Simple Dollar’s coupon filing system
Trent at Simple Dollar did an explanation with photos on how his family organizes their coupons.
My system is much different than Trent’s. Instead of organizing coupons a binder by expiration date, I put my grocery coupons in an index card box sorted by food or product category.
But I do use a binder to help with grocery planning. That’s where I put my shopping list, the weekly shopping fliers and the monthly rebate books.
The details don’t really matter as long as you have all appropriate coupons clipped, sorted and ready to submit to the cashier when you go shopping. You may have to try a couple of methods until the system “clicks” for you.
Posted: June 15th, 2008 under Coupon tips, Frugal living, Groceries.
Comments: 5
Comments
Comment from Momma @ Tales From The Road Less Traveled
Time: June 16, 2008, 9:12 am
My system is to NOT clip any coupons until they’re needed. I take my weekly coupon inserts, use a 3 hole punch and punch them, then put them in a 3 ring binder. Each week, I pull get my list together of all the things I need, consult Grocerygame.com for the coupons I need, and then clip them. This saves infinite amounts of time hunting through clipped coupons to find what I need.
What I don’t end up using before they expire, I bag up and send to the expired coupon program at the overseas bases… they allow service members and families to use those coupons for up to 6 months after the expiration date.
Comment from Lulugal11
Time: June 16, 2008, 10:04 am
I just started the whole coupon thing so my ’system’ is like this. I go through the inserts and clip all the coupons for things that I use then I throw the insert away. I do not want the clutter around.
I keep all the coupons next to my shopping list, sorted by food and non-food and I keep a running shopping list.
When I go to add something to the list and I see that the list is large enough or I am so out of something that it justifies a grocery run then I go through the coupons and find the ones I need.
While I am writing my grocery list if I know I have a coupon for an item I will put a star next to the word and clip the coupon to the shopping list.
I know it sounds like a lot more work than your system…but there are not many things I get that use coupons so I usually only have about 7 coupons to deal with.
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: June 16, 2008, 5:41 pm
Momma at Tales: Yes, I know about Overseas Coupon Program. I’ve participated in it off and on since it got started in 1992. There are other groups that send coupons to military bases that don’t directly work with OCP but the concept is the same and OCP was one of the early national efforts. (Lately, I’ve been handing down my non-expired coupons to other local families.)
Lulugal: I still circle in my sales flier or put a star or note on my shopping list what items I have coupons for. It helps me remember the priority deals LOL!
Comment from Shawna Schmitt
Time: June 16, 2008, 6:26 pm
Hey Paula! Thanks for all those extra coupons you sent my way! I organized them by category in my trusty coupon box. After I made up my grocery list, I went back through the box and pulled out any coupon that went with an item on my list. I did my shopping yesterday at Meijer and saved $47.73 in just coupons! Oh happy day!!! 
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: June 16, 2008, 8:26 pm
Now, class, pay attention to what my friend Shawna did at Meijer with a fully loaded coupon box! She gets a gold star for the day.
For those of you who check in from out of town, the Meijer where Shawna and I shop at doubles coupons up to 50 cents in value. There are no double dollar or triple coupon tricks in our grocery market.
So her accomplishment at the cash register is quite impressive.
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