How I Keep It All Organized - Part 3

COUPONS & MORE COUPONS

I have been asked by you my readers, by fellow shoppers, family, friends, & neighbors, "How do you organize all your coupons?" So here is the answer:

When I get my Sunday papers I separate the inserts & then group each like page. For example: When I flip through my 8 copies of RP, I flip each like page 8 times. Sometimes I staple the like pages so that I only turn the page once but now that I only have 1 week (04/05!!) of un-clipped coupons I really don't do this anymore since I find it more time consuming than flipping the extra pages. I write the date on the top of each insert in black sharpie then file it in pocket folders with brads, that I got FREE at Staples (August '08). Next I make up a label for the folder (see left) & place it at the top of the folder. My inserts stay in these folders until I have time to clip them.

Pictured here is after I have clipped the coupons & then filed them alphabetically in baseball card holders, I get these 3/$11 at Office Max. I use the front & back of the holders to save space & money! My MIL gave me a $10/$10 Office Max coupon that she FOUND, so that got me started with the holders, since then I have only gotten another 3 & haven't even opened 1 package. Clipping takes a lot of time but I clip while I watch TV & then I don't feel so guilty for just sitting in front of the boob-tube - "Hey! I am doing somethin', I am not just watching American Idol!!" I also don't clip as soon as I get the inserts I wait a week or 2 & that thins the inserts out as I use the coupons. I also cut 2 pages at a time, I am OCD so if I miss the line just a little it drives me nuts, if you are not a whack-o like me then be wild, cut more at time. At the beginning of each month I clean out my holders & if I took a lot of coupons out of 1 folder then I will move them around to free up a holder. When the folders start getting thin I will consolidate them as well.

Here is my Coupon Briefcase that I call Big Daddy, again you guessed it I got it at Office Max for around $17. I love it! It is very strong & should last at least a couple of years. The snap closure is REALLY strong so it's not a cheap little snap or Velcro. It is surprisingly not too heavy, I carry Big Daddy, Pinkie, my purse, a sippy cup, Grady Quinn & hold Lawson's hand with no more trouble than any other Mom you see at the grocery store! A lot of people prefer the big binder which is a way cheaper route but I had trouble with the coupons falling out the tops of the holders so this is what works for me, it might not be the route that you are looking for.

Here is a side & open view of Big Daddy.

In the top pic you can see that I labeled the folder once on the top and once on the side, I do the side label instead of making tabs for Big Daddy & the top label is just for me. In these pics I have all current inserts plus current All You coupons & miscellaneous (peelies, tear pads, etc) coupons filed in here.

For Part 1, click here, Part 2, click here

How do you like to keep your coupons organized? I would love to hear your tips.

Happy Couponing!

How I Keep It All Organized - Part 2

THE STORES - PART 2

Now that I have told you about my wonderful little Office Max Pocket Cabinet Files, here, I want to show you how I keep all of them together.


Again at Office Max, on the same aisle as the Pocket Cabinet Files, I found this neat little pink zippered "bag" that the files fit in perfectly. I don't remember exactly how much it was since Grady Quinn tore up the receipt but I am thinking $5.99 or so.

So now I've got my Pocket Cabinet Files for each store stuffed with the current ads, coupons, lists & such. I store them all in the pink zippered "bag", that I call Pinky, with a notebook, pen, scissors & a calculator. When I am ready to shop I grab Pinky and my coupon briefcase (I will tell you about that next) & I am ready to hit the stores. I do take Pinky & my briefcase into each store since #1 the catalina's can be used anywhere & #2 you never know what you are going to find on an un-advertised sale or on clearance.

As for the notebook, pen, scissors & calculator - I got those during Back to School sales this past year. That time will be here before we know it so just keep it in mind to look at the office store ads this August. I got the notebooks at Wal-Mart for 5¢ each, the scissors & calculator were FREE after MIR from Staples & I did get lots of pen's FREE after coupons & MIR but this one my hub picked up from a client.

Happy Couponing!

How I Keep It All Organized - Part 1

THE STORES

I shop at several stores (ok so I shop at 8 - no judgement) and when you have CVS ECB, Walgreen's RR, Albertson's Monopoly Coupons, Kroger's Home Mailer's, Target IP, just to name a few, here and there - your house/car can get cluttered in a hurry with papers and coupons. I was drowning, I was having such trouble keeping all my store "coupon stuff" organized that is until my wonderful Mom gave me a gift card to Office Max for my (early) birthday. I got several different items to help keep me and my coupons organized, here is Part 1 on the Office Max Pocket Cabinet File:

There is a handle at the top & the pockets are a durable thick vinyl. The back pocket is letter size & has an expandable 1-in bottom, the back is a sturdy black plastic that I use as a hard place to write on as I shop & I have even used it to stick peelies on until I get to the register. The front 2 pockets have snaps to hold everything in place. I labeled each file with the stores name that it belongs to, as you can see in the pic.

I keep ads, lists, home mailers & such in the large back pocket. In the left snap-pocket I keep receipts, coupons for that week & anything else that I need to take care of at that store. In the right snap-pocket I keep my catalina's & as I shop I take the coupons from the left pocket & switch them to the right pocket for more ease at the register.



As you can see in this pic it is small, skinny & light plus it's only $2.99! You would think that Office Max is paying me to say all this but unfortunately for me they are not I just really, really think that these folders make couponing easier. Also when you are the one that is at the register scrambling to gather your coupons you sure don't make any friends with the people in line behind you!

Click here to find an Office Max near you and here to learn how to earn $10 in Max Rewards, this week only.

PS - Thanks, Mom! I love ya!

Happy Couponing!