Extreme Couponing Almost Drove Me Crazy
For the first eight or so years Jay and I were married, I didn’t use coupons. None. (I know, what was I thinking?) The Sunday paper would come, I would leaf through the sale fliers, and toss the coupons aside. I thought they were all for processed foods we never used and that I didn’t have the time to cut them out.
But really, I just needed to come up with a system to organize my coupons!
Whether you have been couponing for years or you are just getting started knowing how to organize your coupons is a must. If your coupons are unorganized you chance missing out on free or deeply discounted products and we sure don’t want to do that! There are many different ways to organize your coupons that will fit any personality or shopping style.
There is one very important tip I want to go over with you before we begin organizing your coupons. There are expiration dates on coupons and it is very important to make it easier to find them because you are going to be dealing with a large amount of coupons. It is much easier if you take the time to color code your expiration dates with a different colored highlighter for each month. For instance if you use blue for January then when February first rolls around you can grab all the coupons that have the expiration date highlighted in blue because you know all these have expired.
How to Organize Your Coupons
Coupon Binder Method– Having a coupon binder is a great way to organize your coupons. There are a few things that you need to get to make a coupon binder.
What you will need (I’ve linked to the ones that I’ve purchased and loved)
- 3- Ring binder (I have had better luck when they are at least 2-3 inches thick)
- Scissors
- Baseball card holders (approximately 15-20, this varies greatly on the amount of coupons you have)
- Calculator
- Pens, pencils and notebook (use the notebook for taking notes or tracking prices)
- Zippered Pencil Pouch
- A copy of each stores coupon policy that you frequent
- Folder (for holding coupon policies)
- Highlighters (for highlighting expiration dates)
- Dividers (to place in the binder to make categories)
How To
- Place the 3-ring binder in the front of your folder for the pens, pencils, calculator and notebook (if it will fit)
- Place the baseball card holders with the openings facing up toward the ceiling when you’re holding it. This is pretty important because when you are in the store they will fall all over the floor if they are not in there right.
- Highlight the expiration date before placing them in the coupon organizer. Place the dividers in the 3 ring binder to separate categories of coupons. I have listed the categories below that I use in my binder.
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- Baking
- Beverages
- Breakfast
- Canned/Jar/Boxed Food
- Beauty
- Personal Care
- Cleaning
- Household
- Pets
- Snacks
These are some great binder options for keeping you coupons organized.
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Case-it Open Tab Velcro Closure 2-Inch Binder with Tab File, Purple, S-816-PURCase-it Mighty Zip Tab 3-Inch Zipper Binder, Black, D-146-BLK
Case-it Universal 2-Inch 3-Ring Zipper Binder, Holds 13 Inch Laptop, Purple, LT-007-PUR
Other tools you need for the binder system:
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AmazonBasics Chisel Tip Highlighters – Pack of 121 Red Zippered Pencil Case by School Smarts – 3 Ring Red Pencil Pouch for Binder with Mesh and plastic window. For Use in and Out of the Classroom.
Avery Write & Erase Durable Plastic Dividers with Pockets, 8 Multicolor Tabs, 1 Set (16177)
The Mini Organizer
You can find many different sizes of mini accordion style coupon organizers pretty much anywhere. They are much lighter than the coupon organizer and much easier to lug around. They usually have around 8-10 slots which work well in keeping them in separate categories. If you plan on keeping each and every coupon that you come across you may find that you outgrow the mini organizer very quickly but it works really well for some and is much easier on the back!
There are some really cute options for accordion style organizers:
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Expandable Coupon Organizer – BlackCoupon Organizer for Grocery Shopping Holder for Coupons, Canvas Chevron Pattern, Grey Color
Modern Grocery Coupon Organizer Wallet & Extreme Coupon Holder. Set Includes 24 Plastic Coupon Cards Dividers and Stickers. Material Canvas.
Evelots 4025 Expandable Grocery Coupon Organizer Binder & Coupon Holder, Floral Coupon Organizer
Kitchenka Purse Coupon Organizer R
C-Line 13-Pocket Poly Expanding File, 10 x 5 Inches, Junior Size for Receipts and Checks, Includes Tabs, 1 File, Color May Vary (58710)
Keeping Whole Inserts
Keeping whole inserts is a great time saver because instead of cutting each and every coupon you actually keep the inserts whole and file them in a box. It’s much easier if you take a permanent marker and write on the front of each insert the date the paper came out and the name of the insert.
When you search on a coupon database to find the coupons that you are looking for they will advise you of the name of the insert (redplum, smart source or P&G) and the date it was printed. Keeping them filed by date and name will help you quickly find the coupon and cut it out when needed. This method saves you tons of time by not clipping the coupons you don’t use. The downfall is carrying a big box of inserts with you may be quite heavy and leaving them at home may cause you to miss a good deal. My advice would be to take it with you and leave it in the car. That way if you find an unadvertised deal you won’t have to go far for the coupon.
No, I always forget them!
I think I would use more coupons if I only had time but that is scarce lately! I do use the occasional coupon!
I used to be really good at using coupons but with kids and life I just don’t have the time anymore.
I do use coupons, but not nearly as much as I did last year.
I love using coupons but I could never be an Extreme Couponer
I want to, but then I either forget, or just get too busy. I do use coupons regularly at restaurants. And I do load electronic coupons to my Kroger card. It’s so much easier that way. I don’t have to clip or print. 🙂
We don’t seem to have as many coupon opportunities in Canada, but I need to try and do it more.
I hardly EVER coupon (same reasons — I don’t purchase processed foods so I rarely find good coupons) but I am going to check out the online sites. We don’t take the paper (Another reason I don’t coupon) so maybe this will be a good option for me from time to time!
I never print coupons. I wish I could save bucoos of bucks with couponing.
I use both, but I’m just a beginner with coupons.
I’ve always wanted to get into couponing, but after standing in line when someone practically gets everything free looks discouraging. I don’t know where to start OR better yet how do they get 100’s of dollar worth of products for less than $10.00. I’d probably mess up and get escorted out of the store lol.
I used to do extreme couponing. I would get hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for a very small amount or sometimes free. I stopped after my newspaper stopped including the best inserts in their Sunday paper. I miss doing it. You are able to get free groceries by stacking coupons on top of sales, especially 10/$10 sales or BOGOS. Publix is the best for this in the SE and I think I heard Kroger’s is also one of the best. I also LOVE Walgreens for TP and laundry detergent sales with their coupons. I used to buy 10 copies of the Sunday paper because then I would have 10 coupons for those 10/$10 sales and if there was a $1 off coupon for that sale product I would then have 10 $1 coupons and since the sale was 10 for $10, you apply the $10 worth of $1 coupons and you get all 10 of those products for free. For the BOGO sales, you Buy 1 Get 1 FREE. For BOGOs you apply a coupon to the one you buy AND the free one and therefore, that one you buy often became free or near free. You have to be flexible on what brand you get to get the most out of couponing. As far as Walgreens goes, they are great for couponing and just saving from then even without coupons. They have reward money back that you earn and they also have reward deal coupons like $5off/$25 purchase that you get as a receipt that you can use on your next purchase. For that reason, they allow you to do many transactions in a row. EXAMPLE: Let’s say I have $50-60 worth of products that are on sale and they have coupons. Like right now they have 4/$10 ($2.50each) Tide w/Oxi or Tide Simply Clean & Fresh 31oz. Let’s say they also have coupons available for $2 off each. So you grab a bunch of the products with an equal number of the coupons and make sure that also evens out with the number needed to get the sale, in this case you need 4 to get the $10 sale, so you want to get multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12) and use the same number of coupons on it. So I might get 2 sets of the sale (8products) and have 8 – $2 off coupons to apply on top of the sale. So the math would be 8 Tide detergents for 4/$10 = $20 AND 8 – $2 off coupons gets you $16 off that $20. Maybe I have $4 of Walgreens reward I can apply to that as well, so the entire $20 of sale products is now free for me! When I pay for it they give me a receipt and I get $5off a $25 purchase. So I then start a second transaction for TP that I want to buy and it is also on sale with coupons only now I also have the $5 off from my receipt! The key is learning how to stack and understanding store coupon policies. Hope this helps 🙂
I use both as well. I only clip coupons I will use and don’t do the binder anymore.
I think a happy medium is important. Extreme couponing, like the way they do it on tv, is an obsession in itself and not healthy either. Everything in moderation.
sounds like you wrote a story about me. Now I need to check out that site.
I use them when I can, but never seem to get anything for free!
I am just starting to get back into coupons, but it can drive you crazy!
Wow!! I am just not organized enough to do this – but the store I mostly shop at has coupons each week for $6 of $30 or $10 off $50, and you can use 3 of the first if you spend $90, so that is $18 saved.
I need to start couponing again. I just don’t want processed food.
So glad you found a balance, it almost drove me nuts in the beginning too. I have had to give it up lately since I have no time for it anymore, but it is definitely best to find that balance and enjoy the rewards.
I forget to use them when shopping in stores, but online, I always remember to at least TRY to find one for the store I want to shop at.
I have used coupons in the past, but not to the point of paying a fraction in the total. I have tried to do it, but it really drove me crazy. What stores would you suggest going to?
I’ve been having good luck with CVS and Walgreens mostly. Target and Walmart can be good some weeks and a bust others.