Organizing Your Coupons

There are many different ways to organize your coupons. The trouble is, no one method of organization works for each person. I will tell you about several different methods here today, but you must find one that WORKS FOR YOU! If your aren't comfortable with it you won't use it. And the only way to save money is to find a way that works for you and one you are able to keep maintained.

1. Using Envelopes:
Using plain envelopes, you label each with a category, ie cereals, condiments, laundry, dairy, etc. After clipping your coupons, you separate them and put them into the correct category envelope.
You can then store those envelopes in a larger manilla envelope, a gallon/quart sized plastic bag, or even just in your purse. To be more frugal, recycle all those envelopes that come in the junk mail!

2. Coupon Wallet/Accordion Envelope:
These are often what you see advertised in the Sunday coupon inserts. It is one fabric envelope with dividers fitted inside. You can use the categories listed on the dividers or create what works for you.
Use each pocket to store that category of coupons. This is what most people start out with as it is quick to set up and easy to maintain. I leave the front section free so that when I am shopping, I can pull coupons I am going to use and keep in the front.
I actually still use this type of holder, but Have the dividers labeled by Store names. That way when I am making my shopping lists, I can pull the coupons I plan to use for that store and file them accordingly. I can     also keep rain checks here per store as well!

3. Index File Box:
Boxes are great for organizing coupons, you can use anything from a cardboard shoe box, a plastic tub (with lid), a recipe box, empty baby wipe box, or try an index card box.
Use tabbed dividers to separate your categories and then cut, clip and sort your coupons within each category. I used this method once I out grew the Coupon Wallet- and since I was a new mom, a baby wipe coupon box was perfect! I loved that the lid snapped on and if dropped, the coupons wouldn't fly all over- never fun!

4. Binder:
This is what I currently use, as I have outgrown all other methods! lol To make a coupon binder, it is best to get a zippered binder, that way everything is contained, and if dropped things will stay in place. I prefer the case-it binders, as they also have a handle on the outside edge, and a strap so you can carry over your shoulder- especially good if you are also toting around a toddler! You can pick one up clearanced after back to school time.
Once you get your binder, you need to add some baseball card pages. This will be what your coupons are stored in. It makes it very easy to see the coupon, the value, and the expiration date. Some coupons need to be closely trimmed or folded slightly to make them fit. I prefer this method because it is so easy to view what you have.
I also have a pencil holder add in and keep an extra pair of small scissors, a calculator and paper clips, and a pen/post it notes in it. All the little extra things that may come in handy.
I separate each category using stick on divider tabs, and label accordingly. You may divide your categories any way you like. I prefer these:
Baby, Baking, Beverage, Bread, Canned Goods, Cereal, Cleaning, Condiments, Dairy, Deodorant, Ethnic, Feminine, Frozen, Laundry, Marinades/Dressings, Meats, Medicines, Oral Care, Paper Goods, Pasta/Rice, Pets, Snacks, Soaps/Body Wash/HBA, Misc. I also have a page for store coupons such as a page for Target, Rite Aid, and store that regularly puts out store coupons.
You can create what ever works best for you. I prefer categories by product type. Others set it up alphabetically by brand, Kellogg's, Kraft, etc. Others set it up by the store aisles they shop most.

Now clipping every coupon gets tedious and time consuming, especially for a product you may not normally use. You just never know though, when a good deal will come along and you may need one of those coupons you weren't interested the first time around. My suggestion to this is, if you don't cut and file all your coupons, is to clip what you want, and then file each weeks inserts by date in a magazine holder. This way you can easily find them if you need too.

I also encourage you, no matter what method you choose, make to sure to put your NAME and NUMBER in it in case you lose it or leave it in a shopping cart! Believe me, I have done this, and it is no fun to lose something you have put so much time into creating and losing all those great money saving coupons!

Monday Money Saving Tips~~Gathering and Finding Coupons #2

Collecting coupons~ Last week we talked about stockpiling. Well the way to do that is to have more than just one coupon on hand for a product when it goes on sale. That way you can buy several during the sale period and stock up at rock bottom prices!
Here are some of the ways to build up your coupon collection:

1) Sunday Inserts~ Obviously, the most well known! Inserts come in almost every Sunday paper. There are three main types of inserts: SmartSource, RedPlum, and P&G, and occasionally a General Mills or Kraft or Kelloggs insert. Some areas will get their inserts in the mail, instead of the Sunday paper. Check your local Wal-Mart or Dollar Tree as they often sell the local papers at a lower rate (YMMV). I know I can get extra papers for just $1 at my Dollar Tree. You can try to get your hands on extra inserts by watching recycling bins for inserts, checking with local stores to see if they will give away leftover papers, and asking all your friends and relatives to save theirs for you.

2) Printable Coupons~ Check out the Printable Coupon Page here at SavingWithWendy. Most of the Online Coupon sites change monthly, so it is best to check them for the HOT coupon prints early in the month before they run out-some only allow a certain number of prints. Also- make sure to go near the end of the month to print out coupons before they reset on the 1st.- this will give you the longer expiration dates.
Also, many manufacturer sites will offer printable coupons. Facebook is also becoming a wealth of coupons as more and more products are creating fan pages.

3) Tearpads, Hang Tags, Blinkies & Peelies~ Check out the Coupon Lingo Page to the right for further explanation on those types of coupons. Keep your eyes out EVERYWHERE for coupons! This includes grocery stores, gas stations and even doctor's offices. There are coupons everywhere so keep an eye out! Just today I saw coupons at the bowling alley for Kohls! Sitting right on the counter by the register!

4) Writing/Calling Companies~ Many times, simply writing or calling a company to compliment, complain or simply ask a question about a product will result in them sending you coupons, many times even for free items! Check out this forum for address of companies to contact! You can even check out the products in your pantry and look for an 800 number. Give it a call and compliment or complain, you may be surprised by the results. Now not all companies will send coupons, but many will, just ask!

5) Home Mailers/Magazines/Junk Mail~ You just never know what you may find useful in the junk mail at home, store circulars, and of course magazines- my favorite being All You. Also- check all the inserts in your bills, I recently found info to get a $10 Kohls coupons just for signing up for paperless billing!

6) Coupon Trading~ Do you have a couponing friend? You could always trade coupons for ones you may need and pass along ones you do not need.

7) Check Your Local Library~ Most all Libraries have several different News Papers delivered and will pull out the coupons and place them in a special area for people to go through and take ones they need. This is a great free resource- and your kids will love the time in the library!

8) Ordering Coupons~ If you are looking for several of a particular coupon- then ordering may be the most effective choice. There are many coupon clipping sites listed here at SWW as well as Ebay that you can order coupons from. Did you know different ares get different value coupons? Some areas may get a $1 off two products, while another may get .50 off one product. They may sound like the same deal, but if you are able to double coupons, the .50 coupon is actually the better deal! Most clipping services will have a minimum order and shipping fees- not all, some. Ebay you can often get free shipping. If you want a lot of coupons a clipping service is best- they come preclipped and sorted. Gotta love that!
We discuss this more at length in another post.


Keep your Eyes Open~Look everywhere, even on the back of rcpts, inside packaging for more coupons-peelies, tearpads, blinkies, and even rebate forms! Soon you will be noticing coupons more than ever!
Also, never, ever throw away coupons that you have collected and don't think you will use, those coupons can prove to be valuable to you in other ways which will be explained later.

Now, go started collecting coupons! Coming next week- Organizing Your Coupons!

So You Want to Learn How to Coupon and Save: Stockpiling...

First off, let me tell you it takes time to learn all the tricks and tips. Much more than can be explained in one posting. So each Monday, I will be featuring Monday Money Saving Tips- or Couponing 101. This feature will last quite some time as there is so much important information to pass along! At ANY TIME you may send you questions via "Contact Me" and I will either answer you directly, or will use that as a topic for the next Monday.

Let me start by saying the biggest hurdle to jump when saving money is to change your way of thinking. Always look for a way to save in your everyday spending, as well as big purchases. Saving money is not just cutting out a few coupons here and there. It is a lifestyle. When I walk into a department store, the first area I gravitate to is the clearance area- and I am proud to say, even with all the teasing my children give me, they are now doing the same thing! My 4 yr old runs through the store, looking for blinkie coupons, (those red machines that spit out coupons.) Even he knows, unless it is on sale, and mommy has a coupon for it, chances are we won't be bring it home that day.

OK- the key to being able to save money when using coupons is to STOCKPILE. Sales go in cycles, and if you can stock up on a product you use a lot of while it is on sale and has a coupon out, you can hold off buying it at full price! That is the main secret to it all. Now buying 10 bottles of dish soap may not seem to be the norm, but if it normally costs $1.59 and you have a coupon and it is on sale, you could very potentially get it for free or pennies. Wouldn't you rather buy 10 bottles at .25 a piece, than 1 at $1.59??? I know I would!

Choosing what you can stockpile is crucial too. It depends on the space you have, how much your family can use before it will expire, and how soon before it goes on sale again. Most things go on sale every few weeks or months. After a while, you will start seeing some patterns. For example, March is frozen food month, Nov and Dec bring baking supplies on sale, soda sales are abundant near Superbowl week, Memorial day, July 4th and Labor Day.

Stockpiling isn't just for groceries! I have a gift closet in my house. Curious? I buy presents for the different people in my life when I find them at great prices. Through the year I will buy Christmas gifts for my family and others when things are on clearance- Target is great for this! I already have most of my oldest daughters birthday gifts for her this year and her birthday is in July!! When you take the time to think ahead and plan a bit, you will be surprised how much you can save rather than waiting till the last minute. The girls come home and tell me they have a party to go to tomorrow night- I can go dig into my stash and find something I have on hand! So much easier than running to the mall.

I love to be able go to the "Store" (my basement stockpile) and find what I need.
Now, it does take some time to build up your stockpile, it won't happen over night. But once you have it, you will be shopping the sales, not the needs, as you will already have most of your needs on hand :)