I admit, until this weekend, I didn’t have an organized coupon system. Oh, I was organized in the winter. All my coupons were neatly cut out and filed into my wallet sized accordion file folder.
But once April hit and I was back to work at the golf course, my organization went out the door. I was just happy if I kept up with my work at the golf course, household chores and running Simply Frugal, of course!
I was re-inspired to get my coupon act together this weekend when I was visiting a friend, who is a fellow couponer. She had all her coupons organized in a binder by expiry month! I’ve heard of that way before, but when I saw her binder, I decided that was a brilliant way to organize my own coupons!
I got started the next day. My Mom and I sat down and cut out all the inserts I had and recycled the coupons that were expired 🙁
Here’s what I used to create my coupon binder:
- a zippered binder
- 4 packs of baseball card holders
- 2 packs of 4×6 photo holders
- Tabbed dividers (I have 13 tabs. 1 for each month and one for “free product” coupons)
Rather than explain the rest, I’ll show you some pictures!
Here’s the front. In the zippered pocket, I have all my free product coupons which I intend on having in a separate tab inside the binder once I pick up more 4×6 photo pages.
I put some scissors in the inside zippered pocket for convenience.
I intend on putting my flyers that I want to use for price matching in this area. Most likely, uncut coupon inserts as well.
Some of my tabs.
Some of the coupons I have in the June expiry section. (smaller ones which are in the baseball card holders)
The bigger coupons are in 4×6 photo pages.
So, there you have it! My new coupon organization system! Now, I’ve got to head out shopping so I can test it out!
I’d love to know how you organize your coupons?
I use a business card holder that i can flip through the coupons and if they are too big theyre tucked into the folder in the back of the card holder.
The baseball card or picture holders are an awesome idea! But Wlamart is a couple hours away from here and theyre about 6 or 7 dollars in the stationary store in town.
I have not yet had a chance to do a binder as I have only just started serious couponing but I do have a method I will be transfering into one.I have 2 sections. The first is Food, the second is Household, Both sections the coupons are divided into months and then put in order of expiry. I have another section for Free and another for Birthday> I also make sure I price match with flyers before I go out and cut out the pictures of items I don’t want to forget (sheets, bookshelves if it is a big shop), and I make sure to write the store and price on the picture.
I had a hard time trying to find the baseball card holders so what I used to use was a small photo album. I had them in categories then sub-divided (month of expiration then the other categories) food – dairy, meat, etc.Cleaning supplies – Laundry, All Purpose Cleaners (Mr.Clean,etc.), Fragrances – Air Wick, Febreeze, Glade, etc. For tabs I just used a piece of paper that I typed on the edge of the coupon(photo) holders or small sticky notes. I like the photo album method better than the accordion file when I first started out with not many coupons. The plus about the photo album is that they come in different sizes and varieties (adding more pages, etc.). When I shopped I just left the first couple pages clear for the coupons that I planned to use when shopping. Small enough for my purse yet big enough for my coupons. Be creative with your photo album. I got some fabric and made my own little cover for it with handles just be decorative. When I moved the binder I didn’t have the money right away to pay for a nice binder, inserts, tabs, etc as above so I just used a regular binder with photo 4×6 photo holders from another photo album I had at home that had extra holders and I decorated it the same as the coupon photo album that I used.
I have not seen baseball card holders at the dollar store before. I will have to check my dollar store as I am in need of some as well.
Great couponing everyone and have a nice summer!!!
I have never thought of by expiry date before. I used to have mine alphabetically (in baseball card holds from the dollar store) and any coupons that I had multiples of I filed the earliest expiry at the front. I recently changed to by category though as I found I was often flipping back and forth in the same section. My binder is now organized into section in the order I walk around the store (I have one binder for grocery and one for household). So, since I always start in the cleaners and candle aisle as I call it I have all my glade/airwick/ect together, all my cleaners, all my detergents… and I just flip as I walk along. I find it allows me to compare instore deals much easier. I also carry a small accordian file (wallet sized) where I file all the coupons I plan to or decide to use. If I am price matching, I file them in separate sections based on what store I am PMing to. I find this really helps at the til. I can do all the PM from a specific store at the same time rather than flipping back and forth between flyers and then move on to the next section. The binder I have is a SWIPES binder (got it at Zellers on clearance) and you can write on the front and then erase with special pens. I make my list right there as I am going through flyers, that way there is no way I am going to forget my list or not know what store had the best price. Happy couponing and keep up the great work!
This is a very cool method! I have never heard of before. It makes sense to have them all in month by month expiry but what about type of coupon do you subdivide in each month? Oh and I REALLY love the idea of the 4×6 pages in there for the bigger coupons I am going to for sure add this to my binder! great post!
I like this idea, do you then try and keep them organized by category? I have a basket right now but I am thinking the binder might be a nice change.
I need to buy some of those baseball card holders. Right now I have a binder and I staple the coupons to a page.
But I like to categorize by type, ex. cereal, cleaning products, etc. Feels more organized to me that way. But I’m new to this so I could switch 🙂
Thank you so much for this…doing it by expirey is such a good idea!!! I’m gonna start one too :0) thanks again for all your hard work in getting us the best deals and ideas!!
Great job! I don’t have many coupons so I am still with the accordion but I hope I can upgrade soon.. Nice idea. Thanks
I did the same thing exactly recently and also shopped at walmart- then i found the baseball card holders for $1 at the dollar store, a much better deal! Also, albeit a little more time consuming, but i also keep track of my coupons in a simple excel spreadsheet as i file them in my binder, it makes it way easier for quick reference when reviewing weekly flyers!
nice work…