Let me say first off, I am NOT an extreme couponer. I use coupons for the things I normally buy and I don’t spend huge amounts of time clipping coupons. I’m more into using my price book (link) and using the pantry principle (link). But if you do one or both of those techniques AND use coupons, you can save even more! In order to be able to use my coupons at the grocery store without spending a lot of time rummaging around looking for what I need, I organize my coupons in a way that allows me easy access to them. I’ve been using this system for a year now.
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Because I want to save time while grocery shopping, I spend more time upfront organizing my coupons.
I only cut out the coupons for products that I normally use unless it’s something I want to try (so I’m not cutting out every coupon that I see). I know I basically always buy the same things.
The way I organize my coupons is to use a little expanding file that you can find anywhere (mine is from Target). They typically have 12 – 13 slots. That’s not enough space to really have my paper coupons properly organized.
I think what most people do (because this is what I used to do) is to have 12 broad categories and all the coupons from that category go into that one tiny slot! All jumbled together!
But that’s not how I do it – read on for my system!
So, for example, in the “Canned” category most people would put all canned products together and then you’d have to sift through all of them to find the coupons for canned fruit.
With this system I break up that larger category into smaller ones. For example, in my Canned category I have Canned-fruit, Canned-vegetables/beans, Canned-tomatoes/salsa(includes pasta sauce), Canned-other (misc canned products like tuna & soup which I don’t buy a lot of). This way I can go directly to the canned fruit coupons without sifting through all the other canned product coupons.
So there are main categories and sub-categories. Now your sub-categories will be different from mine because we all have different shopping needs. You can make your sub-categories whatever it is that you buy. I don’t buy cereal but maybe you do so you might need a main category for “Breakfast” and then sub-categories for whatever “breakfast” things you buy. Or you can put “breakfast cereal” under the main category of “Packaged Goods”. I don’t have a lot of categories for “Cleaning” because I make a lot of my own cleaners. You may not. Do what works for you!
There are certain things that I mostly purchase at Target, so I made one of my slots a main category of “Target” and then I have sub-categories of Target-beauty products, Target-body wash/lotion, Target-dental hygiene, Target-hair care and so on. Even if I find a better deal on those products elsewhere I still have my coupons organized in such a way that I know where all my lotion coupons are etc. You may buy these items mostly at CVS or Walgreens.
So decide what main categories you use and then what sub-categories make sense for you.
How I Made My Coupon Organizer
Materials:
- coupon organizer/expanding file/coupon clutch
- label maker (or you can hand write your categories)
- card stock to make dividers (or large index cards)
Directions:
- decide what main categories you want to use
- decide your sub-categories
- cut enough card stock dividers – mine measure about 6″ x 4″ ( I alternated yellow, green and blue for my categories)
- label your dividers with the main category first – followed by the sub-category {example: Canned-fruit, Canned-meats, Canned-tomato products, Canned-vegetables and so on}
- alphabetize your dividers. My first category is Baking, the next is Beverages, Canned and so on. You can alphabetize your dividers within your main categories or not. I have Baking-supplies first, then Baking- cake mixes/pancake mix because I buy mostly baking ingredients (flour, yeast, sugar etc). I need those coupons more than the cake mix ones. But arrange them in a way that works for you.
- Insert your dividers into your coupon organizer and add your coupons in the appropriate sections
- That’s It!!!
More Tips!
Before going grocery shopping I usually check an online coupon matchup site like Southern Savers to see what the sales are and also what coupons I can print out. I also download coupons to my grocery store loyalty card. If I’m going to Target I check for coupons on that site and at the store I scan everything to see if there are any Cartwheel savings.
Like I said before, I don’t spend a lot of time clipping coupons and this system wouldn’t work if you are a heavy couponer (just because there’s not enough space in these expanding files for all the coupons you would need to use).
I’m always looking for ways to save money and I really believe that little things add up.
Some of us have more time than money and once you invest a bit of that time in setting this system up, you’ll find it so much easier to find and use your coupons. That’s the important part, if you don’t use them they can’t save you money!
Hopefully this system will help those of you that would like to be a little more organized with your coupons!
You might be interested in my Frugal Living/Simple Living board on Pinterest.
7 Ways Your Smartphone Can Save You Money
Great idea! I have tried several ways of organizing my coupons! The hardest was the huge book with hundreds of slots! I felt like I had to cut out every coupon. Now I just clip the items that I already use:) Great idea to make sub-categories! I will give that a try, sounds like it would save some time! Have a blessed and beautiful week ahead! HUGS!
Oh yes, I tried the coupon binder when I was more into couponing. I think I’ve tried them all 🙂
It sounds like you’ve got it down pat, Manuela! I use a lot of the store’s coupons {Kroger}, mainly loaded to the card as well. I’ve also been trying to be good and buy my gas there as well since when you use your card you save about $.20 a gallon.
Ever since my husband discovered that you get 2x’s the gas points (sometimes 4x’s) for buying gift cards, he stops there before heading to lowe’s or home depot to buy them!
Looks like a workable plan. I was going to try making one for a gal who is an extreme couponer from the pattern at Tip Nut. In the end, that didn’t work so well either.
It is for me since I already set it up! I’ll have to take a look at her site since I’m putting together a compilation post of other ways to organize coupons.
I am another one that rarely clips coupons now, as it seems most are for things I don’t buy. I did use a lot of the ones Kroger was sending, as most of those were based on past purchases, but have not received any from them in some time now.
I’ve noticed they don’t seem to be sending those coupons as often as they used to. The last batch I got from them didn’t even have any coupons for free items (I always had at least two free items before).
I need to get back into couponing again. I was never an avid couponer but I did use them! This is awesome, thanks! Hope you don’t mind if I pin it!
I know, I’m not an avid couponer either but I figure why not use them for the things I do buy. I went to Target today and saved a little over $5! Every little bit helps! Thank you for pinning, I appreciate it!
Manuela
Wow once you get that system organized you can really make great use of coupons. You do a great job. We don’t have a fancy phone so can’t do coupons that way.
I clip coupons then when we go to store I forget them sometimes. It’s not like I can run home to get them as most stores we shop at are about 20 miles away. We do our major shopping once a month when we get our SS. Then just little things as month goes along, if we have any money left. For about 2 yrs. now we’ve had more 5 week months than 4 week months. Makes it pretty hard to stretch with everything going up every month. I try to make sure we have coupons for pet foods, toiletries, paper goods. We’ve been shopping at Target more than ever. Getting so Walmart is higher than ever and the store just wears us out. I used to buy my ink cartridges there for printer but they’re higher than other stores, I order thru HP free shipping.
Have to be a savvy shopper these days. We used to buy all our stuff at Walmart but buy much more at City Mkt./Krogers which is only about 6 miles from us.
I’ve watched shows about extreme couponers. Have mixed feelings about all they buy and store.
Have great week and keep up great work with your system. Happy days
You are so right about being a savvy shopper. You really have to know your prices (which is why I rely on my price book plus I have a good memory for prices). Oh I have forgotten my coupons. I always have a list when I go shopping and sometimes I still forget things!! Things happen 🙂 A lot of prices will be going up due to the drought in California- veggies and beef. So it’s getting harder and harder to stay within grocery budgets!
I saw a nice article about someone that extreme coupons but she does it to donate to food pantries. She doesn’t have money to donate to charity but she has the time to match up coupons and sales so she gets things for free or close to free and she donates those items.
If they gave an award for the worst coupon failure on the planet, I probably could win it. I have tried umpteen times to be good at it, and I never am. Still, I read every article on them and vow and affirm that I’m going to try again.
sigh
All you can do is try! Like I said I don’t use a lot of coupons I’d rather know my lowest price and stock up then. But somethings hardly ever go on sale and sometimes I do like to try new products, so coupons come in handy.
What a great idea for organizing your coupons! I always have such a mess when I go to the store. Your coupon organizer is just fab. I’ll have to take your ideas and put them to use!
I love seeing how other people organize their coupons! I switched from the file to a binder and enjoy it. It takes a bit more time to file but I can find my coupons so quickly now!
Great tips! I used to be great at couponing, then gave up when I eliminated most processed foods. But, I’m back to trying but now I only clip the coupons for the products I will use, the rest go to a coupon group I am a part of. The nice thing is, several of the people will look out for the things I want because I am a bit pickier than most of the members.
Thanks! Yes, I only clip for the products I use and actually I’m finding quite a few coupons for salads & organic products (especially the ones Kroger sends to you). Thanks for stopping by!