Missed the first posts in the Simply Saving series? Read them here.
Last week we talked about advantages and disadvantages of clipping coupons versus filing the entire inserts. This week we will talk about the different coupon organization filing systems you can use. Everyone is different and I have found that the method you choose depends on your personality, financial situation and season of life. It doesn’t matter which system you pick, just be sure to pick one that works well for you, one that you will stick with. If you don’t keep your coupons organized, you are better off just sticking with meal planning and shopping the sales. I promise.
Accordion Files
File and Wallet Size
This is used for the Clip & File Method. The accordion file comes in two different sizes, there is an index size and a wallet size. I prefer the wallet size because I don’t have to fold my longer coupons, like the Catalina’s that I frequently get. When I am using an accordion file, I like to make sure I have two. I use one file for food items and the other for non-food. Having two different files makes it easier for me to find what I am looking for quickly. For instance, I usually have a plethora of medicine or yogurt coupons. I separate out refrigerated items from dairy, because if not, I would have a huge pile of coupons to flip through while I am in the store. More organized = Save Time=Save Money.
Full Size
Another type of accordion file is a full size, like an 8.5×11 piece of paper or the full size of a Sunday coupon insert. You will use this for Clip As You Go Method filing. You can use this type of filing system in two different ways: to file your weekly Sunday coupon inserts or for filing your store booklets. These types of files typically only have around 5-6 dividers, so they are better suited for separating out your booklets by store.
Coupon Binders
The Coupon Binder system is by far the most labor intensive, however you will save the most money using this method. I highly recommend it for those on a tight budget. Read more on the advantages and disadvantages of this method here. You basically get a three-ring binder (one that zips is ideal), and you purchase baseball card inserts (as pictured above) at somewhere like Target/Walmart/office supply stores, then you create categories for the pages, as listed below.
Checkout the links below on more details for creating your own Coupon Binder:
How To Create a Coupon Binder (video)
The Anatomy of a Coupon Binder (tutorial)
Coupon File Categories
With both the Accordion File and Coupon Binder systems you will want a list of categories to use when separating out your coupons. Below is a table with my suggested coupon filing categories.
Checkout Save at Home Mommy’s Coupon Binder System, if you are looking to purchase one that is put together. Come back later today, because we will be giving one away!
Portable File Box
If you are a “Clip as You Go” type of person like I am, this method is great. I take the weekly Sunday coupon inserts and write the date on the front, then file into my portable filing box (pictured above). I also use this box to file my All You magazines, and store coupon booklets. Then when I want or need to find a coupon, I simply type what I am looking for into my coupon database and it tells me where to find it!
These are the main systems I have seen used by veteran couponers. I have found that a combination of the accordion file and the portable file box works well for me.
What method of coupon organization do you use? I would love to hear what system you use and how it works for you. Please leave a comment below and tell us your experiences and tips.
i use the accordion file system. However, I file mine alphabetically by brand name instead of in categories. It’s easier for me this way. If I go to the store and see that Hamburger Helper is on sale I go straight to my H file and there’s my coupon. I do have 2 separate files for food and non-food items
I use the accordion files too (one for food and one for non-food). I have found that it actually encourages my husband to use coupons too because he can find the coupons easier. I only clip some and others I file. Instead of using a file box, I just put them in date order in a pretty basket on a bookshelf. I also keep all of the Publix fliers and magazines in the basket too. I have found this system works well because there are just two of us. Our stockpile can be much smaller than those with families and we still keep our food budget (groceries and eating out) to under $200/month! Thanks, Kelly for you help in getting us to that point 🙂
oohh. wow.. this will help a lot, I sometimes run short and am not able to clip my coupons right away, this will help me keep them organized and not just stacked into my coupon binder slipping about.. thanks!
Kelly,
I just recently got into couponing in the last year and have tried lots of different ways of organizing my coupons. I find that the clip and file method works the best for me because I would forget about coupons when I did the clip as you go method (I would actually clip one set of inserts and then file the other set I got in full – like the combined method you mentioned). Anyway, I was using the accordian file, but that was getting too full and disorganized so I recently moved to the binder. It is so much easier for me to find the coupons while in the stores. I have many more categories and can flip right to the pages I need when looking at the ads or while searching for a coupon in the store. For instance, I have meats, pasta & rice, veggies, breakfast, baking, snacks, paper, medicine… I probably have nearly 30 categories. I separated them using white binder dividers. When I take it to the store, (yes, I take the big binder to the stores…I have to admit it’s very bulky), I can sit it up on the spine and unzip it and flip right to what I need, just like an accordian file. The binder I use I got at Target and looks exactly like the one you are giving away (without the cool stuff for the inside included). It zips, but in the front, it has a large according file where I can keep my meal planning and grocery list sheets, any sale flyers with coupons for stores like JoAnn’s or JCPenny, or BabiesRUs. The biggest drawback is how humongous it feels and doesn’t fit in my purse or diaper bag like my old accordian so I have to leave it in the car or plan ahead to bring it. So, far, I really like it and it doesn’t seem to take anymore time than my old accordian method….and I can find things much easier than before, it’s all right there in front of me.
YAY! So excited to log on and see my binder on the pics! I love it, and it made me smile on this gloomy Tuesday!
My system is similar to Jenny’s. I clip one set of each insert and put into my binder. I write the date on the front of the inserts and keep them in plastic mini-tub. I like the file box idea it is so neat and organized! I have an extra one I may try that for a while. I also use the accordion file. I have it labeled for the different stores, i.e. Wal-mart, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, ect. This keeps me from carrying around many envelopes with store names written on them and coupons tucked inside.
One area I was lacking in was categories in my binder. Thank you for the list I am going to reorganize my binder today with the new categories!
Happy Saving!
I’ve been couponing for about two years now. I’m using the whole insert method. We use “milk crates” purchased at Staples and plain old manilla and file folders. I put the date on the file folders and then the name of the insert on each manilla folder. My only problem was when to pull out the expired ones. I found a site in a google search called Coupon Cleanout (www.CouponCleanout.com) and its been very helpful in that last respect. I select my state and it shows me what inserts are safe to pull out. Thought I’d pass it along for any other “whole insert” filers.
I use a binder for the one set of coupons I cut out only ones I know I will use. Then I date and file in magazine holders ss,rp,pg, store booklets. I print off only coupons I know I will use and put into my binders. I use the store and coupon match ups each week to put together my shopping lists. I have two types of holders for going to the store with. the school pencil holders one color for each of my regular stores. and dividers with pockets for other stores. This seems to be working well for me.
I love many of these ideas and will play around. One I particularly LOVE is Cathy’s use of pencil holders for store-specific coupons as that is one area I really fall down on and know I miss out on many store-specific savings. Off to the dollar store to see if they have some 🙂
Does anyone separate printed coupons in one binder or filer and inserts in another ? Because nothing seems to fit..
Quicken Home and business vs QuickBooks both are used to address small business needs. Quickbooks is better to quickly guide through small business transactions where quicken home and business work better for personal finances. Quickbooks uses a dashboard to give an overview of accounting which includes current expenses, income, and upcoming bills where Quicken home and business uses a dashboard to give a visual overview of budgeting. Quickbooks is designed for growing business, so the software includes various payroll options but Quicken home & business does not include payroll.
QuickBooks makes your business more convenient and easy to manage with its useful tools. However, it can occasionally welcome minor or major bugs. QuickBooks error 1334 is one of those errors that can occur in certain circumstances. Malware, a damaged Windows registry, improper installation of the QB software, and other factors can cause such an error.
Awesome blog!! Thank for providing excellent information. if you have any issues with QuickBooks Online Error Code 101, you can go through the detailed steps mentioned in this article.
Wonderful post. I like it
We have created this article to help you identify and resolve Troubleshoot QuickBooks Error Code 1334. By understanding the reasons for this inconvenient error, you may also avoid it in the future.
In this blog post we have briefly explained the causes, early signs and solution steps for QuickBooks error code 1334. Error 1334: A missing or damaged QuickBooks Desktop installation file or a corrupted.