Couponing 101: Getting Organized!
Accordion File
Office supply stores and superstores like Walmart and Target
will carry these in their office/school supply department. You will need a large accordion file that
holds the 8x11 size papers. Most of
these have about 13 pockets. Mine is
made of a durable fabric outside with clean heavy plastic sleeves. I believe it cost $7 to $10 at Walmart.
Each week take the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts and write
the date on the front, keeping the insert whole (no clipping!) Find the oldest dated insert in your
accordion file and replace it with the newest one. With 13 pockets, you will be able to maintain
about 3 months of coupon inserts and the oldest ones you replace each week will have mostly
expired coupons in it. Simply cut out
any unexpired coupons and file them in a canceled check file. (I use an online coupon database to determine what coupons from that date may have yet to expire and get my daughter to clip the unexpired coupons.)
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| My Accordion File Folder |
When using coupon matchups, you will be able to pull your
coupons as listed on most websites by date. For example:
Kraft Salad Dressing, 8
oz., at $2.09 ($1.04)
-$1/2 Kraft dressings or sizzling
salads dinner kits, SS 5/20
(Makes it 64¢ ea.)
The matchup is telling you to pull this $1/2 Kraft coupon
from the SS 5/20 which means Smart Source May 20. Go to your May 20 folder and pull out the
Smart Source insert to find this coupon!
Cancelled Check File
These are the smaller accordion file folders found in the
office supply stores or aisles and also in the dollar store or dollar spot
sales racks at many stores. Typically
they have 12 pockets. Mine is pink
plastic with clear file folders inside and I got it for $1 at Target and it has
lasted many years.
You may organize this file in any method that works best for
you. I file mine by product brand
name. Kleenex coupons are filed under
“K” while Puffs brand facial tissue is filed under “P”. Other filing options are by store location
(snacks/drinks, breakfast, boxed dinners/canned goods, frozen, baby, etc.) You could also file them by your store aisle
or alphabetically by product type.
Making it suit your life and way of thinking is how to make it most
successful.
I have a second small file folder with only 7 pockets I use
for each store. I have Bi-Lo, CVS,
Harris Teeter, Lowes, Rite Aid, Target, and Walgreens written on the pocket
dividers. In each store’s pocket I keep
store coupons and rainchecks just to keep these types of items separate from
the other coupons.
Binder with Sleeves
This is a very popular method of coupon organization, however it is also the most time consuming and complex system. You will need a large zippered 3-ring binder, 10-20 pages of baseball card protector sheets, and a set of 6-8 dividers. Create dividers using categories similar to the cancelled check file and insert your clipped coupons into the pockets on the baseball card protector sheets. You can easily see and find coupons quickly, but will likely spend upwards of one hour each week clipping new coupons, adding new coupons, and removing expired coupons.Now that you know a couple of methods to organize your coupons, you will have to decide which way will work for you! Again, organization is key. The system must be fun and easy for you to use or you will give up quickly! Nobody else has to understand your system, just you! So what works well for me might seem ridiculous to you. Find a simple system that works for you and get ready to start collecting coupons and hit the stores!
Be sure to read all the articles in Couponing 101:
Examples & Photos of Couponing Deals
Sales Cycles & Stock Up Pricing
Where to Find Coupons
Store Coupon Policies
Things You Should Always Get for FREE!
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