Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Before we jump into purchasing boxes, notebooks, plastic sleeves, or filing tabs to organize coupons, let’s explore a few options to discover a plan for you. In this organizational section of coupon-ology, you can choose so many ways to file your coupons.

From filing by category, expiration date, or a combination of both to using an accordion file, box, binder, or notebook, your options are unlimited. Though I will not cover each of these options, I will share three ways (Part 2a, 2b, and 2c) that I have filed my coupons:

• Part 2a: File Box with individual coupons
• Part 2b: Binder with full inserts
• Part 2c: Notebooks with all coupons cut and filed

Part 2a: File Box with Individual Coupons

When I first started couponing, I used a small accordion filing container. I had a few categories (refrigerated, frozen, grocery, paper/plastic, cleaners, and toiletries). As I was a coupon newbie, I only clipped and saved coupons of brands and products that I purchased on a regular basis.

Staying brand loyal held me back from seeing the deep discounts in our grocery budget, but I have learned. If you use a shoe box or index card container or another small container for your coupons, save coupons for products you purchase, no matter what brand it is.

For example, our family regularly purchases Scott toilet paper. However, I save coupons for all toilet paper brands within my system. This way, I can stock up when a great sale comes along paired with the coupons.

With this system, you are saving the coupons you might use and ignoring coupons you won’t use. In our home, I do not keep pet coupons as we currently have no pets. When our fish died, our children wanted a frog. We suggested waiting until we returned from our vacation. By the time we returned home, they had forgotten their “need” for a frog. 🙂

How to Setup a Coupon Box

1. Find a container

A shoe box works well as you can place the lid on top. Before spending money on a container, search your home for a workable solution.

2. Choose your categories

Some savers file by expiration date. Honestly, I’m not sure how that works as I rarely know the expiration date on a coupon I seek. If you decided to file by expiration date, then your categories would be the months of the year.

If you choose to file by coupon type, then you will want to decide on your categories. You can be as specific as you need. I still need diapers, so I have a baby category. You may need a pet category. Choose categories that fit your family’s needs. To help you get started, here is a sample list of categories:

• Beverages
• Refrigerated
• Dairy
• Frozen
• Canned
• Boxed
• Desserts
• Snacks
• Meat
• Condiments
• Cleaners
• Laundry
• Paper/Plastic
• Baby
• Pets
• Medicines
• Hair
• Body
• Face
• Dental

3. Create section breaks

My filing container came with tabs where I wrote the category and slid the paper into the tab. To make your own tabs, try using 3″x5″ or 4″x6″ cards and adding a clear plastic tab to the top. You can write your categories and slide them into the tab creating your own customized coupon box.

4. Add your coupons

File your coupons to your filing system under the appropriate category.

This box organizational system served our family well when I started couponing. Without spending any money on the setup, I used what tools I had around our apartment. I did not upgrade to my coupon binder until 3 years ago. So, I used this method for over 10 years with great results.

The size of your organizational system does not matter. The goal is to find the coupons you need when you need them. In discovering and using an organizational system, you will save time and energy while redeeming those coupons to save your family money.

Next week, I will share my experiences with using a coupon binder with full inserts. Stay with me as we discover a few ways to organize your coupons. The key is finding a system or a combination of systems that helps you in using time wisely. Happy organizing!

Question: Which type of coupon system do you prefer?

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

This post is written for your information. Please do not feel guilty if you do not donate your expired coupons as this process takes time and money (in most cases).

As I share the options, I will also explain what I have done and am currently doing as an example. In using your time wisely, you may need to start with the purge coupons step.

There is much within this coupon-ology category as there are thousands of blogs dedicated to this topic alone.

Keep your life in balance. Remember, you can’t do it all, so choose what is best for you and your family now. 😉

Part 1: Purge Coupons

Donate

Last week in Part 1a, we looked at purging and donating our coupons. Today, I will concentrate on ways to donate your expired manufacturer’s coupons that are up to 3 months expired to military families serving overseas.

Little Time

For those with little time but wanting to make a difference, take your expired newspaper inserts and/or cut coupons to your local American Legion Auxiliary. Melissa at Stockpiling Moms supports her local branch in Ohio. I looked into finding our local branch and found none in my part of South Carolina.

This option is great for those of you who do not cut every coupon. The American Legion Auxiliary is happy to have your coupons clipped or not. In using time wisely, this is one of the most efficient options.

To find your local post, visit the American Legion Auxiliary website’s Department State Headquarters’ page, and click on your state. As each state’s page might look different, look for a link to legion post. On the South Carolina page, I entered our zip code to find the nearest branch.

If you have a local branch and pass that way at least once a month, then consider making a donation to our troops abroad after purging your coupons.

More Time

The Coupons for Troops program is run by Jenn of The Happy Housewife. Requiring sign up and a commitment to send coupons regularly, a stateside family is paired with a military family abroad. Unfortunately, you cannot choose your family.

In reading through the faq page, I did not discover if the coupons needed to be clipped or sorted. This program is nice in that you may get to know your family and help them save money. Just know that there is a waiting list (approximately 1 – 3 months) to get assigned a family.

Also, you must commit to mailing your coupons which will cost in shipping expenses. Though it depends on the amount of coupons you send, my shipping charges were between $15 and $30 for each shipment.

If you try this option and it does not work, you can stop by sending an e-mail. Though this option takes more time, you will know who is receiving your coupons.

Lots of Time

Seeing the need for military families, the Krazy Coupon Lady has two collection points in the United States. You need to clip all your coupons and sort them into two categories: food and non-food.

Then you mail them to one of two individuals determined by where you live. The collectors then package boxes and ship them to needy bases around the world.

This option takes more time, but there is no commitment. You just send your expired coupons (no more than 30 days expired) to the contact person, and they take care of the rest.

When I get back into donating, I would probably choose this option as my two coupon binders are already separated into food and non-food categories.

Additional Options

Adopt your own base

If you want to adopt your own base, you can consult the Overseas Coupon Programs’ base page. You need to fill out an adoption form, but there is no commitment.

You can change bases and choose when you send the coupons. In looking through their website pages, I could not determine how the coupons needed to arrive. You may be able to just send the inserts. However, you will pay more in shipping than if the coupons are clipped.

As examples, the Money Saving Queen supports a navy base, and the Happy Money Saver supports a base in Japan. You can join their efforts or start your own.

Family Activity Option: This option is great if your family wants to take on a project. Have a monthly family night where everyone cuts coupons. If little ones cut a coupon in half, then no big deal as you can toss it or tape it. The idea is working together to help someone else. Great lessons all the way around!

Adopt your own military family

When I donated coupons, I sent them directly to a family we knew. I met this precious family when they attended our Sunday School class. Upon receiving their orders to Korea, I asked my friend if we could partner with her in sending expired coupons. Of course, she accepted and loved the coupons and notes from home.

I gathered coupons from our class and sent them to her as often as I could. To be honest, I’m sure some of her coupons arrived past the 6-month date as I did not check all the donations I received.

This task took time, but it was worth it to me as I knew I was blessing her while she was away from home. When they returned to the States, she no longer needed the coupons, and their base was receiving donations. Thus, I have stopped my donations at this time.

In using time wisely, you may not find these options helpful. However, if you have the time and money, then our military families would love to use your expired coupons in their commissaries and exchanges.

If you cannot, do not feel guilty. Many others donate, and some programs have waiting lists. Seasons of life change, and opportunities arise. Keep these programs in mind, donate when you can, and purge coupons monthly. Happy couponing!

Question: Do you currently or have you donated your expired coupons?

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In last week’s overview of our coupon-ology series, I shared the five main parts. As I breakdown the sections, I will have multiple posts within each part.

Your life is busy and our goal is to use coupons effectively. Rushing through the steps does not teach one how to coupon.

I’ve sat through one couponing class since learning how to use coupons. Though I enjoyed hearing the presenter, I was amazed by how many participants left more confused than they came.

You don’t want to be frustrated, nor do I want to pressure you into using my system. So, we’ll take it slowly.

Beginning today, I will share how to purge your stash and two possibilities for those expired coupons in Part 1a.

Part 1: Purge Coupons

If you were able to complete last week’s project and gather your coupons, then let’s begin to purge. During this step, I concentrate on expiration dates.

As I purge my coupons at the beginning of the month, I remove all the expired coupons from the previous month out of my coupon binders. Leaving my binders with only the current coupons, I know I can use all of them without having to worry about the expiration date.

With all the expired ones removed, you have two options for those coupons: trash them or donate them.

Trash Them

Not all expired coupons are trash worthy.  The following coupons have reached the end of their usefulness and can gather in the trash:

• Manufacturer coupons more than 3 months expired
• Expired store coupons (e.g., Publix, Target, Walmart, etc.)

Donate Them

Our military personnel living outside of the United States may use certain coupons up to 6 months past their expiration date at their commissary and exchange. The following types of coupons can bless one of our own away from the States:

• Manufacturer coupons less than 3 months past their expiration date
• Internet printable coupons less than 3 months past their expiration date

In taking back your coupons, purge the ones you have to start fresh. When I have stepped away from couponing for a month or more, I start with purging. With a fresh start, I can build up my supply knowing all the coupons are current.

Weekly Project: Choose to trash or donate your expired coupons.

Next week, I will share the options to donating your expired coupons to our troops overseas. Start where you are and work up. Take it slowly to get it right. Happy purging!

Question: How often do you purge your coupons?