wanted to or kept to a main category. Whatever helps you to find the coupons faster is best. You may change your categories over time.
I also like to leave a few extra sections for rain checks and store coupons. You can even leave a slot for rebate forms.
You don’t have to be the Martha Stewart of coupon organization, but you do have to have a system. Create one that suits your method of shopping.
Whatever works for you!
Have a different idea you want to share? Feel free to comment on this post and share them.
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