3 Tips for Organizing Coupons

I like saving money, but I don’t obsess over it.  Looking for ways to save just seems like a practical thing to me.  

I mentioned in my post about my coffee drinking habits, that I’ve found a way to save money and get better coffee.  That’s the kind of thing I love to find!  The one thing that I try to consistently do to save money however, is use coupons.  I got lazy about it for a little while last year.  I was frustrated because my “system” for handling them was so disorganized.  I’ve since recommitted to using coupons and to getting myself more organized.  Here are some easy tips that can make using coupons much less of a hassle.

Save Money with Coupons

Probably one of the best ways to save money on your grocery bill or at any retailer is by taking advantage of coupon specials. However, you also need to organize your coupons too so you can enjoy the savings that result from using them.  Particularly, if you clip coupons, you want to find an organizational system that will keep you apprised of their expiration date.

Once you set up an organizational system and begin organizing coupons, you will see that this activity is, in effect, like getting a raise in your pay at work. Therefore, organizing your coupons will set you on a course that will help you more effectively manage your money. The main reason to organize coupons is to make sure you can use them before they expire and to compare prices so you can get the best deal wherever you plan to shop.

Tip #1 – Organize your Coupons Under the Retailers you Regularly Visit

For coupons that expire rather quickly, make sure that you organize the certificates so you can see them readily. Categorize the coupons first under certain retailers. For example, file coupons under specific grocers you regularly visit and discount stores.

Tip #2 – Under Each Store, Separate the Coupons Under their Applicable Niche

Under each of these retail categories, you will want to separate coupons, like those for grocery stores, under such niches as canned vegetables, frozen foods, snack foods, beverages, etc. Coupons for other retailers might fall under such categories as cleaning supplies, baby items and clothing, shaving needs, hair care products, pet care items, laundry supplies, office supplies, and vitamins and supplements. You might also include such categories as rebates and gift cards when organizing coupons too.

Tip #3 – Buy a Coupon Organizer that will Accommodate the Number of Coupons that you Clip Weekly

For the coupon organizer itself, you can choose one of three methods. For example, you may want to use an expanding file and organize the stores and categories alphabetically. However, if you clip coupons from the Sunday paper, you may want to use a larger kind of filing system. For example, you could use a craft box to organize your coupons, which will give you more latitude with respect to separating the coupons by store and the individual categories.

Or, like many coupon clippers, you may choose to organize coupons by using a big binder that is usually used to hold baseball cards. Purchase dividers to categorize the binder. This method allows you to readily see the coupons you are planning to use and is helpful for anyone who cuts a large number of coupons on a weekly basis.

Once you have your coupons clipped, you will also want to buy a coupon organizer that you can take with you to the store. That way, you can easily pull out the coupons you need when you get up to the cash register.

Using coupons is a great way to save money as they act, in effect, as a form of currency. Being organized then, is essential if you want to make sure that the time you spend clipping and organizing the redeemable papers is well-spent.  If you have never really tried using coupons when you visit the store, give it a shot.  Once you see how much money you can save, couponing may actually become a fun new hobby for you!

Intro to Couponing for Beginners Video

Here is a very good introduction to couponing video that I thought I’d share. I like this lady because she is serious, but not extreme. I’d love to be an extreme couponer at some point, but not just yet. I really like her point about how much she spends on Sunday papers compared to how much she saves.  Her tips about using printable coupons are also very good.  I’ve got to do more of that.

Tags: couponing, coupons organizers, organizing coupons, Printable coupons, save money with coupons

Category: Life at Home