To save money with coupons just follow these 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Collect your coupons
Coupons can be found everywhere you look, if you just look. The best place to start is your local Sunday Paper. The Sunday paper has "inserts" in it from 3 publishers.
The Smart Source, Red Plum, and Proctor & Gamble. Not every insert will be available every week. The schedules vary and you can go directly to the site of each for more information. I will try to keep my site updated with the coupon inserts we can be expecting each week.
Below are some other places coupons can be found.
Step 2: Organize your coupons
There are a few ways you can organize your coupons. By insert, the binder method, the envelope method, or the coupon organizer (to name a few)
The simplest method is the traditional 8-pocket coupon organizer. This method is straight forward, but is only good if you are an occasional couponer or what I like to call a "clipper"
Organizing by insert is another simple way to store your coupons. You simply write the date of the insert on the front cover of the insert and file them away in a 3 ring binder in sheet protectors. When you need a coupon for an item, just go to that insert, find and clip the coupon. This method is again, for the "clipper". Good for occasional use, but not for the serious couponer.
The Envelope method is a good way if you are going to be more than just a "clipper" with your coupons. With this method, you will have a box (shoe box, photo storage box), and you will sort your coupons in envelopes, and then file in your box according to categories that you decide will work for you.
The Binder method is another method, and is great if you are going to be what I call a 'Cutter' with your coupons. This method also works great if you are a stockpiler and a serious saver! You simply need a binder, page dividers, trading card pages and lots of coupons. If your zipper binder has pockets, you can put a calculator & scissors in there too.
With this method, all your coupons are cut and organized and you can see each and every one. You will always know what coupons you have, because you can see them all every time you are looking in your binder.
- Collect
- Organize
- Stockpile
Step 1: Collect your coupons
Coupons can be found everywhere you look, if you just look. The best place to start is your local Sunday Paper. The Sunday paper has "inserts" in it from 3 publishers.
The Smart Source, Red Plum, and Proctor & Gamble. Not every insert will be available every week. The schedules vary and you can go directly to the site of each for more information. I will try to keep my site updated with the coupon inserts we can be expecting each week.
Below are some other places coupons can be found.
- Sunday inserts
- Tear pads
- Blinkie machines
- Peelies
- Internet/Online
- Local library
- Direct from manufacturer (aka mail)
- Friends and neighbors
- Magazines
- Display stands in stores
- Lobby of your Dr. Office
- Community bulletin boards
- Trade shows/fairs
Step 2: Organize your coupons
There are a few ways you can organize your coupons. By insert, the binder method, the envelope method, or the coupon organizer (to name a few)
The simplest method is the traditional 8-pocket coupon organizer. This method is straight forward, but is only good if you are an occasional couponer or what I like to call a "clipper"Organizing by insert is another simple way to store your coupons. You simply write the date of the insert on the front cover of the insert and file them away in a 3 ring binder in sheet protectors. When you need a coupon for an item, just go to that insert, find and clip the coupon. This method is again, for the "clipper". Good for occasional use, but not for the serious couponer.
The Envelope method is a good way if you are going to be more than just a "clipper" with your coupons. With this method, you will have a box (shoe box, photo storage box), and you will sort your coupons in envelopes, and then file in your box according to categories that you decide will work for you.
The Binder method is another method, and is great if you are going to be what I call a 'Cutter' with your coupons. This method also works great if you are a stockpiler and a serious saver! You simply need a binder, page dividers, trading card pages and lots of coupons. If your zipper binder has pockets, you can put a calculator & scissors in there too.With this method, all your coupons are cut and organized and you can see each and every one. You will always know what coupons you have, because you can see them all every time you are looking in your binder.
Currently I kind of use a variety of the simplest method, the envelope method, and my own method. If there are things in the paper I know I will buy, I am know clipping those coupons and putting them in an small file organizer. Kind of like the one shown above. I label the tags with things like, Baby, Bathroom, Household, Restaurants, etc. I take this file organizer with me every time I shop and find that my coupons aren't so numerous that it's hard to carry. I use to use the envelope method, but am finding that it was to hard to organize everything all the time and I wasn't even using half the coupons. So know I am leaving them in the packets they come in and dating them in case I need to refer back to them. Often times I've found that the products I thought I would never buy because they are either too expensive, or I just don't use it often enough, end up being free or really close to it. So definitely keep all the coupons. With these coupon packets I file them in my filing cabinet, and pull them out as needed.
Step 3: Stockpile
When you are getting something for way below average price... it's time to stock up... only if you know that you will need or use that item though! Don't stockpile junk that never gets used... that's my own opinion though!
Note - with stockpiling I am not encouraging you to go take all the items at a store and not leave any for some one else. There are lots of people that would like to get in on the deals that you get in on too. I do not consider it clearing the shelf though if you take the last two products on a shelf, but if you take the last 8-10... maybe consider leaving a few for some one else.
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