Ask:
I have a plastic little folder that has an attached elastic band around it.
I used an old coupon organizer I had to make up my categories.
I know some peole use the baseball card pockets in a binder, this seems big to take along.
Just wondering your system. Seems like when I take only the coupons I intend to use, there is a great deal and I have to go home and back, or run to the car (with 2 kids!).
Answer:
I used a coupon organizer but it got too fat and tore apart.
A couple of months ago, I switched to a binder with baseball card holder sheets. It was more organized but took up a lot of space in the cart.
On a sad note, 2 days ago I left my binder and lots of time put into it at the store and no one turned it in.
Answer:
I use a coupon organizer I got from Current a couple years ago, it's wearing out so bad, though, I need to find a new one!
If a coupon organizer is too small for you, what about an index card box w/ the index dividers, you could turn them over and use a sharpie to write your own categories on them. Maybe even put them in order by their location in your store you shop most for convenience? Seems like a 3"x5" box would do, and not be too bulky to take in the store w/ you.
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I use the notecard holder things and the dividers. I organize them alphabetically. And I have a bigger purse so they both fit in there cause i organize them by food and non-food.
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I use a small makeup bag that that the top zips open and inside i use an envelope for each category.
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I think it depends on how many coupons you clip. When I clipped almost everything I used a cardfile box and bought an alpha sorter which I flipped over and wrote categories of the grocery store on. I cut back on what I clip and now I've switched to a small 13 pocket accordian style organizer but mine has an extra slightly thicker compartment in the fornt which I put the coupons I intend to "use immediately" in.
The two sort methods I've tried are alpha by category (such as s for soup) and organizing by the grocery store layout. Baking, deli, canned goods, frozen, etc. I find I prefer the later. I used the store map to get started.
I got some good ideas from the back of the cookbook "Cheap, Fast, Good" you might want to check it out at the library.
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when i get multiples of a coupon (from ordering them from a coupon clipping svc or just amassing them from inserts) i staple them together in the corner or along one edge (not near the barcode). then i just rip however many i need off the stapled pile and i'm good to go.
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I use a small recipe box, and sort them by experation date. That way I don't have to go through them all the time to find the expired ones.
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I have a coupon holder, but getting ready to change to a box. I have mine sorted by catagories, baby, frozen, beauty. I also paper clip together coupons that I have a bunch of the same ones with the same expiration date together. I also have a slot for store coupons, rain checks and rebates.
Answer:
I started out with one coupon holder, and have since expanded to three of them. I organie them by category; veggies, meat, ice cream, and such. I make my list before I go to the store and only bring along the coupons that I am planning on using. Every once in a while I wish that I had brought them all along, but it helps with not getting things that aren't on my list.