Coupon Organizers?

[MamawW]

What do you use? Each one I saw on Amazon from cheap to expensive all said they were flimsey.

[sandrark]

I use a fabric pencil pouch with a zipper.

It's inexpensive, it's sturdy, and has a zipper for coupons of all sizes.

Sandi

[StressLess]

Dollar Tree

Usually around this time of year (before Mother's Day) I see accordion-style cardboard coupon organizers in Dollar Tree for $1. Look in the stationery section near the shopping list pads. If I don't have one already in reserve, I'll buy one because other times of year I can only find more expensive ones. Sometimes the exact same ones turn up on Ebay for $4 or $5. Yes, they eventually tear--that's why I keep one in reserve.

I have also used one of those manila check storage envelopes with the string or elastic band closure. Inside I'd make my own inner sections out of #10 envelopes with the flaps cut off. I may go back to that system because the printable coupons are large and don't always fit so well in my current organizer.

[mom-from-missouri]

my system

I use a 3 ring notebook binder. My "pages" are clear plastic photo pages. I have it broken down into lots of divisions--each photo pocket is a seperate division, all labeled & in alaph order. My sections are:
air fresheners
baby
baking products
batteries, trash bags and light bulbs
beverages
cvs extra bucks
cleaning products
cosmetics
dairy
deodorant
dental care
dish soap
drug items
fem hygiene
frozen foods
fruits
hair products
laundry products
lotions
meat
mexican
office supplies
paper products and storage items (wax paper, foil..)
pizza
sauces, dressings and seasonings
pastas, rices & boxed meals
pb & jelly
pet items
restaurants
shampoos & conditioners
shaving items
snack items
soaps for body, face and hands
soup
veggies
vitamins

On the last page I have:
regular purchases
free items
services
rain checks

Lastly, in the back of my book are clear plastic protector pages. One for each of my usual stores. In these pages I keep that weeks sale ad for CVS, Walgreen, Dollar General, Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Aldi, Office Depot and such. As I go through the ads, I take my coupons that match sale items and put them in the pocket for that store. They are all together when I shop.

I take my book with me EVERYWHERE and EVERYTIME I go into a store. You never know what you may find marked down so low that when combined with a coupon it is free.


Some feel I have too many divisions in my book--it works for me. I don't want to stand in the store searching through all my food coupons to find one for corn--much faster to go to veggies.

I also normally only use the coupons if that allows me to get the item for free or cheaper than Aldi.

Often I buy items I don't use because I get them free or very cheap. Those items I pass on to a person or group that can use them--for example, I have after rebate received about 10 or more free gloucose testing machines. I give those to the senior center, DFS and the ministeral alliance. That allows someone who has no way to purchase it to get it for free. And, they also give me a receipt for it that I can use at tax time as a donation.

Also, I am not brand loyal on many items. This allows me to take advantage of savings. not knowing what will be on sale means I clip all coupons. When they expire, I pass them on to a military family that can use expired ones on base.

My best deal last week was CVS had V05 shampoo for 66 cents a bottle. I had some 75 cent and 50 cent off coupons.

Using coupons, I never pay for deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste.

For next to nothing I get cereal (use the $1 and $2 off ones at Dollar Tree or Dollar General and you only have to pay 0 to $1 a box for name brand cereal), which makes it cheaper than Aldi cereal.

Couponing does require great organizing in order to stay on top of it.

[etiff99]

coupon organizer

I use a plain envelope - but I use a different one for each store (I don't frequent that many stores, maybe 4) and one for manufacturer's coupons. I still haven't figured out how to keep those expiration dates in check though.

[LuxLiving]

etiff99, I just file them in date order and try to do a lookie-loo before going to the store to pull any and use all that I can before they expire.