How we organize and use coupons

There are many different ways to organize and store coupons. In my opinion this is by far the easiest method and is still very efficient. Some people choose to cut out each coupon and organize in a binder which they take to the store with them. You will have to find which method you like best.

It all starts when our coupons arrive via our Sunday newspapers. I get 4 papers for my family of 4. It is a good rule of thumb to get a paper for each member of your family. That way when you are stocking up you will have enough to last until another really good sale comes up. If you are interested in getting a subscription to the newspaper, click here for pricing and more info.

We go through our newspapers and find our coupon inserts. There are a few different types of inserts: Smartsource (SS), Proctor & Gamble (PG), General Mills, & Red Plum (RP) (Red Plum available in The Spectrum and The Daily Herald only). You will not get each of these every single week, but occasionally you will get 2 SS booklets in one week. We have gotten up to 6 booklets in one week alone. Once I have found all my inserts, I write the date on the front of each booklet. Then I put all the booklets from the week into a sheet protector.


I then organize my sheet protectors into my accordion file case.





There are also many printable coupons available. Coupons.com, Target, Smartsource, & Red plum all have websites where you can print coupons. All you have to do is install a simple coupon printer, it will prompt you when you try to print your first coupon.

Now, you find a sale or read a blog and you want to go shopping to score some free and really cheap items. So you print your list and start cutting coupons. Let me help you decode where to find the coupons. Here is what you might see:

Oscar Mayer Lunchables 3.3-4.5 oz. $1.67 (item and sale price)
Use $1/1 SS 3/21 (one dollar off one item coupon found in the Smartsouce insert from March 21)
Final price: $.67 (price after coupon)

It is a fairly simple system once you get used to doing it. Once you have cut out all the coupons you want to use that shopping trip, organize them into a smaller size carrying case such as this:




Then, slip it in your purse and get shopping! Bring your list with you and you will not have to touch or look at your coupons until you checkout. This is especially helpful when shopping with children! Just find your items, get in line, and get ready to save a truck load of money!

Now, would you like to walk away from the store with things similar to this:


and this:


and pay around $6.00 for all of it?