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Coupons - how do you organize them?
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Posted by lindy_444_2009 (My Page) on Wed, Sep 16, 09 at 10:32
| I have a big pile of coupons on my kitchen counter right now ... have tried putting them in a drawer or envelope, but they get mangled or I forget about them. How do you organize yours? Both for grocery list-making and for taking to the store (sometimes I forget to hand them over to the cashier after I shop :( )
Thanks,
Lindy |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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I clip them, and I file them by month.
I have found that way to be the best for me. Easy to go through that month's coupons and use them before they expire. I also will go through the next month's to see if there is something I can use. For taking to the store...
I write my grocery list on a business size envelope.
Items with a coupon have a * in front of them.
Coupons go in the envelope, along with the store's loyalty card. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| I do pretty much the same thing as luann. If I know I'm going to use a particular coupon at a particular store I will put that coupon into a envelope with that store's name on it and the list of stuff I intend to buy there. I also have a envelope for eating out coupons, department stores and one for craft stuff since I do use those types too. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| I have a coupon organizer that is organized by type of coupon...dairy, meat, etc. ***Organizing by aisle, if you shop at the same store all the time, works too.*** I pull out the coupons I think I'll use and keep them in the front organizer pocket. I take along the other coupons too because sometimes I see a deal that is too good to pass up. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| I don't use all that many coupons (I'm not the coupon Queen), but the ones I do use I organize by month in Day Runner Storage Pockets, which are heavy card stock with a slanted pocket on both sides of the page. Easy in and easy OUT! (These pages are approx. 5-1/2x8-1/2-inches.) One month per side. Each week I go to the store, I check coupons with store ads in the morning, and pull any coupons I need to use and place them in the front pocket. I mark a red "C" beside items on my grocery list to remind me I have a coupon for it. Only rarely will I use a coupon for a regularly-priced item. I normally only use a coupon if the item is a loss leader, includes a rebate, was on clearance, or otherwise discounted, in order to stack savings. The Storage Pockets are in my loose-leaf, 6-ringed PRICE BOOK (aka Day Planner) which houses my grocery money, calculator, pen, on-going grocery list.... The Price Book portion is in alphabetical order (separated by index tabs) with currant prices of the main items I purchase so I know if something really IS a bargain. Everything I need for shopping all in one handy-dandy day planner, I got for $1 at a garage sale. -Grainlady |
Here is a link that might be useful: Grocery Price Book
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| When I was getting a lot of coupons, I made a coupon organizer and divided it up by departments and sorted that way. Canned goods, H&B, Paper products, Dairy, Frozen meat, Frozen desserts, Frozen Misc, etc. I also kept a small calculator in there for comparing prices. This system worked well for me. As for expiration, keep in mind many stores will take expired coupons for a while. For a while I used a file folder and pulled the full sheet from the ad insert. Then I used a clear plastic envelope. If I get back into it I probably will take a clear plastic disk sorter and use to file coupons. I too mark the items on the grocery list that have coupons and * use the © (c with a circle to indicate a coupon and put an x2 next to it if I have a store plus mfgr coupon. I tried to go through them occasionally to familiarize myself with what I had. Then if I saw something on clearance I could couple a coupon with the clearance price and often get things for next to nothing. Of course be reminded that coupons can be costly if improperly used. But can help a bit if used well. It takes some time so you probably need to balance the time vs benefit. Also, for a while I would even jot down a list of coupons I had so when I was looking at ads I could reference the coupon list. A lot is finding a system that works for YOU. I changed the way I handled them several times. If I start getting the Sunday paper again, I'll probably modify the system again. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| I put mine in a 4 x 6 index box. I label them how I have my shopping list made. I have dairy, can goods, health and beauty, etc. I do keep coupons that I don't usually buy because sometimes you can find a good sale or something on clearance. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| i use coupons all the time. i used to sort them in a coupon box according to type(cereals,frozen foods,cleaning products, etc) but i found that to be too time consuming for some reason. also found it harder to sort out all the expired coupons(our stores around here do not take expired coupons) now, i keep the coupons all together in a box and methodically go through them when i make my grocery list from the store ads. i fold my coupons with my list, and usually buy what's on my list, so i don't have to note on it what has a coupon since i generally use all the coupons that i bring with me. if i get a raincheck for a soldout item, i will fold the coupon up with the raincheck so that i will have both together next time i'm in that store. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| I just keep them in a folder or box! Nothing too complicated though. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| Mine are in a photo album...I have them labeled and it is easy to see what I have and when they expire. When I make my grocery list, I get my sale paper, write down what they have that I need and then I match coupons to the list..The list and the coupons go into an envelope, which goes back into my coupon book. That way if I go to the store and see a great price on something that wasn't in the paper, I can pull out my coupons. |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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I used several categories on tabbed index cards in an accordion type recipe card size file:
Snacks
Dairy
Meat and fish
Paper goods
Fruits and vegetables
cereals
baking
cleaning
personal grooming
beverages
Soon to expire
spreads (jelly, peanut butter)
sauces |
RE: Coupons - how do you organize them?
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| I think the easiest way for me is to clip them each week ( only the coupons I would use) and then file them in a check organizer by subject.I leave the very front section of the file empty. When the grocery store flier comes each week in the paper or mail I get out my coupons and then pull the ones that I will be using that week and place them in the front file. It helps to stay organized if you can go shopping on the same day of every week. I have found that Sundays is the best day as our grocery stores have specials . I only use the coupons to purchase items when the item is on sale- so I am not over-paying. You would be surprised how much I save every week .It is just amazing if I stick to using the coupons and use them when the items are on sale how it cuts my grocery bill!! |
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