GET ORGANIZED

So you spend 30 minutes clipping coupons on Sunday morning.  You've placed them in your accordian file that you got for a buck and stick the file in your purse.  At some point before you could actually make it to the grocery store, the accordian file had found its way to the floorboard of your car, halfway under the seat, in the BACK.  Maybe that just happened to me (more than once).  I hear people talk alot about losing their coupons only to find them a few weeks later when they are expired.  I've even had coupons on my list but forgot to take my list with me.  Okay I needed help really bad.  Here is what I've learned on organization.
Each person is different and what works for one person may not work for the other.  The End.

Just kidding - here goes:   It depends on how you match your coupons to sales.

If you don't want to spend much time cutting coupons you can just file the inserts according to the date and source.  I tried this.  You can get a cardboard bankers box and some of those hanging files.  Each Sunday you pull out the inserts and write the date on the front page.  Then file it away.  This method really requires that you visit a coupon database or a list of deals.  Maybe I'll figure all this out and give you one of those databases.  Anyhow, you would just pull the coupons you need prior to your store visit. 

This was okay for me but I couldn't figure out how to file my internet coupons and the coupons I get in the mail.

You can clip your coupons and put them in a photo box or CD storage box or really any kind of box.  You would categorize them and then decide if you want to haul the whole box to the store with you.  I mean what's one more thing to go with your purse, list, kids, etc.  I've seen people put them in the front of the cart and do quite well.  They look completely organized.  Still, this wasn't for me.

Somewhere on line, maybe Amazon, I saw a really neat accordian file that attached to the cart.  I was determined not to purchase another accordian file.  I want to be an Extreme Couponer!  I mean business!  I need...... A BINDER!

Okay so you take a zipper type 3-ring binder and put a few baseball card protectors in it and TA-DA!  It's a coupon binder.  Remember Trapper Keepers?  If you're over 40 I'm sure you do.  I had a Trapper Keeper in the spare room.  I bought my plastic sheets at a local supercenter place in the front, near the cashiers for around $5.00 or so.  I read about this "Binder Method" on Laura Williams Blog.  You can find Laura on WUC (We Use Coupons) Then I found "The Krazy Coupon Lady" and I absolutely LOVE her!  She has printable category sheets.  Yep, printed those sheets out and my work was practically done.  I found some plastic sheet covers and stuck the category sheets in those.  Then I found some sticky tabs and placed those on the sheet protectors to help me find each category.  I cut out all coupons.  I do this for a reason!  I swap coupons.  I have no use for diapers and kids vitamins but others in my swap group will.  You see where I'm going with this?  I can also stick my binder in a bag and off I go to find unadvertised deals!  I will add pictures of my binder when I figure out how.

Lesson learned - For me, I need to see the coupons I have and I can remember more about what I have.  I like sitting down with my binder and going through sales flyers.  DH laughs now when I see an ad or special and I say "Oh good I got a coupon for this".  I can also categorize my expired coupons much faster when I donate them.  I don't really use a database alot since my coupon inserts tend to be a little off making it difficult to match the database.
If you are a DIY type person I have to send you to "The Krazy Coupon Lady".  Print out her printables.  I love her site and I think you will too.