…so I finally ditched this method of couponing:
AMEN… won’t miss ya… have a nice trip to the city dump. (ok, recycling bin…but that doesn’t sound nearly as dramatic as what I am going for here.) Bottom line…you get the point…the baseball card coupon organizer binder thing didn’t work for me. In fact, it down right stressed me out and made me crazy. My time (and sanity) is worth something (actually…a LOT) … and this was definitely depleting both.
So…here is what I did about it:
Exhibit A (above): NEW TOTE BAG
that I got on Amazon: Coupon Binder Tote Bags
(make sure to look at measurements BEFORE you order…
you want it to all fit 
The one I ordered is no longer available…but there are lots more.
Exhibit B (below): 13 Pocket Accordian Folder
(Office Max on sale for $9)
or you can see one here:
13-Pocket File,with Elastic Closure,Mesh Pocket on Back,Letter (GLW89100) Category: Expanding Files
Exhibit C (below): Accordian Binder/Folder #2
(my favorite)
You can see one like it right now on Amazon for $5.55 here:
Smead Frequency Expanding Files, Waterproof and Tear Resistant Materials (70863)
…ok…I will try to keep this simple.
I use an Accordian Binder (Exhibit C) for organizing my coupon inserts by week.
You can find LOTS of these on Amazon here: Accordian Files and Folders
You can find LOTS of these on Amazon here: Accordian Files and Folders
I usually end up with 3-5 inserts from each Sunday paper because we get one paper, my parents save theirs for me and I have a supers sweet mother-in-law who not only saves them for me … but GET THIS…clips them as well!! It doesn’t get much better than that! Plus I always end up with a friend or neighbor passing them along….
So…The first thing that I do is write the DATE on them with my sharpie
and then I file them by dated sections:
…my mother-in-law clips them and then sends them to me in an envelope…
…my mother-in-law clips them and then sends them to me in an envelope…so I usually have at least one set already clipped…and I write the date on it, plus any hot coupons/products on the outside, in case I am in a hurry and need quick reference.
This envelope goes right in the section with that Sundays inserts.
I date each section with the Sunday insert date, and file accordingly. As you can see… once I get to the back of the files, I start with a new date at the front, and by this time, the older dates are almost all ready to expire…it actually works out really good.
What do I do with the printable coupons? (below) I actally clip the ones that I think I will use and put them either in the store specific files in my 13file folder / or in a store specific file in that same folder OR I leave them all one one sheet and cut them as I come across the items.
I keep them all in the back of my 13file folder.
I then use my 13 pocket Accordian File (Exhibit B) to sort our specific items like RESTAURANT COUPONS, RECEIPTS, MALL COUPONS, FREE STUFF (I always keep a file of FREE just so that I am sure to pick these things up anytime I come across them…for example, I carried that darn FREE Kashi coupon around forever before I finally came across a store that carried the Kashi Frozen Meals.) …. I also put my “store specific” coupons in the 13 file folder… so that when I am at certain stores I can just grab them.
At the very front of my 13 file folder … I have ONE baseball card sheet that just holds peelies. I have decided that is all that I can allow into my life… and this comes in handy for those coupons that we use or need often:
Right before I go on a shopping trip… I usually get a (used) priority mail envelope and fill it with the deals, print outs and scenarios that I am on the lookout for. If I am going to more then one store, then I use a different envelope for each store. Then I put all coupons/printouts, etc. in the envelope and on the outside I use a sticky note to list my “plan” of attack:
I also have a little pocket binder pouch that holds a couple pens, small pair of sissors (for those in-store clippping emergencies) and I also use this pouch to place coupons in as I am shopping so that once I get up to the front of the store they are all in one place:
These happen to be on sale at Amazon right now ( Case-it Fuchsia Pen/Pencil Case (PEN-03)
) for ONLY $6.60 AND qualify for free shipping on orders of $25 or more (just a little FYI) I love mine…and also keep my RRs, Catalinas, gift cards, etc… all those things that you hunt for when you get up to the register.Keep in mind that I no longer have an actual binder…they are way too big and ANNOYING for my life… but I couldn’t part with my binder pouch. It just sits in the front of my tote bag. It is very happy there…
Is my new system perfect…? duh….NO. (let me know when you find a perfect one, lol!)…however…it is working awesome for me… and as long as I sit down and re-organize it now and then…it stays pretty clean and easy. I don’t care how much money that I am saving…if it is stressing me out and taking up a ton of time … not interested. I hate feeling like a loser coupon chic when I get scattered and stressed… and flipping open a huge binder (and having things fly everywhere) was starting to get to me. (ask my girlfriend Yori who has been with me when I go all Tasmanian Devil over the coupon stress…not pretty in the slightest.)
So… here is how I roll now:
How do you roll? I would love to hear it ….
(ps. Joanna… this is for YOU … long overdue… and I apologize for that…but I didn’t forget your request!!)
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{ 2 comments }
Hi, Keri, I really appreciate the great advice. I’m trying to copy your system and am confused about the difference between your expanding file and accordian folder. Can you please re-explain it for me? Thank you so much!
Hey Sarah! sorry it is so confusing, and I didn’t explain very good. They are really two accordian folders, it is just that the one for my inserts is a bit bigger – but I actually think that you could use two of the same…the main point is that I like to keep things divided up. Let me know if you need more help – it is so overwhelming, I know!!
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