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Coupon Organizing:

I know most of you organize your coupons by three hole punching the entire packet or using a plastic box method.  However, I have found what I believe is a simpler way to organize coupons.
 
You will need a zippered 3 ring binder, some clear baseball card holders (you can find these at dollar stores, Target, Walmart etc...) and one clear 3 pocket Photo Holder page per grocery store (found at the craft store.)  At the front of my binder I label a clear photo page holder with each grocery store name.  These pockets can be used for rainchecks, in store coupons and shopping lists.  I then label the baseball card pages by category. 

My categories are:

Baby
Bread and cereal
Cleaners
Dairy
Dessert
Meat
Medicine
Paper Goods
Personal Hygiene
Miscellaneous.

You can use any categories you want and even sub categorize (ie.. I have 6 card pages for my Bread and Cereal catergory: Cereal, breakfast foods, bread, pasta, rice, crackers/chips).  I then insert cut coupons in each baseball card slot in its' specific category (You can separate all coupons individually or, for example, put all women's deodorants in one slot).

It is so easy to read each coupon and its' expiration date.  Instead of shuffling through pages or piles of coupons you turn to the catergory you are looking for and immediately you can find the coupon.  No more exhaustive hunting.  It is also easier to purge expired coupons once a month because the expiration date is clearly visable.  This method does take time initially because you have to cut each coupon, but finding them when you need them saves time overall. 

Another tip is to insert one baseball card holder page after each grocery store labeled photo page.  You then insert all the coupons you will be using for each store.  You can then flip your binder open in the cart seat and have everything at your fingertips.  And if you see a good deal while shopping you can find a needed coupon in seconds. Also, use the slot at the back of your binder to store sale ads.  I have done this for about 11 years and love it.

I just switched to this method of storing my coupons and I love it!    I now have all my coupons readily available for shopping!  It is wonderful!   I have found some great deals because all my coupons are easy to see and get while I am in the store.

This is my preferred method of organizing.  I hope it doesn't sound confusing because it is by far the best method of organizing coupons in my opinion!  You can drop it and nothing spills (as long as it's zipped up ), you can go to the store and easily find coupons for unadvertised deals and you don't have to rely on someone else to tell you what date and insert a coupon came out of!  It just makes you a little more independent and an added bonus:  as you flip through the pages each week you will start to memorize what coupons you have!

Where can you buy baseball card holders? I have looked at dollar tree as mentioned above but had no luck! thanks for your help!

Kathy

I have also used this method of organizing my coupons and it works so well!  The baseball card holders are in the school/office supplies with the photo pages at Walmart. 

This makes it so simple to cut, file and find your coupons. I love it!!!!!!

Great Idea!  I use a 3-ring binder with clear zippered pencil holders and it works great for a moderate coupon cutter such as myself.  My advice is for the binder to be one with clear pockets on the cover.  Its great to put your shopping list where you won't lose it.  You can also stick soon to be expired coupons where you're sure to remember them!

For those of you who need it, here is my binder recipe:


2" Zippered Binder w/Strap!!!

STORE SECTION: Your Favorite Stores (3-pocket Photo holders for rainchecks, Shopping List & Store coupons with a Sticker Tab Attached and Store name inserted followed by one 9-slot Basball card page so you can organize the coupons for the store for the week.

CATEGORY SECTION: 10 Categories (Tab dividers labeled on both sides & 9-slot Baseball card holders-sometimes called trading card pages!)

Baby - 2 baseball card pages (Diapers/Shampoos, Baby Food)
Bread & Cereal - 5 baseball card pages (Cereal, Breakfast Foods, Breads, Rice/Pasta, Chips & Crackers)
Cleaners - 8 Baseball card pages (Floor Cleaners, Dish Cleaners, 2 Fabrics, Standard Cleaners, Bathroom Cleaners, 2 Air Fresheners)
Dairy - 4 Basball Card Pages (Cheese, Butter/Oil, Yogurt, Misc Dairy)
Dessert - 8 Baseball card pages (Cookies, Frozen Desserts, Cake/Brownie Mixes, Fruits/Jello/Pudding, 2 Drinks, Candy, Baking Goods)
Meat - 6 Baseball  card pages (Fresh/Frozen Poultry, Lunchmeat, Breakfast Meats, Misc. Meats, Seasonings, Sauces)
Medicine - 8 baseball card pages (2 Cold/Allergy, Pain Relievers, First Aid, 2 Stomach Aids, Vitamins, 1-2 Misc. Medicines)
Paper Goods - 4 baseball  card pages (Facial Tissues/Garbage Bags, Foils/Wraps/Containers, Plates/Paper Towels, Toilet Tissue)
Personal Hygiene - 14 Baseball  card pages (Facial Cleansers, Body wash, Lotion, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Misc. Tooth products, Deodorant, Shaving Needs, Makeup, 2 Shampoo/Stylers, Hair Color, Personal Items, Misc. Hygiene)
Misc. - 9-10 Baseball card pages (Sauces/Salsa/Ketchup, 2 Canned Goods, 2 Frozen goods, Salads/Dressings, Misc. Foods, Pets, 1-2 Misc. Household Items)

You don't necessarily need the same # of pages I do!  Customize to fit your needs!
Remember, I have to keep one of every current coupon - you don't!

TIPS:

90% of coupons will already fit the baseball card pages, If they don't slightly fold them w/expiration date showing if possible!

Insert Coupons with the product facing up - it is easier to find them!