How to Organize Grocery Coupons For Maximum Savings

Find a coupon organization method that works for you.

Using coupons for groceries can save your family hundreds of dollars each year. To save the most with coupons, you need to be able to locate the grocery coupons quickly and easily while you are doing your shopping. Organization is the key, but organize coupons in a manner that works for you.

Things You'll Need

• Three ring binder or index card file
• Divider tabs
• Trading card display sleeves

Instructions

1. Try out one of the two most popular methods used to organize coupons. Either use a three-ring binder with clear trading card pockets or use an index card file. The three-ring binder method requires more time to file the coupons, but the upside is that you are able to see all your coupons without taking them out of the trading card pockets. If you use the index card method, you look through the coupons in each category when you are shopping that part of your list.

2. Purchase your supplies. If you choose to use the three-ring binder, you need a 1-inch or wider three-ring binder, at least 25 pages of clear trading card display sheets and one or two sets of divider tabs. If you choose to use an index card file, purchase the index card file of your choice and index card dividers if your file does not come with them. Borrow or purchase a label maker to make easy-to-read divider labels.

3. Decide on the categories you will use. You can use as many or as few categories as you like. Common categories include "Frozen," "Dairy," "Produce," "Canned Goods," "Paper Products," "Beverages," "Cleaning Supplies" and "Pets." Order the categories based on the order that you shop in your local grocery store.

4. Make a divider label for each category using the label maker. Insert the divider tab labels to complete the divider tabs. Place the divider tabs in the binder or index card file. If you are using the binder method, divide the trading card display sheets between the tabs and insert them in the binder behind each section.

5. File your coupons for groceries. For the three-ring binder method, insert the coupons into trading card sleeves within the applicable category. For the index card file, place the coupons in front of the divider tab for the applicable category.

6. Locate the coupons while you are shopping. As you are shopping in each section of the grocery store, peruse your grocery coupons for items that are on your shopping list. Pull out the coupons that can be used for items that you are purchasing and place them in the front of the file. This way, you have the coupons ready for the checkout lane. If you don't want to carry the file or binder with you to the store, pull the coupons you will most likely need when you are making your weekly grocery list.

7. Plan to do your grocery shopping on the day your store offers double coupon savings to enjoy the maximum amount of grocery coupon savings for your family.

Tips & Warnings

• Other ways to organize coupons include using envelopes -- one for each category. Small accordion files work, too, if you don't have many coupons. There are even smartphone apps for coupon organization. Use the method that works best for you.

References

• Couponing 101: A Beginner's Guide to Couponing
• Stretching a Buck: Coupon Organization