3-RING BINDER & BASEBALL CARD HOLDERS
This is how I started out. I am an extremely visual person & this helped me remember what I had & organize things in my mind. One tip-if you're going to have to invest in a 3-ring binder & you think this is going to be the primary way you will go, go ahead & purchase a large sized one. I started out with a 1", graduated to a 2" & finally had to go out and purchase a 3" binder.
I had bought some baseball card holders & both Staples & Office Depot but the BEST DEAL that I have found was at Target (back in the toy department). I got a pack of 100 for $11.I also bought dividers so that I could have categories (I also had a divider for each store where I shop).
NO CLIPPING
This is the method that I use now that I've gotten stocked up on a lot of items that I use regularly & only need to purchase things that I will use that month (or things to replace what I have used/will use). I purchased an accordian file folder & labeled each tab the following:
P&G
RP (2 tabs for this)
SS (2 tabs for this)
Printables
Mailed
(Weekly) Ads
Weekly Shopping List
Promos
Receipts
Misc.
When I pull my coupon inserts out of the Sunday paper I just write the date at the top (example: 3/7 for March 7th). I then file them in their respective place, in the back of the pile.When I file them this way I just clip the coupon I need as I'm looking at the sales for that week.
I do like have my baseball card binder so that if I clip some & go to the store & do not purchase something that I have a coupon for I can file it in the binder under categories so that I can find it easily instead of having a bunch of loose coupons to flip through to try to find something later.
MAKE YOUR OWN BOX
A friend of mine uses a Rubbermaid shoe box & envelopes to organize her coupons. The plastic Rubbermaid container is the perfect size for fitting in the bottom of one of those reusable shopping bags.
This is an inexpensive way to organize your coupons. The only downsize to using a box is that it does not expand. When you run out of room you've run out of room.
EXAMPLE CATEGORIES
Air fresheners & candles
Baby Items
Bags, Wraps & Storage
Baking Items
Batteries, Light bulbs & Seasonal
Beverages
Breads, Croutons, etc
Breakfast Items
Candy & Gum
Canned Food
Cereal
Cleaning Products
Cosmetics
Dairy Products
Dental Hygiene
Deoderant
Dishwashing Items
Feminine Hygiene
First Aid
Frozen-Bread, Waffles, Pizzas
Frozen-Ice Cream, Desserts, Fruit
Frozen-Entrees
Frozen-Veggies
Granola & Snack Bars
Hair Care
Laundry Products
Lotion
Meat
Medication
Men’s Products
Oils & Sprays
Paper Towels, Napkins, Plates
Pasta & Rice
Produce
Razors
Refrigerated Baking Products
Salad Dressing & Condiments
Seasoning & Spices
Soap & Body Wash
Soup & Broth
Snacks-Salty
Snacks-Sweets
Toilet paper & Tissue
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