How I organize my Coupons

OK, here is how I like to organize my coupons:

Inserts:

  I take all the inserts out of the newspapers, this week there are 3 different inserts. A Procter and Gamble (I will refer to as PG), Smart Source (SS), and Red Plum (RP).

  I always like to place my PG in the very back of my accordion folder. I do this because in most cases you will only get one PG a month, the coupons expire the last day of the month. The way I organize my inserts is by week, since this one is monthly it would be difficult to remember what week slot I have them in if I put it where all the other inserts I got that week are. Any other coupon booklets that I get else ware will also go in the back.

  I place each weeks inserts in their own slots to where all this week (both SS 1/27 and RP1/27) Are in the first empty slot and each week I will place those inserts in one behind the other. I do not bother labeling the slots with the week because they will get changed out eventually. However, if you would like to label the tab each separator of your accordion folder feel free to.

  When I have filled the last available slot. I will remove the inserts from the first slot and replace them with that week and continue to do this each week so I can replace any expired or obsolete inserts.


Printable coupons, peelies and other loose coupons:


  This is what I use my binder for. I have made separators for each section of my binder. I do this so I can organize my loose coupons by type (eg: Breakfast, hair care, baby, oral care...) and I use the Baseball card organizer sheets to place my coupons in. You can use dividers, notebook paper, printer paper, constriction paper, post it tabs... what ever you want as dividers for the sections. I suggest naming and numbering your sections so you can easily find the types of coupons you are looking for.Here are the catagories I use:

1. Bread
2. Produce
3. Sweet and salty snacks
4. Granola Bars and Fruit Snacks
5. P.B. & J
6. Fruit (canned & frozen)
7. Veggies (frozen & canned)
8. Pasta and pasta sauces
9. Soup
10. Baking
11. Breakfast
12. Prepared Sides, instant potatos and Rice
13. Condiments and Dressings
14. Beverages
15. Yogurt and Dairy
16. Refridgerated
17. Freezer
18. Candy
19. Baby and Kids
20. Storage bags, containers, and wraps
21. Paper Products and Trash Bags
22. Cleaners
23. Laundry
24. Dish Washing
25. Air Fresheners and Candles
26. Medicine
27. First Aid
28. Vitamins
29. Beauty
30. Oral Care
31. Soap & Body Wash
32. Hair Care
33. Lotion
34. Shaving and Deodorant
35. Feminine Hygiene
36. Pet
37. Store Specific Coupon
38. School and Office Supplies
39. Miscellaneous

  I place all like coupons in one slot in the baseball card sheets. For Example if I have 3 $1/2 Keloggs coupons that are the exact same with the same expiration date I will put them in the same space. If they differ slightly I place them in different slots, this way I can use the ones that expire soonest first.

  If a coupon doesn't fit I will fold it so it does. I try to fold it in such a way that I can see the name of the product, expiration date and possibly the picture of the item.

I also like to keep a zipper pouch in my binder with scissors, pens, a couple envelopes for shopping lists and coupons for specific shopping trips and a calculator.


  Lastly, I like to keep a tote with both my accordian folder and binder in it and take it with me any time I leave the house. That way if I go to a store and happen to find a good deal I can go out to my car and get the coupons I need. This will save you time, gas and money.

In my next Blog post I will discuss where to get coupons and some ways to find your deals. Please subscribe to my blog to be notified of new posts so you do not miss a thing.