Simple Coupon organization

I really hate to do unnecessary work and I don't have a lot of time to spend clipping a bunch of coupons.


I've been experimenting with coupon organization systems for quite some time. The following system is working.... for the time being. It requires a whole lot less work than clipping every single coupon. Here's my latest attempt.

1. When I get the coupon inserts I go through them and only clip the ones I'm sure I would use, especially if the item were on sale. Examples are: toilet paper, toothpaste and Hunts Ketchup. By the way, I plan to never pay for toothpaste again!

I then file these in the appropriate category in the coupon organizer. I carry this with me in the car so that its available if I make a stop at the grocery store or drug store.

2. There are a couple of couponing blogs that I read when making my shopping list, which show the deals for each store along with coupon match ups. The only problem, in my opinion, is that they will say something like this, "1.00 off coupon from 6/27 Red Plum". Well, that works fine if its 6/28, but if its 2 or 3 weeks or more later, I have no idea where that coupon is, without going through stacks of coupon inserts.

Since there are often coupons in the Parade Magazine and the date is clearly printed on the front cover, I stick the coupon inserts with the remaining unclipped coupons inside the parade magazine that came out the same date. Then I just keep these little packets in order by date. When I need to find a coupon from a prior week, I can find the insert needed by checking the date on the outside of the parade magazine.

These packets don't take up much space and can be stored in a small cardboard box, such as an empty envelope box from my office. This can be kept in the car for any new deals posted on the couponing blogs. That way I can quickly leaf through my coupons to see if I have the coupon and if its worth taking advantage of.

3. I use the same process for the All You Magazine coupons. I clip the ones I know I will use and then just keep the magazines in a convenient place, along with the above described Parade Magazine with coupon inserts. When all the coupons are out of date I can just throw away or recycle that little packet or magazine.

4. Each week I compile my shopping lists based on my own take on the sales papers for each store and coupon blog posts which tell me what coupons are available to go along with the sales prices. I can look at my coupon inserts by date to find any older coupons. Then I just paperclip the coupons to the list for each store.

5. This system is especially helpful for me because I do not get many of the coupons listed that the folks in bigger metropolitan areas get. I used to drive me crazy because I would look and look for a certain coupon, thinking I was just over looking it. Now I can be sure as to whether or not I ever had it to begin with!