One struggle many people have is how to organize coupons. If they you can’t find them, you can’t use them! I’ve shared methods before, but not how I actually organize my own coupons. I’ve worked out a method that works very well for me. In fact, I can actually organize several week’s worth of coupons in around an hour (or less) by using this method!
As I have mentioned, there are several options you can use to organize your coupons. One is not any better than the other as the method that works for you may not work for someone else. I am one who needs to have mine clipped and filed so that I can see them when I shop. That means I use the binder method and clip and file mine.
It use to take me a while to do this, so I had to find a way to get it done quickly and easily, so that I didn’t spend too much time doing it each week. Below I share exactly what I do to clip, organize and file my coupons into my binder.
The first thing I do is get out my sorting fabric. I simply took a piece of old fabric and sewed it together. I then sewed lines on the fabric to create rectangles for my various categories. I then used a pen and wrote the category names at the top, to match those I use in my binder (which you can find HERE).
If you don’t sew, you can do this same method on a piece of posterboard. Just draw your lines and write in the names of your categories on the top and you’ll have your own coupon sorting board.
When I get ready to organize my coupons, I group my inserts together. Then, I take the pages, line them up and clip them together. This way, I not only have the same coupons grouped together, but I am cutting them out just one time.
Then, I lay the clipped coupons onto the category where I want to file them into my binder. I do this with all of the coupons I clip, be it from an insert or even printables. This way, my coupons are instantly categorized right after they are clipped, which saves me a LOT of time.
Then, I open up my binder and turn to the first category. I look over the coupons and pull out those which have expired and set them aside. Then, I file the coupons, grouping like ones together and place them into the sleeves. I usually keep the same coupons together. So, if I have Huggies Wipes coupons and Huggies Diapers coupons, each set goes into it’s own slot rather than all Huggies coupons being grouped together into one.
Now, I’ve not only clipped and filed my new coupons, the expired ones are removed and ready to mail to a military family overseas!!
That’s it!! That is what I do to file my coupons. It really makes it quick and easy to do and saves me SO much time!!!