Secrets to supermarket savings - Part 9
Now that you've started collecting coupons, you'll quickly find you need to come up with some method of organization. There are all sorts of ways to go about this and the most important thing is that you do what works for you. I'd recommend you start out with a few envelopes - one for each store you shop at, and then one larger one for your extra coupons. As you collect more coupons, you could expand to an index card box with dividers for different food/item categories.
If you collect coupons like me, you will quickly outgrow an index box and need something more substantial. My solution has been this:
My mom created her coupon box based on the coupon box of another friend. A few months before I got married, my mom made me my own and gave me some of her coupon stash to get me started. It has worked wonderfully for me.
The individual envelopes were made by using small letter envelopes (No. 6 3/4 - 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 in.), cutting the flaps off, and stapling an index card standing up inside.
The envelopes are organized alphabetically with the main categories and then multiple envelopes for each main category. Something like this:
Baby - diapers
products
wipes
Bags -
containers
foil, plastic wrap
trash
And so on. Here are the rest of the categories along with some of what are in the categories and the separate envelopes in parentheses:
Baking (mixes, oil/sugar)
Batteries, film
Beverages
Bread
Candy
Canned (meat, soup, vegetables, fruit)
Cereal (envelopes for each brand)
Cleaner (all purpose, bathroom, dish detergent, disinfectant, laundry, furniture polish, floor, glass)
Condiments
Crackers
Dairy (beverage, cheese, sr. cream/cream cheese/butter, snacks, yogurt)
Frozen (beverage, bread, ice cream, meat, snacks, vegetables/fruit/potatoes)
Health Food
Hygiene (bandaids, deoderant, face, feminine, hair, lotion, medicine/vitamins, shaving, soap)
Jelly, Peanut Butter
Meat
Mexican
Office Supplies
Paper Products (facial tissue, cups/plates, toilet tissue, towels/napkins)
Pasta
Rice
Salad Dressing
Sauce
Seasonings
Snacks
Syrup
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
I put restaurant coupons or other coupons for non-grocery stores and rebate forms and my recent CVS receipts (on one side of the box. On the other side, I'll put coupons which need to be organized. The front of the box has envelopes for each store I shop at. When I make out my grocery lists for each store, I put the coupons I'll be using in these envelopes, along with the lists for the store. I always bring a calculator and a pen in my box, too.
The size of the container fits into the front of the shopping cart (the child seat section), and if you don't have a child sitting in there, this works well. Since Kathrynne usually sits in the seat, unless I have her in the ERGO, I just put my box in the cart and pile up stuff around it. This is not the best solution, though, and it works easier if it's in the front of the cart. I usually only take my whole box in when I go to Kroger, since I often find extra deals and reduced items that I have coupons for which were not advertised in the sale flier. At Walgreens or CVS, I just pull out the envelope in the front of the box which is for that store and head in. If I find some special deal that I know I have coupons for, I can always run back out to the car and get them. But, that seems to be rarely the case at those stores so it's safe to leave my box in the car. The tub has a lid with a handle so it's easy to cart around.
That's what works for me. Obviously, if you wanted to have a similar system it would be tweaked for your family, based upon what you buy and how many coupons you readily find for each item. If you don't want to go to the work to make something like this, but you like the idea RefundCents has a very similar coupon box which you can purchase here for only $15.95 plus shipping and handling. While you're there, be sure to check out the magazine and online subcriptions offered. I recently subscribed with my birthday money to try it out and have been very impressed. There is tons of information there and for only $4 for three months of online access, it's worth a try. I went ahead and got both the online access and the magazine subscription for three months. I've not gotten my magazine yet, but I've already found out about some good deals online which I would not have otherwise discovered. You'll especially love how they have a weekly CVS and Walgreens shopping list, state deal lists, sneak previews to coupons coming out, tons of rebate offers, and a very active chat list. There's probably more offered here than you could ever use and definitely something for everyone. The only drawback is that the website is rather ancient in layout and I don't think most of the Amazon deals are good deals. Just my personal opinion. However, definitely check it out. And, even if you decide not to purchase a subscription, you might find the email newsletter helpful and you'll most certainly be inspired by the photos and stories of those who good great deals. I had fun reading through them one afternoon while taking a few breaks from cleaning!
Back to the subject at hand, I'd love to hear how you organize your coupons, if you have your own system. If you'd like to share pictures and a detailed explanation, I'd love to consider posting it and perhaps using it in my upcoming Secrets to Supermarket Savings ebook, if that is alright with you. Anyone who shares pictures and explanations will automatically get a free ebook. I'm also looking for inspiring coupon stories and photos. Have any of those to share? Send them my way and you'll get a free ebook, too! Email me biblicalwomanhood{@}sbcglobal.net - remove the brackets, of course!
If you collect coupons like me, you will quickly outgrow an index box and need something more substantial. My solution has been this:
My mom created her coupon box based on the coupon box of another friend. A few months before I got married, my mom made me my own and gave me some of her coupon stash to get me started. It has worked wonderfully for me.The individual envelopes were made by using small letter envelopes (No. 6 3/4 - 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 in.), cutting the flaps off, and stapling an index card standing up inside.
The envelopes are organized alphabetically with the main categories and then multiple envelopes for each main category. Something like this:Baby - diapers
products
wipes
Bags -
containers
foil, plastic wrap
trash
And so on. Here are the rest of the categories along with some of what are in the categories and the separate envelopes in parentheses:
Baking (mixes, oil/sugar)
Batteries, film
Beverages
Bread
Candy
Canned (meat, soup, vegetables, fruit)
Cereal (envelopes for each brand)
Cleaner (all purpose, bathroom, dish detergent, disinfectant, laundry, furniture polish, floor, glass)
Condiments
Crackers
Dairy (beverage, cheese, sr. cream/cream cheese/butter, snacks, yogurt)
Frozen (beverage, bread, ice cream, meat, snacks, vegetables/fruit/potatoes)
Health Food
Hygiene (bandaids, deoderant, face, feminine, hair, lotion, medicine/vitamins, shaving, soap)
Jelly, Peanut Butter
Meat
Mexican
Office Supplies
Paper Products (facial tissue, cups/plates, toilet tissue, towels/napkins)
Pasta
Rice
Salad Dressing
Sauce
Seasonings
Snacks
Syrup
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
I put restaurant coupons or other coupons for non-grocery stores and rebate forms and my recent CVS receipts (on one side of the box. On the other side, I'll put coupons which need to be organized. The front of the box has envelopes for each store I shop at. When I make out my grocery lists for each store, I put the coupons I'll be using in these envelopes, along with the lists for the store. I always bring a calculator and a pen in my box, too.
The size of the container fits into the front of the shopping cart (the child seat section), and if you don't have a child sitting in there, this works well. Since Kathrynne usually sits in the seat, unless I have her in the ERGO, I just put my box in the cart and pile up stuff around it. This is not the best solution, though, and it works easier if it's in the front of the cart. I usually only take my whole box in when I go to Kroger, since I often find extra deals and reduced items that I have coupons for which were not advertised in the sale flier. At Walgreens or CVS, I just pull out the envelope in the front of the box which is for that store and head in. If I find some special deal that I know I have coupons for, I can always run back out to the car and get them. But, that seems to be rarely the case at those stores so it's safe to leave my box in the car. The tub has a lid with a handle so it's easy to cart around.
That's what works for me. Obviously, if you wanted to have a similar system it would be tweaked for your family, based upon what you buy and how many coupons you readily find for each item. If you don't want to go to the work to make something like this, but you like the idea RefundCents has a very similar coupon box which you can purchase here for only $15.95 plus shipping and handling. While you're there, be sure to check out the magazine and online subcriptions offered. I recently subscribed with my birthday money to try it out and have been very impressed. There is tons of information there and for only $4 for three months of online access, it's worth a try. I went ahead and got both the online access and the magazine subscription for three months. I've not gotten my magazine yet, but I've already found out about some good deals online which I would not have otherwise discovered. You'll especially love how they have a weekly CVS and Walgreens shopping list, state deal lists, sneak previews to coupons coming out, tons of rebate offers, and a very active chat list. There's probably more offered here than you could ever use and definitely something for everyone. The only drawback is that the website is rather ancient in layout and I don't think most of the Amazon deals are good deals. Just my personal opinion. However, definitely check it out. And, even if you decide not to purchase a subscription, you might find the email newsletter helpful and you'll most certainly be inspired by the photos and stories of those who good great deals. I had fun reading through them one afternoon while taking a few breaks from cleaning!
Back to the subject at hand, I'd love to hear how you organize your coupons, if you have your own system. If you'd like to share pictures and a detailed explanation, I'd love to consider posting it and perhaps using it in my upcoming Secrets to Supermarket Savings ebook, if that is alright with you. Anyone who shares pictures and explanations will automatically get a free ebook. I'm also looking for inspiring coupon stories and photos. Have any of those to share? Send them my way and you'll get a free ebook, too! Email me biblicalwomanhood{@}sbcglobal.net - remove the brackets, of course!
posted by Crystal Paine at 4:06 PM
11 Comments:
I organize my coupons in a three ring binder using plastic baseball card protectors. I'm sure there is a special name for them. I then divide the binder into areas of the grocery store and items if I have lots of coupons for one kind of item. It is helpful to flip through quickly and can be taken to to store. I'd show you a picture of it but it is a bit of a disaster right now. I'm in the process of getting reorganized. I'm getting back to couponing now that the new baby is a bit older.
Crystal,
How do you go about weeding out the expired coupons? Do you just go through your entire box every now and then? How do you keep track of things that are about to expire so you don't forget to use them?
You speak of "collecting" coupons, but most of the coupons I find only last for 1-2 mos. before expiration. That right there seems to limit the collection a little bit:o(
BTW, this series has be GREAT and is inspiring me to give couponing a try again!
I'm reading all of these posts - wishing that we had so many coupons available in New Zealand. You get the odd one here, but nothing like what you guys have.
One day maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!
You lucky women!
Cheers, Wilm
Yeah, I was just about to ask about expiring cupons as well. How on earht do you remember which cupons you cna't use anymore?
Crystal,
I also organize my coupons using the binder system. Here is a quick tour of what I do.
On the outside of my binder there is a zippered compartment that I keep my checkbook, calculator and extra pens in.
Inside my binder on the front left side, I have slots for all of my grocery store cards. Next, there is a see through, zippered 3 ring pencil case with small scissors, stamps,paper clips, and post it notes. There is another zippered section in that same little gadget that I keep loose change in.
Next, are the baseball card compartments. I put a solid sheet of paper behing each category to identify each one and it also helps the coupons to show up better. After all the regular manufacture coupons are restaurant coupons in their own protector.
After all of the coupons comes another zippered 3 ring compartment. I keep all receipts in there. Can't lose those because they are needed for refunds and such. One tip is that some store receipts will offer cash off towards your next purchase.
Next, a one year calendar. Behind that is multiple copies of my store shopping form. By printing off multiples, it saves me time. On this form, I have sections for each store. This is mainly for all the stores I plan to stop at that have sales.
It list these items:
Items
Sale Price
Size
Coupon Value
Total Cost
# to Buy
These all go across the top of the sheet. I found this sheet in a book about couponing, but you could make your own using a table in Word. It has been a huge time saver for me.
At the very back, I keep a few blank sheet protectors and baseball card pages.
It's my all in one couponing center. That way nothing gets lost and nothing can fall out. It all stays neat and organized.
Last, but not least, my price book which is a print out from the free shopping list software I use. www.homeplansoftware.com-Just click on Freeware and then on Shopping List. It's a safe download that a lot of people use. Hard to believe it's totally free.
It serves as my pantry list and my price book.
To use my binder, I just lay it open across the child seat and it sits nicely.
I recently ran across a lady who teaches her system here in my state.
Her site is http://www.smartspendingresources.com/aboutus.html There are pictures there that show how the binder looks while at the store. I didn't buy mine from her, but put my own together.
There are how to's on Refund Cents website. Also, the site mentioned above, Smart Spending Resources has a Yahoo group that offers great info on couponing.
Just thought I'd share and hope this helps someone.
Blessings
I'm really wondering about the expiring coupons. That has always been my problem. They expire before I remember to use them. I may have used one or two coupons my whole life! lol I have so much to learn!!
I use the binder method, too. It's SO easy, and I can find my coupons so fast that way. This is how I do mine:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976781059
When on my coupon tear I usually sort through them as I meal plan and check the sales papers.
Keep expired coupons in an envelop and donate them to military moms. A lot of the commisaries will take expired coupons. You can check various coupon sites for places to send them
caroline
FrugalMom -
Holy cats! Did you check out her website at all? She supposedly spent only 5 cents on a grocery order! I mean, some of what was purchased would never be eaten here, but if i could donate it, how cool would that be. Can you email me at andrea1548at msn.com and tell me exactly how you have your binder set up? My coupon organization system isnt quite so organized (I use one of those little accordion files...).
I have my coupons in an expandable folder that is divided by grocery isles as I spend 95% of my coupons at the same store. ( Martin's). When I pick up the item it goes into the back of the folder. I print off store circulars that I plan to use from the stores website and get the same price at Wal Mart.
FrugalMom: I can't seem to access your website through your link. Could you email me or could someone email me or comment with her website link? Thanks!
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