Welcome to the ABCs of Savings! Each day we’ll be discussing another money saving topic, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you don’t miss any steps along the way. You can read the full alphabet of posts here (updated as they are posted).
O: Organize Those Coupons
Coupons can honestly take over your space if you let them. Organization doesn’t take that long, and it’s totally worth it. There’s nothing worse than printing or clipping coupons and then not being able to find them. I’ve missed more than one good deal because of disorganization.
There are LOTS of different ways to organize your coupons. You just have to find one that works for you. Let me share a few different organization options with you.
File the Inserts
If you’re not a coupon clipper, this one might work best for you. Some people write the date on the front of each coupon insert and file them in hanging files. When they make their grocery lists, they see which coupons they want and pull out those inserts. They clip just the coupons they need, and refile the inserts.
The Pocket Organizer
I always recommend that people start out with a pocket organizer like the one shown above. They’re inexpensive and a great way to get your feet wet with couponing. This is what I started out with (though the one pictured here is MUCH cuter!), and it worked for a while. I was able to carry my coupons in my purse so that I didn’t have to remember to grab them when I went shopping.
As your coupon collection grows, you will probably outgrow this type of organizer. But it will still come in handy. You can gather your coupons for different trips and keep them separated by store.
The Coupon Binder
The coupon binder seems to be the most popular coupon organization system. If you’re not familiar with the coupon binder, it’s simply a 3-ring zipper binder that’s filled with 9-pocket baseball card sleeves. Here’s what mine looked like when I made it.
Now I must confess that the thought of folding my coupons in order to make some of them fit into the baseball card sleeves was NOT appealing at first. But once I started using the binder, I didn’t think twice about it. This was SOOO much easier and the coupons more visible. I could go through the store with my binder and easily see if I had a particular cereal coupon or not. It made matching coupons with manager’s specials even easier.
The Coupon Clutch
The biggest downside of the coupon binder for me was that it was bulky. I found it hard to manage my purse, my binder, and my daughter as we made our way into the grocery store. The fact that it was HOT pink didn’t make my husband want to carry it either! I started searching for an alternative that was as functional as my binder but that would not be quite so cumbersome.
Enter the Coupon Clutch. If you’ve never seen the Coupon Clutch, it’s a coupon binder that’s made into a tote bag. I got to keep my binder-style organization, but I also got to carry my coupons over my shoulder. This made it MUCH easier to juggle everything.
I’ve been using my Coupon Clutch for over six months, and it’s holding up well. I think it’s the most functional organization system I’ve used so far.
The Bottom Line
Whatever method or organization you choose, the bottom line is simple. Your coupons have to be organized in order for you to use them. You may have to use the trial-and-error method to determine your style, but you’ll reap the rewards for your efforts!