What categories should i organize my coupons

The hardest was the huge book with hundreds of slots! I felt like I had to cut out every coupon. Now I just clip the items that I already use: Great idea to make sub-categories! I will give that a try, sounds like it would save some time! Have a blessed and beautiful week ahead! Oh yes, I tried the coupon binder when I was more into couponing. Looks like a workable plan. I was going to try making one for a gal who is an extreme couponer from the pattern at Tip Nut.

It is for me since I already set it up! I did use a lot of the ones Kroger was sending, as most of those were based on past purchases, but have not received any from them in some time now. I need to get back into couponing again.

I was never an avid couponer but I did use them! This is awesome, thanks! Every little bit helps! Thank you for pinning, I appreciate it! Wow once you get that system organized you can really make great use of coupons. You do a great job. I clip coupons then when we go to store I forget them sometimes. We do our major shopping once a month when we get our SS. Then just little things as month goes along, if we have any money left.

For about 2 yrs. Makes it pretty hard to stretch with everything going up every month. I try to make sure we have coupons for pet foods, toiletries, paper goods. Getting so Walmart is higher than ever and the store just wears us out. Have to be a savvy shopper these days. If there are coupons that are high value or I know I will use, I carry them with me in my handy dandy pocket filer pictured in the hybrid method. With the Binder Method, your coupons are available during shopping to take advantage of any unadvertised sales that were not in your original shopping plan.

The best stores to shop for unadvertised deals are Target and Walmart love those end caps deals. This is the quickest filing method. However, beware with this method that even though you are filing your coupons at lightning speed you are saving all the work until you make your list.

You will file your inserts by date weekly or monthly and cut coupons only when needed. This is my least favorite method of filing. The likelihood of pulling a coupon that is no longer valid is much higher. Nothing stinks more than heading to the register and being denied use of a coupon due expiration. The idea with the File-by-Insert Method is that you file your inserts without cutting them. You will only touch the coupons when you will actually need them for that specific shopping trip.

Meaning they will expire the same month they are issued. When those coupons expire just replace with the most current insert. The others will need multiple files. Simply write the insert date across the front and file it away. You can then access the coupon database to find the coupons you need to clip before you shop or follow allow any one of my coupon match ups.

Each store match up will list all the details you need to find your organized coupons. Cutting some coupons and filing others. Cutting all coupons that pertain to the brands that you purchase on a regular basis, that are higher value or will expire quickly usually within a 2-week time frame all stay in the coupon portfolio. I also, like to carry around extra coupons in case I spot an unadvertised sale or clearance opportunity. Simply use a plastic or cardboard shoe box, envelopes and index cards to create a simple and inexpensive file system.

Add coupons to envelopes with index cards stapled to them with printed or written labels. Keep in a small plastic box or shoebox.

I personally organize by using a coupon binder and personalized my method with a small spin on the hybrid method. I am a planner, so I always take a detailed list to the store with me. The goal of any organization system is to reduce the amount of time it takes you to find your coupons, thereby maximizing your money savings and time savings.

However, certain organizing systems will quickly make work for you that will just waste your time, since they're too complex for the way you actually use coupons. A good rule of thumb is that the fewer coupons you actually use, the simpler your system should be for organizing them.

Don't spend more time on this Challenge than it's worth to you. You should always see your time spent on organizing coupons as an investment, and never spend more time on it than you're getting in return in savings.

Click to get printable grocery price list template. Now that you've got the basic mindset down to best benefit you, please remember that couponing is not the only strategy for saving money on household essentials and food. For example, meal planning , which we'll discuss more in next week's challenge, can be a big money saver.

In addition, when you compare grocery prices with a grocery price book you can save money just by getting things when they're at their rock bottom low sales price, even without coupons.

Therefore, I've created a free printable grocery price list you can use to help you track this information see links above. The first two steps in this Challenge were pretty easy, but step 3 is where you've got to make a big decision.

What I'm referring to here is whether you'll take the time, up front, to cut out all the coupons and file them in some organization system, or you'll not clip any coupon until you plan to actually use it, and instead will just file the coupon inserts. At first this step seems like a no-brainer. Clearly, you may think, it would be easiest to not clip any coupons unless you'll actually need them, and to just file the inserts and be done. Many people swear by this method of coupon organization, and call it the "no-clip system" or similar words to that effect.

They've used it successfully for years, and you may like it too. On the other hand, there are many coupon gurus who dislike this method, and will tell you in no uncertain terms not to do it this way, but instead to clip everything up front.

With such differing opinions it can be confusing which method to choose, so I'll discuss some of the pros and cons of the coupon insert filing method below, so you can decide what's right for you. Honestly, I think it has more to do with your goals for couponing and your personality which way you like to organize coupons, and that's why there's so much disagreement of whether to clip coupons, or not.

If you choose to organize your coupons with the no clip method it's pretty simple to do. You merely file the insert by date received or issued , and then use a coupon database see more in Step 4 below to help you know what deals will work with those coupons, and pull them when needed.

Once you've chosen to clip, or not clip, only part of the work is done. Now you've got to finish the details of choosing a method to organize coupons that works for you, and set up your system.

As I mentioned above, if you've decided to file inserts you really need to use a coupon database to help you match deals to coupons, and alert you to what coupons should be used in what weeks. This will help you know which coupons to pull, since you can easily forget what's in there without assistance.

Frankly, even if you clip your coupons these companies which help you match coupons and sales can be a big help and time saver for you, so you may want to look into one. Get free printable here. If you decide to clip coupons, no matter which option you choose below, they both require you to categorize your coupons. The reason is that once you clip all those little pieces of paper you're just left with big stacks that you can't find anything easily.

I've created a list of coupon categories you can reference, with both main categories and subcategories, to help you get an idea of how you should categorize your own coupon collection. In addition, I've created a two page printable version of the categories and subcategories you can use as a table of contents in your binder, for example, if you choose that method.

I've given a little more instruction on categories in the coupon categories article itself, so be sure to read it and familiarize yourself with the suggested categories when setting up your organizational system as part of this Challenge.

Here's where I lay out the two main organizational methods for clipped coupons, so you can choose which one will work best for you. They are the coupon binder ad the coupon box or wallet. Many people use a coupon binder to organize coupons.

To make one, create tabs for each of your main coupon categories see above and dividers for your subcategories if needed , and place them in a large, sturdy three ring binder.