How to Organize Your Coupons (in Less than 30 Minutes a Week!)

It’s been some time since I’ve talked concerning the finest approach to arrange your coupons, and on this tremendous wet Western Washington day, I assumed it might be simply the subject!

Over the previous few years, I’ve tinkered with my very own strategies for organizing coupons together with submitting complete inserts and utilizing the binder technique.

To be sincere, there was a interval of some months earlier this yr I simply couldn’t sustain and the binder system was like a binder of guilt – filled with expired coupons and work to be completed. I’ve additionally simply filed complete inserts, however I discovered it typically took me extra time to return repeatedly to fish out coupons I wanted.

I additionally missed many alternatives for offers as a result of this technique was simply not transportable. I’m now utilizing a easy coupon field technique I’d wish to share with you in the present day.

It’d shock you to study that I don’t lower all my coupons! I used to do that, however discovered quickly on that it was an enormous waste of time as a result of I don’t use even half of the coupons that come out within the Sunday inserts!

What has made my life a lot less complicated is to chop solely the coupons I believe I’ll be almost definitely to make use of.

Listed here are some ideas for a way I determine which coupons to chop:

• I lower coupons for merchandise and meals my household really makes use of. As an example, in the present day I clipped coupons for Brawny paper towels, Softsoap hand cleaning soap, Rosarita refried beans, and All Laundry. I skipped the pet and baby-related coupons. 
• I lower high-value coupons and/or coupons I’m positive there’s to be a deal on. In case you’re new to the world of couponing, it may be exhausting to know what a high-value coupon is or the place there may be offers for among the coupons you’re seeing. This may include time! Immediately I clipped a $2.50 Tresemme coupon understanding I can get that product for FREE at Ceremony Help this week. I additionally clipped the Golden Grains pasta coupon as a result of it finally ends up being FREE at Safeway by tomorrow. {Please be aware that these offers had been good again in September 2013.}
• I solely lower the variety of like coupons I can use. Take time to look over the positive print whilst you’re reducing the coupons – it may prevent time! I seen the Tresemme coupon I clipped in the present day had a restrict of two like coupons per person- so I solely bothered reducing it out of two inserts, despite the fact that I obtain 4 papers every Sunday.
• I typically don’t hassle reducing the P&G insert coupons. The P&G coupons you’ll discover within the month-to-month insert typically all expire on the finish of that month. I’m additionally very aware of the P&G household of manufacturers (Crest, Olay, Swiffer, Pampers, and many others.) which might be more likely to be included in these inserts. On condition that, I’m extra apt to simply return and clip what I want from these inserts after I want it. The one exceptions can be any tremendous excessive worth coupons I need to be sure that I preserve within the forefront of my thoughts or their quarterly insert, the place you may have greater than a month to redeem the coupons.

I strive to not labor too lengthy about whether or not or to not lower a selected coupon. The thought right here is to make a fast determination!

Now that I’ve outlined which coupons I lower, I assumed I’d share my complete coupon clipping routine.

Step #1: Kind and group the coupon inserts. As I discussed, I get 4 copies of the paper delivered to my door each Sunday (extra on that in a minute!). I take away all of the inserts from the papers after which I group the like inserts collectively.

Step #2: Lower the coupons I’m involved in. I often take a bit extra time after I’m reducing the primary insert – ensuring I’ve not missed any nice coupons. I then lay out every coupon on my counter.

As I transfer by the opposite like inserts, I simply stack on prime. Now one other time saving technique should you get multiple insert can be to put the like insert pages on prime of one another so you chop as soon as – and out pops 2, 3, or 4 of the identical coupon. This isn’t a foul thought, however simply be sure that these coupons are lined up completely earlier than doing so!

Step #3: File your coupons in your binder or field. That is the little field I’m at present utilizing to prepare my coupons. And it’s…little! I made a decision for the quantity of coupons I really clip I would like taking one thing to the shop that’s much less obtrusive to haul. I additionally discover it’s a snap to file the coupons within the field as a result of I’m not having to shove them out and in of plastic dividers.

By the best way – I bought a fantastic deal on my organizer! It’s made by Snapware and was priced at $2.49 at Fred Meyer. I used a $2 off coupon I had, so I paid simply $0.49 for it. The alphabetical dividers are simply index playing cards – buy throughout the again to highschool gross sales for about $0.19.

Not unhealthy, huh? (PS – In case you’re on the lookout for the same organizer, this one on Amazon is fairly near what I bought.)

Whether or not or not that is the precise manner you file your coupons, I hope I’ve inspired you with some new concepts in the present day or no less than to take a look at your present system if it’s turning into too cumbersome or not jiving together with your fashion.

In case you preferred this submit, you may also need to try this submit on Methods to Manage Your Coupons. You may additionally have an interest on this submit for organizing your coupons whereas procuring: