Coupon Organization

by Tracy on January 31, 2010

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I was asked recently to share my method of coupon organization so I thought it was about time I talked about it. I will also talk about other popular methods as well since everyone has different preferences.

Let me preface my method of madness first by letting you know that I organize this way because it works easily with the Coupon Sense program I’m an instructor for. We’re all about easy these days so why get complicated. :)

Weekly Binder Method

Items Needed:

  • 4 inch binder {I get 6 Sunday papers so if you have less try a 3 inch binder}
  • Sheet protectors {If starting out buy box or two of 200.}
  • Pencil pouch for scissor storage

Step 1: Label Inserts

labeling_insert  inside_binder

I place the month/date on insert, then I add the Coupon Sense alphanumeric assignment on the front as well. {Click the image to see what I’m talking about.}

Step 2: Decollate Coupons

I line up all my RedPlum inserts on my craft table and start tearing the pages out so they are all single pages. You should have all page 1’s in a pile and so on until all like pages are in separate piles. Now it’s time to grab mr. stapler and staple your like pages together. {Don’t staple on a barcode! Find a non coupon area of page and staple there.}

Step 3: Place in Binder

I do not cut my coupons until I need them so I add some empty sheet protectors to my binder and stapled page of inserts into its own sheet protector. {I like to label the month/date on front of each page too.}

And that is pretty much it. I also have an A-Z list of all current coupons in the front of my binder so that I can easily find which week the coupon came out. See I don’t have to cut my coupon until I’m at the store. For me this is very efficient and saves me time.

Now lets check out other methods to organize coupons.

Category Binder method

This method is very similar to the Weekly Binder Method but it gets different and to be honest, time consuming. {I’m too lazy and/or busy for all the cutting it involves.}

Items Needed:

  • 4 inch binder {I get 6 Sunday papers so if you have less try a 3 inch binder}
  • Baseball card holders {cheap at Target, Wal-Mart or some sports card stores}
  • Pencil pouch for scissor storage

Step 1: Decollate Coupon

Same madness as I mentioned above. :)

Step 2: Cut Coupons

Yes ladies, you have to cut your coupons first with this method. Some people will only cut coupons they know they will use others cut them all. I’ve tried this method before and was shocked at how many coupons I didn’t use but still cut. {Time waster to me but to each their own.}

Step 3: Find Category

You’ve got all these cut coupons, now what? Well it’s time to find their proper category and place them in the baseball card holders. I will warn you now, you will be doing some serious folding of coupons to get them into the baseball card holder slots.

You’re finally done and can go rest your weary hands. Don’t forget you have to do this again next week and so on. If you take a break you can fall behind very quickly which is why I stick with the Weekly Binder Method.

Filing Method

file_method_pyp

Very similar to the Weekly Binder Method except you place them in a hanging file bin or crate. 

Box Method

ebay_case_box

Very similar to Category Binder Method except you use a box such as the Case Box or Tackle Box.

Whatever method works best for you is the one I would suggest using. If you’re anything like me you will probably go through several methods until you find what works best for you. People change habits and thus coupon organization methods may not work as efficient so you will inevitably change your method accordingly.

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