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Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons – Part 3b of 5

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Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

My family is well-trained. In getting the mail yesterday, my daughter comes into the house with a medium-sized stack. My son looks at the pile and says, “Wow, that’s a lot of stuff.” To which my daughter replies, “Yeah, and it’s probably got lots of coupons.” 😉

Training my family to keep their eyes open for coupons pays off. My kids are great at locating brochures and coupons. In some ways, it is like a treasure hunt with the coupon being the prize.

Continuing in our coupon-ology series, we are focusing on gathering coupons. The previous post (as I have taken an unexpected break from blogging due to a stomach virus that attacked me hard and wiped out my energy and appetite) concentrated on newspapers. The next option for gathering coupons is magazines.

Part 3b: Magazines

All You subscription

Photograph Credit: All You!

Periodically, I find free magazine subscriptions from blogs, rewards, and promotions. Though I rarely read the magazines, I thumb through all of them scouring the pages for coupons before donating them.

I currently receive Martha Stewart Living, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and a few others of which I cannot remember. Each of these magazines contains at least two coupons which I add to my coupon binders.

The only magazine subscription for which I pay is All You. If you have not heard of this magazine, it is filled with money-saving tips, recipes, and high-valued coupons. Finding deals through Amazon, Swag Bucks, and promotions, I pay between $1 and $1.50 per issue.

TIP: At this time, All You is offering a six-month subscription for $6 – which is $1 per issue. With the high-valued coupons, I find this investment worth the price of the subscription.

In looking for coupons, check your magazine issues, including the free ones that show up in your mailbox. All those items labeled “junk mail” may provide a coupon or two resulting in more savings for your family.

In taking 5 minutes to flip through a magazine last week, I found a Proctor and Gamble insert with multiple coupons for cleaning supplies. Excited with my find, I added them to my binder to pair with a great sale.

Our coupon-ology series will take a little break during April for the new month-long birthday freebie theme. However, in May, we will continue discovering ways to gather coupons. Happy finding!

Question: To how many magazines do you subscribe?  

Coupon-ology: Gather Coupons – Part 3a of 5

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Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Getting those coupons organized is no easy task. I took my children to a Jump Zone this week and spent a little over an hour sorting coupon inserts from the last two weeks.

Feeling really behind as I did not get to cut them out since I was busy playing with my kids, I received a blessing when Paul took my basket of sorted inserts and cut all the coupons during a March Madness game. Bless his heart!

Joining forces saves our family money, energy, and time. My daughter will eventually partner with Paul and I as she is very interested in coupons. Though she can cut straight lines, she does not have the strength in her hands to cut through a stack of inserts. In time, she will get to help and may eventually take over the organization step. 😉

Though getting the coupons organized only lasts for a few days, having a system in place makes the task efficient. Moving on in our coupon-ology series, I turn to part 3 – gather coupons. I will focus this section on the following 7 main sources to gather coupons:

  • 3a: Newspapers
  • 3b: Magazines
  • 3c: Printable Coupon Databases
  • 3d: Manufacturers
  • 3e: Direct Mail
  • 3f:  Stores
  • 3g: Electronic Coupons

Part 3a: Newspapers

The best coupon inserts are found in the Sunday newspaper. If you live in a market with multiple newspaper publications, choose the largest market as they will have the best coupons. With a desire to receive the best price, consider these 5 discount options for purchasing a newspaper:

1. Look for flyers within your local newspaper.

When our subscription is nearing the end of the promotional period, I cancel before incurring the full price option. I then wait and watch our paper for a flyer with a promotional code begging me to return.

Then, I re-subscribe. We currently received the Sunday-only paper delivered to our home for $7 per month.

2. Check for promotional codes or discount subscriptions.

Newspapers with large circulations may offer promotional codes. Check RetailMeNot.com by typing in the name of your newspaper and click Search.

Also, Discounted Newspapers may include your local paper. Add you zip code into Find Delivery Rates and click Go.

If you are subscribed to daily deals in your area, you might find a deal for a newspaper subscription. Though I have not seen one locally, I subscribe to other areas we visit on vacation. I did find a couple subscriptions through Groupon and LivingSocial for Florida newspapers.

3.  Call your local newspaper.

Placing a call to your local newspaper asking the cost of their subscription may net you a promotional discount.

From experience, I would recommend looking into the other options first because if the representative quotes you a great rate and you want to research some more, you may not get that same representative or the same rate when you call back. Our local newspaper had a limit of offers available for the first opportunity only.

4. Inquire about a bulldog edition.

Some newspapers print the Sunday edition early and deliver on Saturday – at Saturday’s rate. A bulldog edition is the first run of a morning newspaper available the previous day. Though not available nationwide, some newspapers keep this tradition for their subscribers.

5. Purchase at a retail store.

When we cancel our subscription, I will pick up the newspaper at the lowest rate available on our route home from church. In the past, I have found Wal-mart and Walgreens the least expensive.

I have heard of others who buy at the Dollar Store. When you purchase, check your newspaper for the inserts. If there was a shortage in the printing, some retailers do not receive all the inserts as home delivery customers get top priority.

If purchasing a subscription is not within your budget, then all is not lost. There are a number of ways to gather coupons from the newspaper without spending a dime. Try one or more of the following 7 ways to gather coupons for free:

1. Ask your friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

If they are not keeping their inserts, then they will likely donate to your cause. I receive a number of Tuesday papers due to my neighbors not needing their inserts.

2. Inquire at coffee shops, fast food restaurants, and airports.

Many patrons will purchase a newspaper, read it, and leave it for others. If the manager knows you are looking for the inserts, then he or she may save them for you. Checking on Sunday afternoon may net you a few inserts.

3. Check the newspaper’s website.

Though a long shot for most of us, some newspapers offer their entire edition in a .pdf version making the inserts available for print.

4. Find the recycling center used by your newspaper.

Have you heard of dumpster diving? Though I have never done it, I know some go to the recycling center and help themselves to the coupon inserts. If you know where your local newspaper recycles their papers, you might find a coupon gold mine for free.

5. Look at the library and local businesses.

If your library gets the newspaper, they may allow you to have the coupon inserts. Just ask at the circulation desk.

Also, when I worked outside the home, I received inserts from my workplace. Three offices in our building received the newspaper, but none of them needed the inserts. I just asked the secretaries to hold them and stopped by to pick them up each Monday.

6. Request old editions at retail stores.

Ask convenience stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies how long they keep their Sunday papers on the shelf. Offer to come pick up their leftover editions which they may give you for free.

7. Find a nice newspaper delivery friend.

Ask around to see if someone you know delivers the newspaper and ask what they do with their extra inserts. Sometimes delivery personnel can give away any extra copies or extra inserts after making their run.

With lots of options for purchasing and acquiring free inserts, newspapers offer a great way to gather coupons. Though newspapers are one type of resource, they are easily available and, in some cases, free for the taking. In using time wisely, keep your eyes peeled for newspaper coupons. Happy gathering!

Question: Where else can you find discounted or free newspaper inserts? 

Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons – Part 2c of 5

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Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

My coupon journey has progressed with lots of ups and downs. Initially, I picked meals to make and created my grocery list. Then if I had coupons for the items on my list, I would use them.

Realizing that I was not saving much money, I adjusted by skipping the big chain stores and shopping mostly at Aldi. This change lowered our grocery budget while using time wisely, and I stayed in this option for a couple of years.

After hearing a friend talk about getting personal care items for free from the drugstores, I began researching and learning how to pair coupons with sales and promotions.

I started with the Extra Bucks program at CVS for a few weeks, then  worked with the Register Rewards and Monthly Rebate Walgreens’ programs, and finally the video rewards and UP! program at Rite Aid about a month later.

Practicing and improving my techniques, I began seeing deep savings and decided to try these same techniques at the grocery store. Purchasing only the items on sale to stockpile our supply actually cost our family more upfront. I increased our grocery budget for 6 months as I made the adjustment. At about the 5-month mark, I began reaping the rewards and lowered our monthly food budget.

With our pantry and freezer stocked, I chose to shop the sales and then get needed, non-sale items at Aldi. I continue to use this system today and keep our budget to $80 per week for our family of 5. My next goal to saving more is making more items from scratch. This school year is too busy to start, but I have a goal for when we need to free up more wiggle room in our budget. 😉

Starting with coupons with a willingness to learn and adjust has brought our family to a point where we have lots of name-brand food items, a fully-stocked pantry and freezer, and plenty of options for menu planning without going over budget. Keeping those coupons organized has been another journey.

Thus far in our coupon-ology organizing series, I have shared how I began with a file box with individual coupons and then tried using a binder with full inserts. Today, I will share the method I find the most beneficial for me.

Part 2c: Notebooks with all coupons cut and filed

In following the same steps weekly to keep my coupons organized, I will take you with me via a pictorial tutorial as I organize my coupons into notebooks.

1. Coupon-ologyGather my Supplies

    • Newspapers
    • Basket where I toss coupons from the week: store flyers, catalinas (usually red and white offers that print at the store’s register), coupons received by mail, and printable coupons.
    • Scissors
    • Notebooks

2. Coupon-ologyRetrieve Newspaper Inserts

Beginning with my Sunday paper (wrapped in green), I sift through the pages and remove the inserts. These are packets of coupons issued from SmartSource, Red Plum, and Proctor & Gamble.

Then, I sort through the Tuesday papers (wrapped in blue) that I collect from my neighbors. I place the inserts into piles by insert type, so Red Plum makes one pile and SmartSource another.

3. Coupon-ologySeparate Insert Packets

As you can see from the pictures, I like to work in a large space where I can spread out. When I separate the insert packets, I tear off the top page of the first packet and check for coupons.

If there are coupons I want to keep, then I place that sheet in the “keep” pile. If the page is just advertisements, then I place it in the “recycle” pile. I then place the remaining pages of the packet to the side.

With all the Tuesday’s inserts the exact same, I repeat this process for the entire stack of inserts. When I get to Sunday’s insert, I check it because the packet of coupons usually contains the same coupons but not in the same order. The front of one page may look the same, but the back is different. Due to differences, I usually keep my Sunday insert separate to match the pages correctly.

After the first page is in either the “keep” or “recycle” pile, then I just swipe the next page off the tops of the inserts placed around my space. I then add those to either the “keep” or the “recycle” pile, and continue until all the pages are in one of the two piles.

4. Coupon-ologyCut coupons

Upon adding the one pile to the recycling container, I focus on the “keep” stack. I take the scissors to the identical pages and cut out each coupon. In using time wisely, I can cut up to 10 coupons (depending on how many insert I collect) in the time it takes to cut one. 🙂

During this step, I place the cut coupons into piles. On the one side I sort the food coupons, and on the other I place the non-food coupons. In sorting this way, I only need to add the coupons to my binders later.

5. Sort Coupons

Now, Paul usually cuts my coupons for me. When he does, he just places them into two piles: food and non-food. I will then sort them into the following categories:

Food Categories

Non-food Categories
Beverages Bathroom
Boxed Dish
Canned Dust
Frozen Laundry
Refrigerated Odor
Sides Feminine
Breads Paper/plastic
Cereals Diapers
Condiments Body
Desserts Face
Meats Hair
Snacks Medicines
Mouth
Poisons

6. Add Coupons to Binders

When I began this type of coupon organization, I began with the following supplies:

      • Binder – I chose a three-ring binder within a zippered case. I spend a lot of time organizing these coupons and want to protect my investment.

Coupon-ology

      • Index tab dividers – I printed the category name on both sides of the tab. This way, I can find the category tab for boxed items when the binder is open in the cereal section. 🙂  This little tip saves me lots of time as I don’t need to flip all the way back to the front to find my desired coupon section.

Coupon-ology

      • Coupons – I just started with what I had. As I needed more inserts, I bought them. My collection has grown to two binders which I designate one for food and the other for non-food coupons. I just fold any coupons that do not fit and slide them into one of the pockets.

For identical coupons, I place all of them in the same pocket. When possible, I make the expiration date visible on the front or the back. By doing so, I save time when I purge coupons at the end of the month.

7. OCoupon-ologyrganizing Store Coupons

The binders I chose have an accordion filing pocket in the front. Within these pockets I keep the following:

Food Binder

    • Bi-Lo section – my store envelope, store ad, coupon policy, and store coupons
    • Publix section – my store envelope, store ad, coupon policy, advantage flyers, and store coupon booklets

Non-food Binder

    • CVS section – my store envelope, store ad, coupon policy, reusable bag with bag tag, and store coupons
    • Walgreens – my store envelope, store ad, coupon policy, monthly coupon booklet, and any store coupons
    • Rite Aid – my store envelope
    • Wal-mart – my store envelope, coupon policy
    • Target – my store envelope, store ad, coupon policy, and printable store coupons

Coupon-ology

There you have it. This coupon organizational system is not for the casual coupon user or the beginner. If you jump in too fast or all at once, you may burn out. I have covered the three basic options and in the order of progression that I have taken.

One way is not better than another. There are fabulous savers who use all three types of coupon organization. The goal is to find a system that allows you to find the coupons needed to save your family money. Happy organizing!

Question: What are your pros and cons to your coupon organizational system?

Note: This post contains affiliate links in accordance with Using Time Wisely’s full disclosure policy.

Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons – Part 2b of 5

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Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With the start of a new month, I spent an afternoon this week purging, cutting, and filing my coupons while my children bounced and played at a local Jump Zone.

I just lugged all my stuff in and worked among solving disputes, kissing boo boos, dislodging stuck balls, and watching the tricks performed by my kiddos.

The way you organize may change as you develop your style. I shared last week how I started couponing by using a box.

Some successful coupon users continue to use this method. One such saver is Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom.

Another way to organize coupons involves a binder with full inserts. When I use the term insert, I am referring to the packet of coupons found within the newspaper labeled Smart Source, Red Plum, or P&G.

Part 2b: Binder with full inserts

Honestly, someone else should write this post as this method is my least favorite. When I got really behind on cutting coupons, I had stacks of inserts. So, I decided to try this binder with full inserts method.

My Experience

I wrote on the top of each insert the date of the newspaper where I found it and kept the inserts in a stack. As I followed the coupon matchups, I went to the inserts to find my coupons. I sorted through the papers to find the right insert, leafed through the pages to find the coupon, and then cut it out.

In getting 8 to 10 inserts per week, I had many to sort through and cut. Besides requiring lots of shuffling and finding, I found myself spending more time searching for each coupon than my preferred way of cutting every coupon (which I will tackle in more depth next week).

Another downside was a surprise sale. I felt I had no way to find out if I had a coupon for that item. Though I could use some website’s coupon database, I have found that not all of them are updated daily. Also, I could search for someone who posts the regional coupons per insert, but again I found this system more time consuming.

Others’ Experience

Now, some of you love this coupon method. I do understand why you like it as you do not need to cut every coupon. Another master saver who loves this binder with full inserts is Heather Wheeler of the Krazy Coupon Lady.

In her How to Organize your Coupons with a Binder post, Heather includes a 10-minute video explaining both the binder with full inserts filed by date method as well as the cut every coupon and file by category method (which I will cover next week).

Though Heather recommends using sheet protectors and a large binder for all the inserts, I tried this method by using file folders. You could use hanging file folders if you house your inserts in a filing cabinet or just stack them in a safe place. Personally, I would not invest in supplies until you find the method or combination of methods that work for you.

Tracy’s Tip: In using your resources wisely, work with what you have. If you find that the method works, but some additional supplies would help you in using time wisely, then invest in the supplies. Binders are very expensive, but they are worth their price tag when using them weekly.

As you consider your coupon organization options, remember to enter the coupon binder giveaway which is open through March 27. The supplies in the giveaway will prove useful for your existing system or creating a new coupon binder.

In coupon-ology, exploring the different methods helps to see ways to organize your coupons. No method is right or wrong. They are just different and work for different individuals.

Though there may be other methods, I am focusing on three main types. Having covered the first two, I will share the third, my favorite method for organizing coupons, next week. Until then . . . happy experimenting!

Question:  What do you think of the binder with full inserts organizational method?

Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons – Part 2a of 5

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Coupon-ology: Organize Coupons

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?