Thursday, July 14, 2011

How to Organize your Coupons

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Once you decide to start couponing, it doesn’t take long to amass a giant pile of coupons. Any pile of paper in any shape size or form demands some sort of containment and some sort of organization within that containment.

The most popular means of containing coupons are: in a coupon file, in a binder, in envelopes, or in an accordion file. Currently, I am using a binder system.

Once you decide on how to contain your coupons, you must decide how to organize your coupon collection within that system. Several popular ways to organize your coupons, and the major pro for each, are:

1.      Alphabetical order: It is easy to flip to any coupon

2.      Expiration date: Easier to toss coupons when they expire

3.      Insert Date: quickly able to find coupons when using a couponing blog to find deals

My method of organizing coupons is by the layout of the store I visit most often. The entrance to the store is at the produce section, so I place my coupons for everything I find in the produce area first. Then when I am done shopping in the produce section I go to the dairy section, flip a page and have all of my dairy related coupons easy to see.

I also have a section in the front where I keep all of my coupons that I plan on using during that shopping trip. Towards the back of my binder I have store specific sections for store coupons that I print off online or clip from the circulars. I also have a section for restaurant coupons, department store coupons, and entertainment coupons.

Use Today
Place all coupons you plan on using today here

Produce
Fruits, Veggies, Chilled Salad Dressings, Salad Toppings

Dairy
Milk, Butter, Cheese, Yogurt, Coffee Creamer, Cream Cheese, and Other Dairy

Meats
Deli Cuts, Bacon, Lunchables, Hot Dogs, Sausage, Other Chilled Meats

Refrigerated
Juices, Cookie Dough, Bread Dough, Dips and Spreads, Pickles

Breads
Sliced Bread, Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns, Tortillas, Bagels, and Other Breads

Vegetables
Canned and Jarred Vegetables of all kinds

Fruits
Canned and Jarred Fruits, Fruit Cups, Applesauce

Hot Drinks
Coffee, Tea, Cocoa

PB & J
Peanut Butter, Jelly, Honey

Cereals
Dry Breakfast Cereal and Hot Cereals

Granola Bars, etc…
Granola Bars, Fruit Snack, Energy Bars

Pasta & Rice
Pasta and Sauce, Rice, Prepared Sides, Couscous, Hamburger Helper

International
Mexican, Asian, Other International Items

Drinks
Non-Refrigerated Juices, Juice Boxes, Powdered Drink Mixes

Soups
Canned Soups, Dry Soup Mixes, Broth, Boullion

Canned Protein
Beans, Chili, Tuna

Condiments
Mustard, Mayo, Ketchup, Relish, BBQ Sauce, Hot Sauce

Salad Dressings

Pickles & Peppers
Pickles, Peppers, Olives, Other Antipasto Items

Cookies & Crackers
Cookies, Crackers, Other Snack Items

Baking Mixes
Mixes for Cakes, Cookies, Brownies, Pancakes, Muffins, Gelatin, Pudding

Baking Staples
Flour, Sugar, Chocolate Chips, Oils, Other Baking Staples

Spices & Seasonings
Salt, Pepper, Seasonings, Seasoning Packets

Frozen Appetizers
Pizza Rolls, Taquitos, Fries, Chicken Strips, Other Frozen Appetizers

Frozen Entrees
Main Course Frozen Items

Frozen Staples
Frozen Fruits, Veggies, Dough, Other Items for Cooking or Baking

Frozen Breakfast
Waffles, Breakfast Sandwiches, Hash Browns, Other Breakfast Items

Frozen Desserts
Ice Cream, Popsicles, Pies, Other Sweet Treats

Salty Snacks
Popcorn, Chips, Nuts, Pretzels

Candy and Gum

Bottled Beverages
Water, Soda, Tea, Sports Drinks

Frozen Entrees
Main Course Frozen Items

Alcohol
Drink Mixes, Beer, Wine, Hard Liquor

Food Storage & Service
Plastic Wrap, Aluminum Foil, Baggies, Trash Bags
Disposable Plates, Cups, and Silverware

Paper Goods
Paper Towels, Napkins, Toilet Paper

Baby
Baby Food, Diapers, Formula, Wipes

First Aid
Medicine and Bandages

Vitamins
Vitamins and Health Supplements

Hair Care
Shampoo, Conditioner, and Styling Products

Oral Care
Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Mouthwash, Floss

Shaving
Razors, Refills, Shaving Cream

Deodorant

Beauty
Make-Up, Nail Polish, Beauty Tools

Feminine Care
Tampons, Pads, Yeast Medications

Lotions
Lotions and Sunscreen

Facial Care
Cleansers, Moisturizers, Face Scrub

Soaps
Bar Soap, Soft Soap, Body Washes

Laundry
Laundry Detergent, Stain Remover, Fabric Softener

Dishes
Dishwashing and Dishwasher Soap

Cleaners
All-Purpose, Kitchen, Bathroom, and Floor Cleaners

Pet Care
Pet Food, Treats, Pet Care Items

Miscellaneous

Target
Place all Target only coupons here

Costco
Place all Costco store coupons here

Rite Aid
Place all +Up Rewards and store coupons here

CVS
Place all Extra Care Bucks and store coupons here

Walgreens
Place all Register Rewards and store coupons here

Department Stores

Safeway

Save Mart

Raleys

Other Stores

Restaurants

Entertainment
Kelloggs Coupons

1 comment:

  1. Out blog hopping. Nice to meet you. Feel free to stop by my blogs. Kim
    http://losingitlikealunatic.blogspot.com/
    http://cravingsofalunatic.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete