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Organize Your Grocery Coupons
Using grocery coupons can be time consuming and overwhelming if you don't have a good organizational system. Developing a method for organizing grocery coupons is a worthwhile activity because it will enable you to shop more efficiently and save money at the grocery store. When I first started using coupons to grocery shop, I had a small plastic organizer that had about 12 sections in it. This worked fine at the time. After becoming a mom, I developed an increased enthusiasm for couponing and adopted it as my new hobby. I signed up for extra Sunday newspapers, just for the additional coupons. My handy little coupon organizer couldn't take the pressure. It was just too small, and I needed more categories so I could find coupons quicker.
I searched the web for a larger organizer, but the only ones that seemed big enough were pretty expensive. I decided to try making my own before spending big bucks. I bought a check filing box from an office supply store for about $8 and turned it into a coupon organizer. The file box came with twelve dividers. That wasn't enough for me, so I traced the provided dividers onto pieces of cardstock so I would have more. I personalized each category and subcategory with printed labels. I also alphabetized and color coded the categories.
By increasing the number of sections in my organizer, I can now find specific coupons much faster. For example, I used to keep all toiletries in the same slot. Now, toiletries are divided into eight subcategories. If I need to find a coupon for deodorant, I know exactly where to look.
Grocery Shopping Tip: Keep a pen and small calculator in your coupon box in case you need to calculate a deal on the spot!
The only down side to this system is that the box is somewhat large. I can't just toss it in my purse like I could with my smaller organizer. Sometimes I do take the whole box with me to the store, but most of the time I only take the coupons I know I'm going to use. This requires scanning the grocery ads ahead of time and making a shopping list for each store I plan to visit. To avoid carrying the box with me, I divide my coupons into envelopes labeled with grocery store names. I keep one labeled envelope in my box for each store I shop at regularly. If I have grocery lists for Safeway and Fry's, I put the coupons I'm going to use at those stores into their respective envelopes and toss them in my purse.
Other Types of Organizers
List of supplies needed to start a coupon organizer box:
- Check filing box
- Cardstock
- Small envelopes
- Printable Adhesive Labels (optional)
- Coupons
15. FROZEN
· Bread & Dough
· Breakfast Items
· Desserts/Novelties/Ice Cream
· Fruits & Veggies
· Juices
· Meals & Pizza
16. PAPER SUPPLIES
· Toilet Paper
· Kleenex
· Paper Towels/Napkins
· Plates/Cups/Cutlery
· Bags/Foil/Wrap
17. PERSONAL CARE
· Deodorant
· Shaving Products
· Feminine Products
· Soap & Body Wash
· Make-up
· Skin Care
· Dental
· Hair Care
18. PRODUCE
19. PET SUPPLIES
20. SPICES
21. RESTAURANTS
22. SNACKS
· Gum & Mints
· Candy
· Cookies & Crackers
· Chips/Pretzels/Snack Mix/Popcorn
· Jello & Pudding
· Bars-Granola & Cereal
· Snack Cakes
If you are ready to create your first coupon organizer or expand the one you already have, use the following categories and subcategories as a guide. Make it your own by personalizing the categories according to your needs. If you don't have babies, leave out the divider for baby products. If you don't have pets, skip that divider too. Label your dividers in a way that will increase your grocery shopping efficiency.
Categories & Subcategories
1. BABY PRODUCTS
2. BAKING
· Baking Mixes
· Baking Supplies
3. BEVERAGES
· Refrigerated
· Non-Refrigerated
4. BREAD
5. CANNED GOODS
· Fruit
· Meat
· Soup & Chili
· Vegetables
6. CEREAL
7. CLEANING
· Cleaners
· Dishwasher Products
· Laundry Products
· Air Sanitizers
· Liquid Dish Soap
8. CONDIMENTS
· Mayo/Mustard/Ketchup
· Jelly/Syrup/PB
· Salad Dressing
· Sauces/Marinades
9. DAIRY
· Butter & Eggs
· Cheese
· Dough-Refrigerated
· Other Dairy
· Yogurt
10. ENTRÉE MIXES
11. PASTA & RICE
12. MEAT
13. MEDICINE
14. MISC
Learn From the Pros!
When I completed my coupon box, it was pretty empty because my coupon supply was not very large. Each week, the coupon files expanded more and more as I collected additional coupons from my Sunday newspapers. Don't worry if you can't fill the box right away. The coupons will come! I often joke that losing my coupon box would be worse than losing my wallet. I usually don't have any cash in my wallet, but my coupons are worth hundreds!
This certainly isn't the only way to organize coupons. I know other coupon fanatics who use binders with clear plastic trading card pages. The coupons can be inserted into the slots and are visible through the plastic. Develop a system that works well for you. Be creative and have fun with this project. Most of all, enjoy the savings you will reap using coupons at the grocery store!
Comments
Wow - I think you are the best coupon organizer ever! I thought I was, but your Hub gave me some new ideas. The only thing I would do differently is combine the SPICES category under CONDIMENTS. I like fewer categories. Great Hub!
This was my first week using coupons! I am excited to say that I am so surprised that I actually saved a whole lot using coupons at Publix, Walgreens and CVS. The only frustrating part was searching for the coupons in my folder. I had no organization what's so ever and it just took me forever:( . I Did a little research and heard about the binder and using the baseball card and getting dividers...well I've been stuck on what to write on the dividers...LOL...Your post on listing the categories/subcategories just made my night!!! LOL...I couldn't find another website that listed your ideas. Thanks so much for your post. It was really helpful!!
Maddie
Hello,
Good advice. Organizing is half the battle. I placed a link to this hub on one of my websites. If you would like to know where please email me. I don't want to post it here because it might be considered spam. Have a great day. Good Hub.
mailxpress
Great idea. Thank you. My coupons have been so disorganized! From all being thrown into a drawer, to being shoved into baggies. Maybe this will work!
No problem - Thanks to you as well! Your tips are great and I love seeing that other's are trying to save just like my family. Everyone has a different way to organize..Thanks again for your tips!
If you would like a purse size coupon organizer, I found some super cute coupon organizers @ http://www.austinartisan.etsy.com. You can take just the ones you need to the store without a big box of coupons. She has 100's of styles, they are all handmade and she even made me a custom monogram for my daughter.
She runs specials all the time so go visit her store. I am so excited about my order with her.
She is having a Mother's Day special right now. 2 for $21.00, can't beat that!
This is some great info
Great Hub...very detailed, which is nice too see. I'll definitely review some of your other work to see what else you've written. Thanks for the great info and products! Cathy@save-cash-online.com.
Great ideas. I used to use coupons a lot, but we began to use a discount store that doesn't take them and was always cheaper than other stores. Now, where we have moved coupons will be a smart option again.
Thanks for the tips and advice.
I really like my smaller version of the coupon organizer. Thanks for helping me to get all of my coupons in order. The time spent is well worth the money saved!!
Why would anyone want to eliminat coupons? They help a lot of people get by.
Thanks Shawna for sharing your system. I can never find coupons I want quickly. I"ll try your system. Mine is definitely not working.
Interesting - Here you teach organizing coupons and One World United is trying to eliminate them ...LOL - Good hub - I know a few people who use coupons like crazy!
Cheers
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