• Oct. 13, 2008
My Coupon System

Over at From Wags to Riches there is a give-a-way going on that requires leaving a comment about your coupon organization system.  After leaving it there I thought it would be a good idea to share it here.  I hope that this will encourage some of you in your frugal pursuits!   

Shannon

I started with two 4x6 photo albums but quickly out grew that method.  Now I have two check size accordian files.  I use one for grocery items and one for non-grocery items.  At first I had restaraunt coupons in my grocery file and medicines in my non-grocery file.  However, I quickly found that there are so many medicine coupons that those sections were very full.  I decided then that I would use the 4x6 albums I started with.  One for restauraunt coupons and one for medicine coupons.  I am now very happy with my system.  The hardest part was finding an accordian file where the dividers were actually attaced at the bottom.  So many of them have 'floating' dividers and all I could envision was all of my coupons sliding under and getting mixed up after all my hard work.  I found my favorite accordian file at Walmart.  In addition to having attached dividers it expands at both the top and the bottom so it stretches out to about 12 inches in length.  It also has a wider section in front.  I keep scissors and a pen in one and my Wags ES catalogs in the other.  Then each file has 13 other sections.  I used card stock (cut down to size) to subdivide those sections so I have 26 sections in each.  Here is how I have my dividers organized:
     Non Grocery:
     Batteries&Miscellaneous/Bathroom Cleaners
     Cleaning Wipes&dusters/All Purpose Cleaners
     Air Freshners/Carpet Cleaners
     Dishwasher/Hand Dish
     Laundry/Cat Items
     Dog food/Dog Treats
     Fragrances/Deodorant
     Hair Color/Style Products
     Shampoo/Lotion
     Makeup/Facial Cleansers
     Feminine Products/Razors
     Soap/Teeth Products
     Baby/Paper/Plastic (I divided this one 3 times)

     Grocery:
     Refrigerated Baking/Baking
     Spices&Sugar/Bread, Jelly, Peanut Butter
     Canned Goods/Canned fruits&veggies
     Candy/Hot and Cold Cereal
     Cereal Bars/Fruit Snacks&Snack Cakes
     Dairy/Drinks
     Frozen Bread/Frozen IceCream&Snacks
     Frozen Breakfast/Frozen Meals
     Frozen Meats/Frozen Fruits & Veggies
     Meal Kits/Meat
     Sausage&Hot Dogs/Produce
     Rice, Pasta, Potatoes/Sauces, Spreads
     Chips/Nuts & other snacks

Each 4x6 album has a seperate page for each restaraunt or each medicine type (asprin, tylenol, allergy, bandaids, etc.) respectively.  After almost a year I finally feel like I have the system that is perfect for me.  All 4 of my organizers fit in a small tote and it stays in my car so that I always have all of my organizers within reach if I find a great deal!

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