Do your coupons look like this?
Lavonne at Economic Endeavors posted an article on how she organizes her coupons. It made me think about how I organize mine. Right now, my coupons are some what organized. I’m never as organized as I want to be. Is anyone? The more organized I keep my coupons, the more I remember to use them, ie the more money I save…so I try to stay on top of it!
My system is similar to Lavonne’s. I basically do the insert method with a few modifications. The insert method does not require weekly clipping of every coupon. Every person has a different style of what works for them. I found, it took me forever to cut them, sort them, and file them when I clipped them weekly. PLUS, I could never remember WHERE I filed them.
So here’s the system I have found that works for me…though I’m always look for ways of improving it.
Each week, I mark with a Sharpie the date of the coupon insert on the front.
I then put them in my red 12 pocket file organizer (picked up at Staples for around $7.99).
These are organized by date and insert type.
I also have a hard box with file folders where the older inserts go.
For my weekly trips, I clip the coupons I need and put them in my handy dandy small black coupon organizer. (I picked this up at Meijer for around $7.99). I should have these tabs organized but they aren’t.
Basically I have a file for CVS weekly deals, Marsh weekly deals, Meijer weekly deals, Walgreens weekly deals. I put all the coupons I need for that week in separate envelopes. I also have coupons that I have previously clipped, in home mailers, or coupons know I will need in the future organized by type in separate envelopes. (It is nice to have these coupons in case I see a great deal that wasn’t advertised or clearance items.)
I also have a separate clear zip up folder (.99 from Staples) that I put all my CVS in home mailer coupons, printable coupons, and Beauty Book Coupons. I also have one of these that I used to put my mail in rebates or any other coupon deals.
This is my weekly ad/extra coupon drawer. It needs cleaned out and organized. Basically this is a drawer by my computer desk where I store my weekly ads and coupons I haven’t filed yet. I would like to say it usually more organized but then I would be lying to you. (At least I can close it and hide it away and pretend like it is not messy!)
and just for fun….this is where all of our incoming mail comes in before I sort it. Actually, this was after I tried organizing as much as I could….as you can tell, that area needs more work!
Links for Coupon Organization Ideas:
Coupon Organization by clipping from Canned Laughter
Sisterly Savings uses the Couponizer. Crystal, the Money Saving Mom, also raves about the Couponizer.
My Good Cents uses an envelope system.
Laura, the Organizing Junkie discusses how she organizes by using a coupon organizer.
Rachel utilizes the coupon binder.
The Simple Dollar also utilizes the coupon binder.
Keren uses a coupon binder.
Mommy Snacks use a file box.
The Centsible Shopper uses a small file box.
Organize??? Hah! The best I can do is to try to cut them out weekly and separate them into food or non food piles. Then I put them in envelopes according to month in a shoe box. If I just keep the whole insert intact, I never know what’s in them!
I love your organization. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the link! I try to stay up on my file box method, but even huby says I’m still disorganized. He doesn’t know that I know exactly where everything is hiding on my desk :-)
Oh! I was also going to say.. any loose coupons I still file in the baskets (and put them in the spreadsheet) but I’ve finally gotten smart (like you) and don’t clip any coupons unless I need them.. I go through the inserts and put them in the spreadsheet and then put a post it with the date. I never thought about just writing it on there like you, I guess I’m just post-it happy :)
Great idea about the spreadsheet! I think I might do that for my extra non-insert coupons! (I love spreadsheets!)
Thanks for the link :) … I had a comment on that post from someone saying they organized theirs in spreadsheet form.. Since then, I started doing it that way and I love it… so easy and simple…
I know…I’m always finding stray coupons in odd places…especially those coupons that you find in packages…I try to just toss them in my coupon drawer to organizer LATER!
(Your post reminded me I needed to do that soon!!!)
Thanks for the link, Briana! We do have similar methods. And trust me, even when I’m at my organized best, there are still stray coupons everywhere (well, it seems that way, anyway!).