Works for me Wednesday- Coupon Organizing System
There's a few different ways you can set up your couponing system and you'll have to find what works best for you. First, you have to organize and seperate your coupons. You can do this in a variety of ways:
By Category- Seperate your breakfast foods, dairy, health & beauty, etc...within each category you can break it down further. In your breakfast food category you can seperate cereals, frozen food items etc. Health & Beauty can be broken down into shampoo's, makeup, toothpaste...you get the idea, right?
By Expiration Date- Seperate your coupons by expire month and then by date, with the one's expiring soonest up front.
Sort Alphabetically- Bagels, Canned Goods, Cereals, Dairy etc.
Now that you have your coupons organized, let's talk about a way to store them all and make sure they make it to the supermarket with you!
Coupon System #1- Accordian File
You can use each pocket to store your different categories (or expiration months) but leave the first one empty for coupons you plan to use for your shopping trip! One with tabs works best that way you can label each pocket and know what's in each one!
Coupon System #2- Coupon Binder
You'll want to fill your binder with those plastic sheets that kids use for trading cards. Fill the pockets with your coupons and then use tabbed binder dividers to sort even further!
Coupon System #3- Index File Box
Now what good is all this organizing if you forget to use them?? Before you go shoppign write out your list and then go through all your coupons and see what you have. Any item on your list that you have a coupon for be sure to mark it in some way (a big 'ole C for coupon, an asterick, a heart, whatever- just be sure you know you have a coupon for it!!!) so you don't buy it without using your coupon.
I always go through my soon to expire coupons just to see if there's anything that I normally buy but maybe don't need right this second but is worth it! Make sure you don't buy it just because you have a coupon, that's not going to save you money!! Also, some coupons are only good toward the purchase of multiple items so if your not going to use the item it's not worth saving the dollar when your throwing away something you paid $3.79 for!!!
It will take a little time at first to set up your couponing system and figure out what works best for you, but once you do- it'll become second nature. You'll be saving money like a pro!!
Are you the crafty type?? Well then, check out this awesome tute for sewing a coupon clutch from The Object Project!!
This post is part of What Works For Me Wednesday hosted by Kristen at We Are That Family...check it out for some amazing and helpful tips, and you can link up your own helpful post!
Subscribe to Life, as it is
4 people have said:
I've tried each of these systems and didn't stick with any of them. I also bought a mini notebook with fabric wrapped around (it had one pocket inside) from Etsy and I don't even use that anymore.
An envelope with the items written on the front is pretty much what sorta works for me.
I wish our area did the coupon card that you can load coupons on the card online then just swipe the card at checkout!
How funny, I just posted a link to my coupon organizing system on WFMW, too! Like you, the odd-sized coupons drive me bonkers. But, I'm also a little bit lazy, so I found just filing the inserts in an accordian folder works best. I miss out on some of the deals, but at least the coupons get put away and used for deal match-ups this way!
Good tips! Have you looking into online coupon sites as well?
Great ideas. I "forget" to take/use the coupons sometimes! I love double or triple coupon days (the triple days I never miss!).
Post a Comment
Can't wait to hear what you've got to say! Thanks for your comments, I just LOVE comments...xoxo