How my Coupons are Organized...from the start

The most important thing to do when it comes to couponing is getting organized. This is where you will spend the most time and also gain the most benefits. The key is finding a system that works for you. I've tried so many different ways....they all have their ups and downs. The system I have now makes life so much easier. No coupons get left out, I don't have a bulging expanding file in my purse everywhere I go, no loose coupons floating around anywhere. It's so nice.

The first thing you need is the coupon binder. Personally I need a new one, so I've been shopping around. I would totally recommend the ones for sale at Raining Hot Coupons. I haven't purchased one yet, but it is a complete binder full of protector pages for your coupons. They also stock their binders with instructions on how to organize it. I haven't read this yet either. I will review mine after I get it, by the end of August.

There are two types of protector pages you will need. One has 9 smaller pockets and the other has 3 long pockets. The smaller pockets are what I use for pretty much everything. The larger pockets I use for catalinas, check-coupons, and some of the larger coupons so I don't have to fold them super tiny to fit into the small pockets.

You will want to organize your coupons as you clip them, or it will take more than twice as long, and who has that much time? I separate my coupons by aisle when I put them in my binder, but I do bigger categories while I clip. I will sort them into Food, Personal Care, Medicine, Oral Care, Household Items, Paper Products, Pets, Baby, and a Miscellaneous pile. If I don't separate them as I clip I end up with a huge stack of coupons that I "will organize later", which hardly ever happens, then months later I find a random stack of clipped, unorganized Qs. Always a bummer

After everything is clipped I pull out my binder. I'll start from the beginning, with food. I sort the food coupons into aisles; Beverages, Canned Foods, Boxed Foods, Snacks, Refrigerated Foods, Meats, and Frozen Food. I spend the most time on food coupons, since my stockpile is mostly other stuff. I try to organize the pages in the order I will visit the aisles in the store. I want to make sure I get the best deal and NEVER miss a coupon.

Next comes the pet coupons. I separate them into dog food, dog treats, cat food, cat treats, and other- things like litter, shampoo, and flea products.

Then comes baby stuff. Diapers and wipes are always first, they are the most important!!

These are the 3 most important categories for me, so I always do them first. I will go into the other pages in a different post, I thought I would get this out for you while baby girl is letting me get some work done :)

**Remember, this is what works for me, and it's still a work in progress! I just want to help you get started and find your own system...one that works for you! Any feedback, ideas, thoughts...anything is MORE than welcomed!!**