My Coupon Binder Organization Method

Hi,
I was able to get a great deal of information out of your binder organizing, but if you only have one coupon for each item, alphabetically, that binder can get really heavy. Those pages in just a quantity of 50-100 can be heavy.

By the sounds of it you already have your coupons ready when you walked in the grocery market, but the investment is quite a bit in the beginning as those pages are somewhat expensive. When my son and I were collecting the baseball cards, and yes, they are thicker than coupons the price was much less (1980’s), but if you have five of the same coupon (such as Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, etc.) it is the same thickness as a card) thereby there really is no difference.

Not all coupons are the same size and do not work alphabetically. I would forget where they would be if of a different size. “Redplum.com is a very good source and a good example. (These used to be packaged in the local newspapers. Now, with the economy the website has gotten smarter and everyone, not only newspaper subscribers, get the coupons. But there again, they are not all the same size and some come longer and wider than those typical “baseball card” pockets.

On the other side of couponing, not aggressive I organize differently. I have a book, similar to photo albums, big and small, arranged in categories such as cereal, laundry detergent and that is alphabetically organized. If another category comes into play it is place at the end of my binder. Special sales at “specialty stores” are there also. I take a look at the sale papers when distribution comes out right away in the mail. Might take maybe (2) two hours a week, I look through the ads of the sales and circle what I “need” not what I want, but what I need. (The common items, bread, milk, and cereal, come to mind just about every week). I have found “impulse shopping”, buying the item just because you have a coupon can cause excess spending and in these days is not sensible, therefore not saving. (A great deal of items have dates on them now, even canned fruit, and if the items are just placed in the pantry, stuck way in the back and never used it is a waste and not a savings at all). I circle all the items of interest. Then I look again through my categories, in my coupon “picture” books, and get the ones that match up the sale advertisement ads that I circled.

Once done with shopping for the week, I use the rest of the week until another set of sale advertisement ads comes around and cut all the coupons out of these “redplum.com” booklets and place into those category pockets for the next shopping sale advertisements to come out in the mail. I find this very easy to do with small books, at even a lunch hour, instead of having such a huge book with everything in it.

I can see keeping the Wal-Mart separated differently then my method above. I organize Wal-Mart by aisle descriptions. This way I zip up and down the aisles, especially in the Fall/Winter season, and pick up what I want. On my budget if I am over my savings around $30-$50, I used “half” the savings to buy myself something. I deserve the savings and if a holiday comes up during the month, two (2) weeks before the holiday the savings goes into extras for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas gifts.

Drugstores are all set up so differently. Certain items relating to the human body I do not purchase at the grocery market. I prefer only drugstores in those cases. That is why laundry detergent stays being purchased at the grocery market and body washes, lotions, shampoo and soap, etc. is purchased from me at the drugstores. Laundry detergent washes the clothes that go on my body, only.

I have never been under the budget savings and that two hours a week spent on organizing my coupons is well worth my time.

Clara D.
San Tan Valley, AZ

Hi, I’m just getting started — mostly out of desperation. I’m a SAHM with two kids, age 8 and 20 months. Like you, Stephanie, I’m homeschooling DS1 because he has special needs and being cautious with his diet helped a lot. He doesn’t eat anything with gluten now or FD&C dyes. At first I tried saving money by making everything, but the ingredients are expensive too. THEN I tripped across the reason why the baby was still throwing up everything well after the spit up phase should have passed — seventeen food allergies, one of which is wheat, but he’s also allergic to coconut and tree nuts like almonds which were two items I had been using to manage DS1’s menu. Yikes. Well, I figured out things I could feed them, but once again faced the terrible cost. That led me to couponing.

I’m never going to be like the mom’s on the extreme couponing. I can’t buy just whatever is on sale. For me it has to be a safe food I already know or I have to be able to read the label. A lot of times I grab coupons for new items not knowing if I’ll even be able to use them. If I get to the store and find I can’t buy that item, I leave the coupon for someone else. I’ve just started, so a little coupon sorter worked to begin with. I also have an extremely good memory, so I usually know if I have a coupon. But I’m fast discovering that the little sorter doesn’t work anymore. In fact, today it will no longer close. I can imagine a time when memory will no longer server either because of the sheer number of coupons. I started with online coupons and my one family newspaper. Last week I saved enough to afford a second Sunday paper from a different company. I’m hoping next to get the LA times. Like some others here, I’m uncertain how to handle the expirations. I started by categorizing, imagining that I’d go through each sunday and sort out the dead ones. But I can see that that will not work soon. What’s the best approach?

im just beginning to coupon an your video really helped give me an idea on how to organize a coupon binder thank u

I’m an average couponer. I don’t stockpile too much. I don’t ‘super coupon’. I don’t go to several stores to get the best deal. I just shop and use coupons. Right now I have a coupon file, but I’m thinking of switching to a binder. I’ve seen other shoppers using them and it seems to be easier than my file.

Here’s how I organize my shopping (it takes a little homework and a non-buying trip to your main grocery store). First I made a grocery list on my computer (Word document) by aisle (not product). Then I organized my file also by aisle. This has really streamlined my shopping, and since grocery shopping is one of my least favorite chores, organizing things this way makes it really slick!

i am just starting the coupon shopping, It is amazing how much i have saved already. I was in FredMeyer’s and needed disposable razor’s there was a the razor’s were $5.39 with a $4.00 off coupon then there was an added 10% off the store add for health and beauty. After all the coupons I paid $1.25 for schick disposable razor’s that had 10 count in them. I went back today to get my new binder and the baseball card sleeves. the craze is big her in Nampa, Idaho, the base ball sleeves are hard to come by they are only around $3.49 for 10 pages were is a better place to get these since the stores seem to run out as soon as they are stocked.thank you for your website i find it helpful.

I have always used coupons, but not like now, since subscribing to your website. I like the video but it is a little dark on my computer. Isn’t it burdensome to take the whole binder to the grocery store?

I also use a binder w/ the baseball card inserts….but where can I find a binder like yours with all of the pockets??

a few more questions for you…

what do you consider a good deal? anything above 50% off? how can you tell you’re getting the BEST deal for your precious coupons? for example, this week I’d be able to buy 1 40 oz. bottle of Heinz Ketchup for $.99, saving me about 67%. how would i know if now’s the right time to buy and the ketchup won’t get any cheaper in the near future?

Glad to have found your website! How many times in the past several years did I use coupons, and then get away from them?? Since I moved back to Jersey, and have yet to find employment, I have had to do whatever it takes to save some money. That meant getting back in the swing of things with the couponing. I was amazed at watching Extreme Couponing, and am so grateful for all yours and other’s websites out there showing us how to be more organized and prepared when we go shopping. In the past month or so, I have actually enjoyed couponing and am getting a kick out of saving money on some really great deals! Even though it does take some time and effort, it sure is worth it! I will definitely tell my friends about your site and video! 🙂

Hi Everyone,

I am so thankful for sites like this one. I am terrible at organization and the fear of missing a deal makes couponing a stressful thought for me. This site helps alleviate some of these stresses. I have noticed everyones comments regarding organization. I have always struggled with this as I used to use Grocery Game. I am always wanting to use exact coupon recommended if I can so I don’t miss any opprotunities or have expired coupons. For this reason I am currently storing them as whole inserts but after watching this I am considering doing each insert in aphabetical order so that I have both the product and insert date together. I don’t have any extra time to go and read each individual date. Thanks for giving me this idea. Lets see if I ever get around to implimenting it.

Amanda

I really liked this. I am just starting to coupon and your website has great information! I like it a lot!

Hi Stephanie:

I used to do couponing (not on a large scale) many years ago, but got out of the habit once the kids all left home and I was working so many hours. Now I’m at home, working on building a small business teaching people how to sew their own clothing and home decor (something I love to do, and another money saver) and have recently started getting back into couponing. 2 weeks ago I saved 1/3 on our grocery bill just getting started so I’m excited. I love the way you have organized your binder as I was trying to figure out an easy, accessible way to do so. Thanks so much for the tips. Between you and the other suggestions on your site, I am looking forward to doing a great job of saving. THANKS again for all your help. Debbie

PS to add: before I shop, go through coupons again and weed out any “impulse” clippings, any coupons that, if I really think about it, I realize, I don’t really need those items and/or can probably get similar cheaper at Aldi or Dollar Tree anyhow. Weed those out and toss them. (Usually those are personal/pharmacy type things; I’m pretty good at only using food coupons for what my family will actually use.) Anyway, coupon weeding helps me.

it will not load. would love to be able to watch it.

We are just beginning to put together our coupon binder after watching “Extreme Couponing”. I totally agree with you that there is a line between realistic and just nuts! We are a family of 4, the kids and I plan to be realistic with our use of coupons to get what we use cheaper. Thank you for the tour of your binder, ours doesn’t even have one coupon in it yet but will soon~Thanks

I am new to couponing, but am off to a running start! I, too, organize in a binder with baseball card pages that I cut and put colored paper in to double their capacity. I have mine organized by category. I have already seen significant savings, and am sooo glad that I am learning this “trade”. I recommend your website every day, and especially to my sister who has also adopted this. I spend some time going through flyers and deciding what our menu will be, then shop from that. My recent deals include 16 free jars of peanut butter, and Kellogg’s cereal for under $1.40 a box! So glad there are people like you kind enough to help us out! Thank you for an awesome and helpful website!!

I hate to sound coupon dumb…but you can not use 2 coupons for one product..right? So say I have Ball Park coupon and it says buy 1 get 50 cents off I can not use 2 50 cent off coupons on just one package? Help I just want more bang for my buck!

Just starting Couponing. My daughter got me hooked on it, now to get in the swing of things, and how it works. Thanks for the binder hints and the store policy news. Can’t wait to get as good as some of you.

So, I’ve been couponing here, going into the second month, and I too use a binder. But heres what Ive found out the hard way, hard cover binders should not be used for coupons. One of my children bumped into me and it fell in the store parking lot. Oh my goodness, coupons were everywhere. Am heading over to walmart to purchase a zipper binder.Guess its a good thing, need to start a binder over. Thanks for all the good tips.

I love this idea! I am a young mother on a budget and couponing is very new to me! Your website has been to most beneficial to me in educating myself on money saving with couponing — Thank you!!!

Me and my daughter was looking for sites that could help us with couponing, and your site is by far the best, and easiest to understand. Thank you so much for making this site and we will be getting all of our tips from you. Were very new at this and just starting out we dont know alot, so we have a question for you. If you have say example a hamburger helper coupon that says get 75 cents off of three and there on sale for 10 for 10 how does it work? We would love it if you answered this question.
Thank you,
Vicky

Some folks are really intense about this! I think one of the things that scares me away from couponing is that folks seem to lose sight of the bigger picture, and it becomes a bragging contest of who saved more. I saw one coupon site where women were laughing about how their husband has constantly been asking for Gillette Mach 3 razors, and they keep telling him they ‘forget’ because they don’t want to spend the money. Lying to, and disrespecting the man who earns the money in order to save money… ugh. Someone has forgotten the REAL reason why she’s doing this (her FAMILY).

I am willing to give couponing a shot, and today at Walgreens I saved $6 on $19 (total was $13). Not bad, I thought. 🙂 I forgot to tell the cashier to make my crackers a separate transaction so I could use my RR from the shampoo, though. I didn’t know RR expire so fast!! It’s like 2 weeks!!

I’m never going to try to live up to those 90% off people though. Small is OK with me.

I saw your binder and I was so glad when I looked around the house and had EVERYTHING I needed already here! Loved your concept and it’s going to really help me in my beginning voyage with couponing! Thank you!

Stephanie-your video isn’t working…any way you can get it going again? I would love to see it

I got myself a durable canvas binder for under 10 bucks and bought a pack of baseball-card holders (I’ll need to get a second pack, didn’t realize I had so many coupons), along with dividers and I’m so excited because I’m almost done putting all my coupons in my binder.

Thank you so much for the video Stephanie! I’m using your system of organization. I started couponing not very long ago and I’m loving it so much. It brings me such joy to save the kind of money I have been saving. Most of the people I know aren’t into it and I tell them they need to get onboard. I notice that couponing isn’t too common here in the west coast, particularly southern-west coast. I need to spread the word about couponing and couponing101.com!

How do you know where to locate a specific coupon when the databases tell you what insert a certain coupon came from, and you have cut them out of the inserts to put in the binder? I’m wondering if you even need the database since you probably just search through the binder by alphabet or category.

I love the binder idea and would like to use it but I am having the same problem locating the baseball card holders. Does anyone know of a good website where they can be purchased?

I made my own coupon box (this works better for me than a binder) by taking a plastic coupon organizer and cutting the bottom off so you can just expand it as much as you can and I stapled it into a clementines box from the supermarket. It works really well and when I pull out a coupon to use I have a nice little side pocket to put in in so none get lost . I sort by cataogory and try to always make my list based on the aisle layout in the store. My husband no longer complains about my couponing since I saved 393.00 on a 450.00 grocery bill. I am also fortunate that a friend works at a convenience store and gives me extra inserts every week, usually 30 copies of each insert.

I can’t wait until my son is home from school so we can go to WalMart and I can get a binder! LOL – it’s amazing how this money saving “addiction” has quickly become a hobby! I used to dread grocery shopping!

Stephanie,

I have been couponing for years and try to have a coupon for everything on my shopping list but there are things that we buy that I know I have a coupon for at home. Right now I have three plastic shoe boxes filled with coupons, number and on an excel spreadsheet. I am going to go with a binder system now and was not sure how to organize them…I like the idea of alphabetic so I dont have to think where is that coupon. Thank you for that idea.

Deb ~ Buffalo NY

Can I say wow I am amazed by your book if you saw mine I looks like it exploded with very little organization. I love your idea I am going to try something like it. Luckily I have a good memory of where I ‘ve seen coupons last my bill was $81 and I got it down to $42 but wit hyour organization I think I could do much better. I am so greatful for the idea thanks again. I also have found other info on site useful!

Nikki

Thanks for all the sweet comments! I really do love my binder. I stopped keeping up with it for a few months and just filed my inserts in a box. I was going crazy! So, I started the binder back up and I’m so happy I did! It makes shopping for deals SO much easier! There are so many different ways to organize coupons (and I’ve tried A LOT of them! lol) and I’ve found that the binder is what works best for me!

Thank you so much for posting this! I love to see how other people organize their coupons. I have mine in a binder, but I don’t actually clip them until I’m planning to use them. I keep them in a folder sorted by date they were issued. Any that I receive in the mail, peelies, etc. I keep in a separate place. Maybe I’ll try the baseball sheet idea though! That sounds easy enough!