Welcome to my new series, Simply Saving — Never Pay Full Price Again! I am going to kick the series off with Coupon Organization 101. When I teach the basics of saving money, I usually don’t begin with coupons, however it is definitely the most requested topic. So, I am going to start here and then move on to other topics like meal planning.
Coupon Organization 101: Two Methods of Coupon Organization
There are two basic methods to organize your coupons. You can either “Clip and File” or “Clip as You Go”. Let’s look at exactly what each looks like, their advantages, and disadvantages. We will talk about all the various filing systems next, but this week we will be focusing on which method works best for you, then pick a filing system.
Clip & File
“Clip & File” is a method where you take your weekly Sunday coupon inserts and clip all the coupons then put them into your favorite filing system.
Advantages
Increase your stockpile more quickly. Having your coupons already clipped, allows you to take them with you to the store. If you have them with you when you are at the store, you will be able to get deals you missed when looking through the store ad during your planning time. I highly recommend this method for beginners. It allows for you to build your pantry at a faster rate, while saving more money.
Take advantage of clearance deals. Clearance deals are unadvertised sales that the store runs when they are trying to unload a product. They are not in the sale ad, and are usually marked down around half price. You can use coupons on clearance items, so if you have your coupons with you, it allows you to stock up on serious deals by combining the clearance sale with a coupon.
Familiar with your coupons on hand. If you are physically clipping your coupons each week, then you having a working knowledge of what coupons you have in your coupon binder. This is especially handy if you get coupons from other regions, you can quickly see the different values and use the one that garners you the highest savings for that transaction without wasting time.
Disadvantages
Time consuming. Clipping coupon inserts each week can be quite time consuming, especially if you get multiples. However, if you have little ones, they can help. Cutting, organizing and sorting coupons are great skills your children can learn all while helping you out!
Must keep it updated. Keeping your coupon system updated and removing expired coupons can be a tedious task. However, I find most coupons expire at the end of the month or quarterly.
Need a little more information? Checkout Facebook comments on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Clipping Coupons.
Clip As You Go
The “Clip As You Go” method is where you take your Sunday coupon inserts or store booklets, and label them with the date on the front, and file them away as whole inserts. You do not clip your coupons.
How it Works
Clipping as you go is a great alternative because of all the online resources available today, like the Faithful Provisions Coupon Database. The Coupon Database catalogs and links to all coupons currently available either via insert, online, or other source. A key to this method is learning the Coupon Lingo. For example, you will see abbreviations that look like this: 9/13 SS or 6/7 RP. This means that the coupon can be found in the September 13 (9/13) Smart Source (SS) insert or the June 7 (6/7) Red Plum (RP) insert. These are inserts that are typically found in your Sunday newspaper.
Use the Coupon Database to find where the coupons are that you need, and match them up with a sale item. Each week I do this for you by matching coupons with store sales, using the coupon lingo. You can use my weekly store coupon matchups to do all the work for you!
For example:
Peter Pan Peanut Butter, 15 oz — $1.50
-Use $1/1 Peter Pan Peanut Butter coupon in 12/10/2010 SS insert
Final Price: $.50 after coupon and sale
Advantages
Saves time. Hands down the biggest advantage is that you save time over the “Clip & File” method. No more long Sunday coupon clipping sessions. You only clip the coupons you need and plan on using. I merely create my list which indicates where I can find the coupons, and set off to clip only the ones I need. Or if I need a coupon for something in particular, I can just use the Faithful Provisions Coupon Database to easily and quickly find it!
Disadvantages
Longer stocking up period. The greatest challenge most find with this method is that you can’t build your stockpile as quickly. You typically aren’t as familiar with the coupons you have on hand and by not having them with you at the store, you can’t get any “extra” sale items you missed the first time around in the store ad.
Miss out on clearance deals. If you don’t have your entire coupon inventory with you, you can’t grab the unadvertised clearance deals.
You can read more readers comments on the Advantages and Disadvantages of “Clip As You Go” on this Facebook discussion.
Combined Method
I have used both of these methods, but over the last few years I have found that combining these methods works really well for me. I don’t have the time or desire to cut all the coupons, but I want to have some on hand with me while I am in the grocery. So what I do is clip my favorite coupons, or you could even clip one set of inserts, and then I file the rest. That way I have some with me in the store, but if I need to do serious stocking up, I will need to plan ahead and come back.
I hope this helps!
Which clipping method do you use? Please share with us what method you use and why. I would love to hear your tips and tricks on keeping your coupons organized.
Next week…. Methods of Coupon Organization (Part 2) – come back to learn the most popular Coupon Filing methods by veteran couponers!
I was going to try and do the clip as you go method, but so far after trying to use the coupon database about 20 times, I have only had success finding the correct coupon a couple times. If it links to an online coupon, I’ll search all 7-18 pages of the coupons on that site and never find the coupon needed. The last 2 weeks I have tried going into the date/insert from the sunday papers and I search through the RP or SS insert and don’t find the coupon from the appropriate date. Any idea why this would be happening so often? My friend has been having this issue as well.
Like you mentioned, I also have found so many more deals in store than mentioned in the ad or in your blog so I’m afraid of not clipping needed coupons and leaving them at home. I think I may resort to clipping everything even though it may take a bit more time at first.
Can’t figure out what is best!
Jordan, on Coupons.com be sure to input your zip code for more coupons. Also, note that coupons are regional, and the database lists ALL coupons, your region may just not receive more than most unfortunately! Sorry.
Is the database based on your region? I’m in spring hill so I think we’d have the same ones?
I do a combination of the methods. I first tried the clip as you go, then tried the clip & file and neither really worked. So, I combined them. I clip everything from one set of inserts and file them away. Most weeks it’s 2 inserts so it’s not a big deal. My husband and I will clip on Sunday afternoon while watching football (yep, he cuts coupons as his way to help!) We go through once a month and discard any expired ones…again, it’s not too bad because it’s only one of each insert. Because I clip one of each, I know what coupons I have. If I see a good deal at the store, I check out my small coupon file (envelope size accordion file) and see if I have a coupon. If I do, I know I also have more at home and make a note to come back for the deal if I want multiples. The extra inserts that I don’t cut, I just write the date on the front with a sharpie and put them in a basket that sits on the bookshelf. Easy method. Works for us because there are only two adults here and our stockpile doesn’t need to be as large as those with families 🙂 Plus, I drive by my stores as I go to and from work, so stopping in isn’t a problem.
Thanks for the new series, Kelly. It’ll be a good refresher!
I Clip ones I know I would use and file them in my coupon binder. I save all the coupons I didn’t clip and store them in an accordion file in case there is an awesome sale on an item I normally wouldn’t buy but have a coupon for.
I do a combined method. I clip my printable and any that I know I will use from the inserts and put them into a binder, but I don’t take the binder shopping anymore (its mostly a remnant from when i clipped everything, but i like being able to see everything so i still use it).
I keep an accordion file that is separated by stores that i shop at. When I get the ads I will pull out the coupons from y binder or look them up in a coupon database and find and print the ones that I need. Then I file them and my list under the store that it is for. That way when my husband gets home and I’ve had a long day I can run away to the stores, and I just have to take my small file.
We get paid towards the end of the month so just before pay day I go through and take out expired coupons, and i flip through all of my inserts and clip out the ones that are about to expire and I want to check on their prices and see if its a good deal since there hasn’t been a sale, and I will take all of these along with me and do a big trip one evening.
I clip and file. I only clip coupons for things I might be able to use. There are lots of coupons for products that I have absolutely no need for and/or no interest in buying/using, so I don’t see any need to hang onto the coupons…unless it’s something I think someone else in my family can use. I don’t find clipping them very time consuming since it’s just once a week. In fact, I enjoy sitting down on Sunday evening after the kids are in bed and looking through the sales papers and clipping coupons. It’s something I look forward to b/c I of my enjoyment of couponing. I feel like I’m making contribution to my family through it. So anyway, I clip only what I like and file it in my accordion file, then when the sales papers come, I match up the coupons to the sales. If there are items on sale that we really need or like but I don’t have a coupon for, I search an online database for online coupons for those specific products and print them to take along to the store. I take the sales paper with me along with a grocery list w/ notations of what I have coupons for. I also take along my accordion file in case I come across a surprise deal.
I clip and file anything I know I would use in a small, envelope size accordion file by type (food staples, food I would buy if it was a good deal, household supplies, personal supplies, gifts). I leave a few empty spots at the front and once I go through the sales add, I put any coupons I am planning to use at a particular store in the front with a list. After couponing for a while, I know the things that I never end up buying or that we don’t like so I just toss those. I don’t like having lots of paper around the house :).
I clip the coupons I know are going to be on sale that week or that I know I will use, then file them away. I have had a lot of luck this way. I tried the big binder, but they were sliding out all the time. Now, I put them in folders in a filing storage bin. I file the weekly circulars and the RP, SS, P & G.
Im so greatful for the coupon database. It helps me sooooo much. Thank you to all of these wonderful websites. You have helped me save so much money and also get some fun stuff for me that I wouldn’t normally buy! 🙂
I can’t stand to leave any of my coupons at home. I staple the coupons on the like pages of an insert together. That means I buy 6 papers and only cut once. I then put them in alphabetical order according to each insert. I then put them in my binder and lable the beginning of each new insert with what it is (ex SS 4/10/2011). I work a little harder 1 day so I can havef months of ease. I can easily search the coupon database as well as serch quickly at the store. I cut everything! You never know when that odd thing might become a money maker. I also check each week for expired or soon to be expired and send of the coupons to a military base. They can use the for 6 month after they expire. I do admit it takes time and I do get behind when I get super busy. I that case I just cut them out, throw then in a baggie and print a coupon insert list to tell me basically what is in there until I get them alphabetized and but in my binder. I am going to start putting my printed and odd coupons on an according style organizer. This allows be to maximixe my savings.
Ii use the whole insert method, its easy for me and less time consuming. The only problem i always had was when to toss. I now use http://www.couponcleanout.com to check what inserts to toss when i’m ready to do some clean up.
Hello!
first of all I’d like to thank you for all your hard work ! I absoulutley love your website and app.
I’m new to couponing and the first website i came across explained how to create a coupon binder bc that’s what works for her anyway I have serious OCD so organizing is my thing but I have defieitley become overwhelmed . It stopped being fun which sucks bc I love to save and I enjoyed it at first so I still keep my binder but don’t buy more than 2 of each newspaper and use envelopes for that week . On the outside I rite the name of the store and i load my coupons inside.A BIG plus is I don’t have to carry my huge coupon binder with me everywhere. with your help I’ve printed the grocery lists but haven;t mastered the meal planning yet. hopefully i’ll get there 🙂 i love your printable templates they are so pretty and helpful
thanks again
Nicole, stick to it. but, I might suggest taking a little “break” from couponing for a week or so. We all need a little vacation, it will rejuvenate you and help bring the excitement back. When I do this, I eat from the pantry for a week and just buy the absolute necessities at the store for that week. Not worrying about what I miss. God will provide. Remember, he calls us all to rest, he gave us that example on the 7th day and he didn’t need to rest!