I thought I might try out a new feature to go with my new site design: a Reader Spotlight. Every Thursday, I’ll have various readers do a guest post about something (anything!) related to couponing. I know I love to read about how other people coupon, stockpile, & save – so I thought why not create a place where individual readers can share their ideas and tips? If you’d like to be featured on my Reader Spotlight, please see my note at the end of this post. 🙂
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Hi all, Christy from Haphazardly Hobbying here. When Michelle asked me if I’d write the first of her “Reader Spotlight” posts I was thrilled. I think her idea is a really good one; it seems like every week she and I get at least one or two new couponers writing in to Ask I Heart Publix about how to save more money, how to best prepare for their shopping trips, how to organize all their coupons, how to find room for a stockpile….the list goes on and on. We do our best to answer those questions with our own experiences, but as soon as our post goes up on Wednesdays, I immediately start trolling the comments because I can’t wait to hear everyone else’s take on that week’s questions. I’m so excited because I think this feature will help us all get to know each other better and I can’t wait to hear about all of your various couponing tips and tricks!! 🙂
To start us off, I’m going to write today about my current couponing process. It’s one that has changed many times since I started couponing last September – like many of you, I keep trying new things until I hit upon something that really works for me. I remember when I first started out, I would clip and file my two paper’s worth of inserts in one of those tiny little coupon organizers you can find at the dollar stores, and now I couldn’t even fit 1/10th of my coupons in one of those things! Because I’ve found that having more coupons means that I can get the best savings when a great deal comes along, I now have TONS of coupons and I’ve had to come up with a system that helps me keep them all (mostly) organized.
I live in Florida, the land of true Publix BOGO, so I find that I always need to have an even number of coupons on hand. Each week, I purchase four Sunday papers at either Walgreens or CVS – it all depends on which store has the best freebie/money-making deals , because I try never to pay ‘real’ money for my coupon inserts, but use RRs or ECBs instead. (If I find out from the Sunday Coupon Preview that there aren’t many coupons I want, or that there aren’t any inserts at all, I adjust the number of papers I buy.)
I don’t clip insert coupons until I need them, and in order to make it easier for myself when I DO need them (or harder for myself now? I can’t tell 🙂 ), I separate all the pages of each insert, get rid of the ‘junk’ pages, staple all the like pages together, and then number the pages so that I can keep everything in order.
Two weeks worth of inserts: stapled, numbered, and ready to be filed.
I file all the pages for each week in a big accordian file that I got for around $12 at Walmart. I also use this to file my Publix receipts and any coupon booklets that I find at my store.
Though it looks pretty small, this things holds a LOT.
This way, when I need four Newman’s coupons in a couple months, I can pull out that week’s inserts, flip through the pages (which are much more manageable when they’re all stapled together), find the coupon I’m looking for, and clip all of them at once:
Of course, this process is just for booklets and insert coupons. I still have to sort and file IPs, traded coupons, and tearpads/peelies/MIRs/etc that I find in the stores. While coupons are waiting to be sorted, they go in an old wooden cd organizer-turned-catchall. In the interest of being completely real, I’ll share a picture of what it usually looks like:
Yup, it’s a mess! 🙂
When I sort my coupons, I first divide them up using the basic categories that Publix uses in their flyers (Deli, Bakery, Meats, Dairy/Refrigerated, Regular Grocery, Frozen, Household, Heathy & Beauty, Pet, and Produce) and then break those down into smaller categories so that it’s easier to find exactly what I want when I go looking.
I use a binder and store coupons in clear plastic binder sheets that I got at Office Depot. They were originally intended to hold CDs or DVDs, I think, but I liked them because the pockets were a decent size and they have a flap closure that keeps the coupons more secure.
Coupon binder/tote.
I made the tote cover for my coupon binder myself – you can check out the pattern HERE – because I really wanted to carry at least some of my coupons with me (you never know when you’re going to find a great clearance deal!), and the tote straps make it SO much easier when I’m trying to get in and out of the store quickly. I keep a large zippered pencil pouch in the binder; if I find tearpads, MIRs, hangtags, or blinkies while I’m shopping, I can just pop those coupons in the pouch and I don’t have to worry about losing them before I even get out of the store!
Coupon pocket for in-store finds.
So, there you have it – that’s the way I (try to) keep my ever-growing number of coupons under control. What do you think? Do you have any ideas that might make my process even easier? You know I’m looking forward to your comments!! I also can’t wait to read all about all of YOU in the coming weeks!
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Thanks for being our guinea pig, Christy! I hope you all like this new feature!! In order to keep it going, though, you all are going to have to volunteer to tell us all about something YOU do when you are couponing. It doesn’t just have to be about how you organize things – I’m looking for anything you want to share! You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, about your super stockpile, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, write it up (try to keep it to about 750 – 1250 words) and send it to me at contactiheartpublix@gmail.com!
I love it. . .I converted to this method myself after a couple of months of couponing. It seems to save me tons of time! Your non-insert method is a little better than mine but stapling the inserts has been a lifesaver.
That was fantastic. You gave me a ton of ideas. Thanks. Trust me, your keeping it real photo looks so much better than my basket of overflowing stuff!!!
Great article Christy. I find for us we save more when we clip all coupons and put them in an organizer and carry them all with us. Takes a little bit more time, but we have saved more from unadvertised sales that way. Since we do 99% of our shopping at Publix, we set up our binder to match the store. That way the pages match the isles and sections we are in. We are still working out the bugs with set up, but over all we have saved more this way. We do try to learn from everyone and its funny how many people stop us in the store and ask about the blue binder in the cart with all the coupons.
Hi –
I have two coupon wallets. One for coupons I know that I will use and others for those I might use. I give away the ones for products I know I certainly won’t buy. (I am a pescetarian and a healthy eater – what drove me to couponing was the expense of eating organic/healthy).
Also, for expired coupons I am part of a group that sponsors a military base and instead of tossing them, we collect them and mail them to our sponsored base because they can get an additional 6 months out of most manufacturer’s coupons.
I clip and sort weekly, and bi-weekly I pull out the expired ones.
The ones I might use, for example if a really good deal comes along, are also able to be traded with other couponers for more desirable coupons that I definitely will use.
I generally save about 60% off with BOGOs and coupons, but I don’t save the maximum because I choose not to eat certain foods that others don’t mind eating (preserved meats, etc.). I love, love, love Earthbound Farms sending me coupons, and recently I requested and got EarthBalance spread coupons, and Gardein coupons, by emailing the manufacturers. 🙂
I will spend about 1-2 hours a week sorting, discarding and clipping my coupons, in conjunction with printing my grocery list and doing matchups. Not too bad.
I get one paper at home, and if I like the coupons (Sabra, Stacy’s recently had me going out and buying anothe paper!), then I will make a trip out for another paper – usually to Publix on a shopping trip.
I always pick up extra flyers and sometimes I will make a special trip to the grocery store for a few items and scan the aisles for blinkies, tearpads or peelies that might make a good offer. (Recently, I bought Lindsay olives recloseables and there was a $ .55 off coupon under the lid!)
I am sure most people have a different system that works for them?
I think that putting all the flyer pages together to clip them all at one time in ingenious! I am going to start doing that on Sunday! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! Thanks for the input, and the pictures to make it all make since. I’m in need of a coupon-organizing makeover!
I love the idea of stapling the inserts … now I have to go home and do that this evening to see if it works any easier for me … Thanks for the great tip!
Also, like Kristin, I’ve got the overflowing basket (wicker) that sits under the end table in living room … it looks tidy, has the binder sitting on top to HIDE the mess underneath. I dread those moments “ohhh..I KNOW I have a coupon for free ruffles when you buy 2 pepsi products … now where is it?” and then it goes down hill from there! 🙂
Reminder S Fl has early edition Sunday papers for 50 cents on Saturday. My local Walgreens, Publix and many gas stations have then.
I would love to know if anyone has an easy (like minimal sewing required suggestion for making a binder into more of a “tote” like Christy did. I don’t own a sewing machine, but would really love a binder like that without forking over money for one premade. Thanks.
I am a Publix cashier and I have seen many great ideas from my customers over the last couple years. One day these 2 ladies came through my line and I was overjoyed at what they were doing with their coupons. They had bought the neatest binder holder at Michaels (half off with a coupon). It is supposed to be used for scrapbooking, but they were using it for coupons. It had pockets all around the sides for blinkies, scissors, calculator, etc. Also it was sectioned into 5 different areas in the opening on top for whatever you need. I went the next day to buy one and have loved it. It sits perfectly in the shopping cart. I hope I’ve described it well. i love it.
I’d love to see a picture of this!
Can I also ask if you know the product name so we can search online or at the store what we need to look for? I have Creative Memories scrapbook zipper binder that I used to store inserts with page protectors but it is bulky and big.
I found a great demo about how to quickly sort/gather the insert pages together for stapling.
The site is http://www.couponshoppingwithtreasure.com. She has a series of videos about her couponing, etc. The method for sorting the inserts is very easy!
I do like your idea of stapling the inserts together. I usually have 3-4 copies of the inserts. I buy one paper and then my dad and MIL give me some. I then go thru them all pull the junk and stuff I know I will not use out. then I combine the inserts and put like pages together I then right the date and how many copies I have on the front of the insert. I use to go to a site and print what was in the insert so if I saw something I wanted while at the store and just knew I had seen a coupon for it but where was it I could do a quick scan of the page telling me what is in the insert, but unfortunately I have been slacking and haven’t printed them in a while.
I use a binder with page protectors in it to hold the inserts and then all the clipped coupons I try to organize by type and I also clip the coupons from All you mag and keep them all together in one page protector so I don’t have to flip thru the whole magazine looking.
I really want a cover for my binder with handles like that, mine is so hard to deal with sometimes.
I get 25 newspapers a week date them and file in a cabinet.also have 2 binder sorted with tabs frozen,dairy etc.for all my loose coupons.Is there a site that will tell you when whole booklet expire.It takes me a long time to go through all my fliers 1by1 loking for expired to make room. plus I always tip a pile over.If I knew which ones were out ,I could just pull that date and recycle,or cut the 1 or 2 coupons that always seem to still be in date &add to my folder.
25 newspapers a week? wow!!
Sounds like alot but I have a big family and enjoy sharing with others.Live 10 miles from publix and between gas and buying my 12 papers a week I was spending too much .My paper man drops them off @ my door @ 4a.m. so when I get up on a good Sun. shopping week it feels like Christmas. 25 papers for 300. a year. thats 5.78 a week.He needed the subscriptions and I wanted to save more. On an average week I save 400.
you can check exp dates at taylortownpreview.com or the database at hotcouponworld.com
sorry for all the typos still working on my computer skills ha!
Thanks for sharing! I love the idea of stapling the pages. I put my like pages together but never thought about stapling them. I too started out cutting and carring them with me each week, but as the stockpile of coupons grew that just became impossible. I do take my tearpads and blinkies with me in an index card holder, but not taking all of them with me also prevents me from spending money “just because I have a coupon” when something is not at it’s lowest price, but my daughter works at Publix so if I see something that great I’ll just give her the coupons to get it the next day 🙂
I LOVE the new feature!
I am new to couponing, but I have been stockpiling coupons for a few weeks now. I’ve only done one grocery shopping trip and didn’t do too horrible, but an idea for an article I would like to see is how to get started. I am so overwhelmed by the amount of coupons I have and have read SO many blogs that I can’t get my head straight. Should I make a grocery list? Should I take all of my coupons? Should I pull out coupons first? Etc, etc.
Thanks a bunches!!
the best place for you to start would probably be the FAQs. then the crazy coupon ladys couponing 101. then come back here, and read the Q&A. im going to submit my system of shopping [it simplifies things, i think,] so be on the look-out, i hope itll be featured!!! 🙂 GL!
ps. ALWAYS MAKE A SHOPPPING LIST! and i would say no, but it depends on how close your store is, how often you go a week, how organized you are, etc. and, again, pulling them out, first, depends on your organization method.
I agree… always make a list and stick to it!! My lists are so specific. I put the # of items I’m buying, how much they are supposed to be, how much the coupons are, and the total for the items. I then total it at the bottom of the page… $X plus tax. My husband took one of my “lists” to Rite Aid and was so impressed that the total was exactly $10.89 plus tax. The cashier was impressed, too. I told my husband… it’s just math, not rocket science! 🙂 You have to know your total or you’ll never know if they missed something!
I did a CVS deal this weekend and the cashier forgot $2.79 worth of coupons. I went home and figured out what he missed and went back to get my money back!
ive thought of doing that, totalling what everything should cost, but im a single mom of a 4-m/o, so its precious time i dont yet have. but i hand my coupons one at a time and watch the price screen very carefully.
as a matter of fact, a couple ads ago golden grahams and lucky charms were on bogo. i picked them both up from right where the bogo sign was. i got to the register and someone must have put the wrong size of golden grahams [i didnt even know there was two sizes] in the bogo spot, so it didnt come up as bogo. the cashier said it wasnt bogo at all. well, that SIZE wasnt. but the 16oz box WAS. you always gotta watch the screen!!! 🙂
Thanks a lot for the help/info.
And for the record.. I’m using the binder method, which honestly should be organized better and would probably help the situation a little bit.
I keep 2 coupon organizers in my diaper bag right now (soon to be three) we live to far out in the boonies to make more than one trip a week. S when I go through my coupons on sunday I staple the ad pages on the coupon (in a spot where the the barcode and exp. date wont be harmed if the staple rips out of the coupon) and then cut them out so I don’t have 60 coupons loose. When I go to the store and find something on clearance or a price cut I just quickly scan through the 10 stapled duplicates and rip off the ones I need. Plus it makes it easier to cut all at the same time.
I never thought of stapling like pages together! Great idea!
I currently file my coupons in manilla folders and hanging files labeled with the date the insert came out. For IP’s, blinkies, etc.. I file them in one of the small 13 pocket coupon expanding file. I also use another small expanding file to store coupons that are store specific such as Target, Publix, Walgreens RR’s, CVS ECB’s and CRTS, etc… Since I don’t have 13 specific stores, I use the other pockets to hold the coupons that I am actually planning to use labeled by the store I will use them at.
The only downside to this method is that I don’t have all of my coupons with me if I find a good clearance deal.
I love your coupon tote! I recently converted my coupons from my tiny overflowing mini coupon holder to a plastic bin. I got envelopes to hold the coupons and then stuck in an index card to list the catergory..then used some card stock I had on hand to make the alphabetic dividers. (all other stuff was purchased at the dollar store $1 each) It’s worked out great as far as organization goes but the one thing I hate is the fact that I can’t carry my coupons with me anymore. I loved having them on hand in case, like you said, I run into any clearance items or deals I didn’t know about. I might change over to this tote.
Kim–I use a very similar system. I found the NOT CUTTING method had my coupons in too many different places. If I found something on clearance, I would have no idea where to find the q–and then, if I did know which insert it was from, I’d flip to that flyer just to find I had already used it or it was not included in my paper.
So, I changed to a BOX system. This way they are ALL in one place, easy to grab quickly. Mine is set up slightly diff than yours tho:
I put each category in a small 4×6 file folder I scored a long time ago at the dollar tree. These could be made out of card stock and they could be any colors you wanted. I can’t find them anymore so I wish I had bought tons.
So, I might have 6 or so file folders for the category of SNACKS (cookies, crackers, fruit snacks, pudding, chips, etc). I place all these in a tabbed section called SNACKS. Other categories are FROZEN (meats. breakfast items, desserts, veggis, etc), DRINKS (Water, Juice, Sport Drinks, etc) HEALTH (Meds, Feminine, Vitamins, etc), BEAUTY (Shamppo, Shaving, Deodorant, etc). Lots more, those are just samples. I’m VERY meticulous about my categories.
I cut all what I KNOW I will use, some that I MIGHT use, and toss the WILL NEVER USE. Exceptions would be really high dollar q’s that are often money makers. I also have a sep folder for TARGET ONLY q’s, with no sub categories as it is easy enuf to flip through them all.
In the last 2 months I have stopped clipping P&G inserts. I am over stocked on most P&G items, but if there is a free deal, I still have the insert and can pull from it.
I keep this all in a platic box I found at Target for $5. It’s about the size of a child’s shoe box, maybe taller. It has a locking lid and a handle. It fits sideways in the shopping cart seat. I take it in to target, but for publix I usually make a set list. Soemtimes I bring it in publix too tho.
anyhow, glad to see someone else using a box system. I have found it works for me and whatever works best for someone is what you will have the most sucess with!
smart!! I’m going to start printing the list too!!
Me too!! That will really help – thanks, Virginia! Do you find there are many discrepancies between the list and what you actually get?
Not so much with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, but huge differences with my local paper. We only get the SS and there are often coupons you can’t find anywhere. For example, there is almost always a SunChips coupon and none of the databases I can find have it listed. Also, we often get higher value coupons than the AJC… so while the AJC may have a .50/1 coupon, we may get a $1/1 coupon (not a big deal at stores that double, but definitely helps those that don’t double!).
I use a rather large binder. I did a whole post on it on my blog, which can be found here:
http://frugalandprovident.blogspot.com/2010/06/frugality-organizing-coupons.html
I usually only have one or two sets of inserts because I’ve found lately that I only need one because most of the great coupons have been coming from online and homemailers… If I see a great coupon that I know I will use then I might consider getting another newspaper at some point.
I’ve been thinking about making a bag for my binder, since my mother just gave me her old sewing machine (I have to figure out how to work it since it has lots of bells and whistles…). Currently I just haul it in a reusable store bag.
hot glue gun works well, too! the handles, i guess, youd have to sew if youre gonna start off with a cloth off the bolt. but if you start with an actual canvas bag [from the dollar store] or a re-usable bag [publix has had quite a few cute ones, lately!] or one of those plastic ones that target sometimes has in their dollar section, all you need is some scissors and a hot glue gun. plus, with some of the “WYB” coupons that publix has had lately are for free re-usable bags…use that to get a free cute re-usable bag and then its nothing OOP for the bag, the typical household has a pair of scissors, and i got my hot glue gun [with ten glue sticks included] for a buck at the local dollar store. 🙂
This is a great idea!!!! Nice and easy, and I bet it’s really durable!
Thank you so much for this post. I would love to see more along this line. I appreciate the pictures and explanation of how your organize. I must confess that the organization of my coupons has become the bane of my existance. I’m SO frustrated with the fact that I can’t keep them all organized. Just when I think I have everything alphabetized and in the folder, I find more on the counter or in my wallet or my husband brings me the stack off of the printer that I forgot I printed, etc. Then I have to pull all the expireds, re-alphabetize the folder, and so on. I currently have coupons spread all over my table and counter because I just can’t keep up with them, and I’m SO frustrated. I’ve been wanting to know how other people do it. To me, couponing has almost become a full-time job that I don’t have time for.
Thank you for sharing, I love your idea of sorting that way and the stapling idea. I just went thru all my inserts and pulled them apart and staple the pages together. This will save soooo much time, since I won’t be flipping thru 4-6 inserts looking for Q’s.
This may be a silly question but when u say u number your inserts, why and how? Just when I was beginning to think I was gonna lose my mind from clipping, filing, searching, matching, (i almost quit b/c of the amount of time I was spending on my new addiction) u sweet ladies come along and save me from my coupon organization insanity! Thank u!
I actually started numbering my inserts because I had the crazy idea that I was going to keep a database (just for myself) of brand name, $ off #, etc etc. I tried it two weeks and it took me HOURS….so there went THAT idea!
Now I number just to keep everything in its original order – and I do number each individual page. For the 6/6/10 inserts, for example, the first page is numbered 060610.01, the second page is 060610.02, etc. This way if I pull some pages out to clip and then *ahem* leave them on my desk for a couple days until I forget where they came from, there’s no confusion – I can just easily put them back where they belong.
I went to Walmart today and bought the exact same file… it was $12.44. You are right, it holds a ton of inserts. I just had them stacked in a basket (pain in the butt, by the way!) and now they are super organized. Thank you!!
I like your accordian file idea. It looks much neater than a big pile of papers. Thanks for the pics.
I like your accordian file idea! I’ll get one the next time I’m in a store. I’m currently looking at the stack of inserts on my desk.
Now do you put the accordian file in your tote bag to carry the inserts? or what is it that i am seeing in the tote?
Nope, the accordian file stays home – it’s just too big & bulky for me to carry around. The black thing you see in the tote in the last picture is a large zipper pocket made for binders (the type kids would keep pens & pencils in). I use it to store coupons I find while shopping – blinkies, tearpads, MIRs, etc.
I use a file folder already, but I love the idea of stapling them together….why have I not thought of that before:)
HI,
thanks for sharing this info. When you store each week’s inserts, do you put all the pages that came out on the same sunday, Smart Source, Red Plum, PG and everything in one slot (pocket) in that accordion file? Thank you.
Yes, all the inserts for that week go in one pocket. When I’m numbering my pages, I write myself a quick note on the very first page of the first insert. For example, if the RedPlum insert is first, SmartSource second, I’ll write:
RP = 060610.01 to 060610.15
SS = 060610.16 to 060610.28
That way I know where to start looking for a particular coupon.
About the tote cover, I couldn’t find any tutorial or how to make this online yet. Could you share how you made yours? It looks pretty!
Also when people use this tote, do you still bring another purse for your other items (like wallet, kids items when shopping with kids)? Thank you.
You can go HERE to check out the pattern for the coupon binder – or, if you’re not a seamstress, you can buy the totes ready-made!
I LOVE THE IDEA OF STAPLING LIKE PAGES TOGETHER!! That makes it so much easier than what I currently do, which is store the whole inserts and thumb thru them individually to find my coupons!!! Thanks for your contribution! 🙂
do these q inserts for the Newnan Time are only on Sunday… or different days of the week. it sounds like i need to start pickin one or 2 up!
Yes, it sounds like it would be worth pickin up that paper when the inserts are there…. Thanks SO much for your input… ill be sure to check out what youre listing for the different newspapers!!! again thanks!
Jen, I think you are on my FB page (Newnan GA Coupon Blog… I am trying to learn about blogging, so eventually I will have a real one!)… I will try to post it on their by Sunday’s around 3, so if you think they look good you will still have time to go out and grab one. 🙂