How To Organize Your Coupons
Now that the holidays are over, you might be feeling a little tight (and not just in your jeans after all those holiday meals). What I’m referring to is your budget. Perhaps you spent more on gifts than you intended, so now it’s time to enter “save mode.” As professional organizers, we organize all kinds of things, including coupons. Yep, that’s right. How many of you either forget to bring coupons with you to the store or let them expire before you had a chance to use them? We can help you with some organizing tricks to make the most of your coupons post-holiday spree.
Email:
Raise your hand if you’re constantly getting emails with various promotions or coupons? #MeAllDay! We suggest creating a folder within your email account labeled “Coupons” and putting them all in there. If you get many more coupons, you can always divide them up further by category (such as clothing, electronics, or home décor). The key to this method is to make sure you’re checking them consistently (about once a week or two) and delete any that have expired.
Car/Purse:
This technique is our favorite when it comes to never forgetting your coupons. We love this accordion expanding receipt and coupon organizer. It can easily fit inside of your car or purse. There are 13 pockets, so we suggest organizing each pocket by the month that the coupon expires so that at the end of the month you can do a quick sweep and purge. Or, if you prefer, you can organize by category.
Coupon Crazy:
If you find yourself with hundreds of coupons, let’s face it, you probably already know this method. Once you get to the point where you’re a coupon pro and unable to fit them all into an accordion file, you may need to take it to the next step and call in reinforcements. Coupon experts say a three-ring binder with plastic inserts is the way to go. Once your coupons are clipped, sort them by expiration date or category and then file them away into the plastic inserts like these.
Target Lovers:
Check out Target’s CartWheel app, which houses its own coupons right on your phone. They’re nicely categorized when you first open up the screen, so you can immediately check out what you’re looking for rather than having to sift through hundreds.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that although Bed Bath & Beyond coupons have an expiration date, they don’t actually expire? Next time you get one in the mail, think twice before recycling it if you have an upcoming purchase there or at one of their other stores like Harmon Face Values and Buy Buy Baby.
Expired Coupons:
People overseas in the military can use coupons expired up to 6 months past their expiration date. Want to learn more? Click on this link.
Even though the savings might seem small, they certainly add up! A couple of dollars can equal a free ice cream or drink at Starbucks. So, treat yourself—you deserve it!
