When I started couponing
a hundred years ago, okay, maybe it was about 13 years ago, I used a coupon organizer like
this
. Too bad it didn't look like
this
...sooo cute! That worked for me for a long, long time...until it didn't anymore. I had really gotten into the drugstore deals and had started printing internet coupons. I was collecting literally hundreds of coupons, stopping into the stores a few times a week, and well... I needed something more. Anyway, at some point about 3-5 years ago (I really have no idea about the specific time), I decided to change to a binder system.
I was trying to think back to
why I chose the binder and I think it led back to a lady I saw around 10-12 years ago in a store. Actually, it was when we were in the Air Force living on a base in Idaho. I often ran into this lady in the commissary with her big ole binder filled to the max with baseball card sleeves and a zillion coupons... and I guess it just stuck with me. Honestly, I thought she was really 'over the top' about coupons at the time...until I
became her and then I understood why the binder system rocks!
Now don't get me wrong. The wallet-style organizers are great - especially if you're starting out and maybe you don't have a huge stash of coupons. But when you outgrow that - the binder might be the way to go.
So, here's how I organize my coupons. I bought this Mead binder at CVS on clearance for 90% off 2-3 years ago. I think I paid around $2-3 for it. I had to buy all the 'stuff' inside (except for maybe one pouch), but it's a really great binder. I think this
Case-It 2 inch D-Ring Zipper Binder or this
Five Star 2 inch Tech Binder is a close match to mine, but I can't promise that having not looked inside it! Anyway...here's mine...
Yeah, it looks pretty dirty, but it's very well used and it's holding up wonderfully! It is a 3 ring binder with 2 inch rings. It's completely enclosed with a zipper... no coupons falling out leaving a trail behind you in the parking lot...yes, it's happened to me!
When I open it up, here's what it looks like...
I use the see-through pocket on the left to store coupons that I'm going to use right away, or I put my grocery list there, or notes to myself about rebates, etc. It's sort of my catch-all pocket. I also keep a pen and pencil in the loops at the top (no pen today). On the right, you see a black pouch with zippers. It includes my scissors, another zipper pocket where I stick receipts, and the see-through pocket usually has a post-it notes pad and paperclips. What you can't see is that on the left, if you stand up the side, there's a file-folder type area that opens up...see here...
I keep my sales ads in there, along with very large coupons, or restaurant coupons, or even store coupons (like an ad from JCPenney with a $10 off $25 coupon attached). It's a neat area that I rarely see on binders, but I
love it! It closes with the Velcro tab you see there.
Next up, is this pink pouch. Walmart is where I shop most often these days (unfortunately), so this is my Walmart pouch. Before I go shopping, I make my list and pull out all of the coupons I hope to use that day. I stick them in this pouch so that I have easy access to them as I shop. If I have the kids with me and can't keep my huge zipper binder out in the top of the cart, I'll just pull out this pouch to keep in my hand and zip up the rest of it. *Note - I also keep a copy of the
Walmart coupon policy printed and in here...just in case.
After that are a two pages of coupons for FREE stuff. I don't put these in
categories because I
never want to let one expire - so I keep them up front, in my face. See...
Behind that is a pink pocket divider (see below). I used to have 3 of these...one for Walgreens, one for CVS, and one for Rite Aid. I'd keep the current ad, my list, and all the coupons for that week in the appropriate divider. If you are a frequent drug store shopper, this is a GREAT idea...
But since I moved back to my small town and I go to those stores only once or twice a month now (sad, sad face)...where I used to go 2-3 times per week, I just use one of them for all of my shopping plans. I put my lists there sometimes and in the pocket I'll slip in the coupons I hope to use that day...either at Kroger or the drugstores. I also sometimes put un-clipped or un-filed coupons here temporarily...until I have time to cut and file them.
After that is
all of my coupons. I have 26
categories that I break my coupons into (see them
here) and I have the
categories in alphabetical order.
For my coupons, I use baseball card and photo sleeves (see more below). I just slip each coupon into it's own pocket facing out. If I have to, I fold them, but I try to always keep them where I can see what they are, expiration date, etc.
To divide into
categories, I use tabbed dividers (that I bought with
MaxPerks rewards) and until recently, I just hand wrote my
category titles and put them on the tabs on stickers. But a few weeks ago, I got a label maker on clearance (I've wanted one forever), so I let my kids help me make labels for my coupon binder.
For the actual coupons, I bought all of these sleeves at Walmart. I use the 9 pocket baseball card sleeves for most of my coupons...each sheet will hold 9 coupons... (the one below has a few empty pockets)...
and I have a few of these photo sleeves that I use for larger coupons. Each sheet has 3 large pockets and one small one ...
So, that's that. I know it might look intimidating, but really, after the initial 3-4 hours to get it all put together, it really makes my life
so much simpler when I'm shopping. I can see all of my coupons easily without digging for them, I can easily go through them and see the expired ones to toss out or
donate to military families, and it zips up easily for storage so I don't always have them falling out.
Did I miss anything? Do you have any questions about my system? I'd love to hear how you organize coupons and answer any questions you have!!
New to Adventures In Savings? Subscribe to Adventures in Savings by email for a daily update of all the deals or follow me on Facebook or Twitter to get all the latest updates faster!
This post contains affiliate links - which means I might earn a few cents (or even dollars) if you click on them. However, ALL opinions and recommendations are my own and are not affected by the use of these links. I won't tell you I like something unless I really like it!
