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Saturday, March 14, 2009

Accordian File Organization

I have had a couple of questions from readers as to how I organize [my adorable Carolina Pad] accordian coupon binder (found at Target or Wal-Mart.)
The first 5 sections are organized by store. In these sections, I keep my store envelopes (remember I only carry in my shopping list and envelope filled with the coupons I cut for the week into the store when I got shopping.)
My personal five store sections are CVS, Publix, Target, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens.

The next 7 sections are organized by type of coupon. You can decide what type of coupon divisions are fitting for your family but in my case it is baby, beauty (make up, toothpaste), cleaning, food, medicine, miscellaneous/paper (batteries, toilet paper), and restaurants.
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My Sunday Inserts stay inside my coupon binder and any cut coupons I have go in my accordian folder. The ONLY reason I cut coupons is because I printed them or they fell out of the binder. The rest of the coupons in this binder are from peelies, blinkies (coupons found on the shelf below the item), mailers (mailed to you), etc.
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Remember, don't CUT from the binder coupons until you need it.
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Want to read more about my organization system, see my previous post Here.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have a question about store coupons. How/where do you get store coupons. I know that Meijers prints out coupons but it states manufacture by the date and you can only use it at meijers. So is that a store coupon or manufacture coupon?

Anonymous said...

Have a question about putting the inserts into a binder. If you punch the inserts, does it matter that the holes go thru the barcode of the coupon? Will that cause a problem in the cashier scanning the coupon? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Kathryn, as long is there is not a major hole (say center of the barcode) this is okay. Sometimes it brushes the side of the code - no big deal

Anonymous said...

Aztec, sometimes the weekly fliers have the store coupons, sometimes the monthly fliers, sometimes they have special magazines or special reward cards or fliers around the store. Key is to always keep your eye open.

amhunt said...

Are coupons the same throughout the country? I've been couponing with you for a few weeks and have not been able to find a coupon several times even though I have that weeks fliers. Thanks so much for what you do. I've always wanted to coupon, but never knew how to do it effectivly.

Frugal Coupon Living said...

Amhunt,
Hi there! No coupons vary by region/city. Smaller cities get not as many coupons (not as good) Larger cities have great coupons.

Lisa said...

Hi Ashley, I know you told us how to organize our coupons but, I'm realy stuck on how to compile my shopping lists to get the best bargains for my money can you please elaborate on this, let us know where to begin I get very overwhelmed with this portion of couponing.
Thanks,
Lisa

Frugal Coupon Living said...

Lisa, do not create the shopping lists. My website and ones like it will tell you what coupons to use and what items to buy. Of course you will buy other essentials each week. If you want to know the whole process though, I look at the weekly ad, go to a full cup (enter the items from the ad in) and they tell me where to find the coupons. It is a VERY long process.
Take care :)

amy acker said...

Are the envylopes you use for each store (target, cvs, etc.) laminated? they look like it. My problem is the envylopes I've used get beat up pretty quickly. which annoys me, tips??
amypins@hotmail.com

Frugal Coupon Living said...

yes amy. i laminated them at kinkos. it really helps.

Unknown said...

I saw the accordion file you are pictured with on clearance at my Walmart today. They had all the coordinating pieces on clearance too.