Welcome to lesson two of my FREE 9 lesson online coupon class. Please ask questions and leave comments so that we can all learn from each other.
Assignment #1 – Organizing Coupons
Think about how you want to organize your coupons and work on organizing them this week.
Organizing coupons is something that tends to be quite difficult at first. I have tried several methods and settled on the one that I like the best. There is no right or wrong system. It’s simply what works best for you! I file by insert and use a small portable file box.
Small Coupon Organizer– When you use this system, you clip every coupon you have and then file your coupons based on categories (frozen, paper, canned items, etc…). This is the most portable system as you can easily take it to the store with you. However, it is extremely time consuming to clip every coupon and as you collect more coupons, they will not all fit inside the organizer. I don’t personally use one of these right now but I have in the past -before I became really serious about couponing. You can purchase these at grocery stores (look for hanging racks placed randomly around the store), on eBay, at Walmart, at the Dollar Store, etc…..
Coupon Binder – When you use a coupon binder, you clip every coupon and file your coupons based on categories. Again, this is quite time consuming but much more practical than using a small organizer. The binder can hold a ton of coupons and you can quickly see what coupons you have in each category. It’s also really easy to grab your binder and take it with you to the store. When you find an unadvertised deal at a store, you can look quickly in your binder to see if you have a matching coupon. I have tried this method and it wasn’t for me. I ended up having coupons all over my house and they never made it to the binder. However, there are a lot of people you love this method. Sometimes you just have to try things out to see if it’s for you. Here’s a link to a company that sells coupon binders (I bought mine here). They are expensive but very well put together. You could easily make your own by using a 2 – 3 inch binder, dividers, and baseball card inserts.
Filing by Insert – When you use a filing system, you place each insert inside a hanging file organized by date. I write the date of each insert in the top right hand corner of the insert and then place it in the file. When I am looking for a coupon, I search my coupon database and then I am able to see the insert where the coupon is located. I clip that coupon and then I take it to the store with me. I find this is the most time efficient method for me.
Small Portable File Box– It’s inevitable that you will have coupons that are not from the coupon inserts found in the Sunday newspaper – they’ll be printed from the Internet, from mailings, found in store, etc…. I put those coupons in a portable file. I bought the box at Walmart (for approximately $6.00) and then I also purchased plastic file dividers.
Assignment #2 – Understanding Coupon Stacking
Try and stack coupons this week.
Coupon stacking is the ability to use a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon. Several stores allow you to do this (Target, CVS, Rite Aid, etc….).
Here’s an example that I did in the past at Target:
- Buy a 4 pack of GE Reveal light bulbs $2.54
- Used a Target store coupon to save $1.50
- Used this coupon as well – $1/1 Select GE Light Bulb Products, exp. 3-5-11 (SS 01/09/11 #2)
- Final Price: $0.04!
Target allows you to use their store coupons (found on their website, their mailings, and even in the Sunday coupon inserts) with manufacturer coupons. Combining these coupons together can make for really great savings.
Assignment #3 – Finding Coupons
Get coupons from a new source this week (any of the options below). If you are not a member of Vocal Point, sign up. I receive quite a few FREE samples and coupons from them.
There are tons of places to get coupons. Of course the best place is the Sunday newspaper. However, there are other places that you can find coupons.
- Get the Sunday newspaper. I have a subscription for Sunday only. Call your paper and see if they will offer you some kind of deal. In addition, I go to Kroger and the Dollar store on the Sundays when I want additional inserts (they sell them at discounted prices in my area). HINT: Check the newspaper before you buy it to make sure the coupons are inside (yes, I didn’t do this one time and my coupons were missing).
- Sign up for FREE samples – they usually come with coupons
- Look in your store – often there are blinkie machines (red machines located by products) in your store that dispense coupons
- Check your store’s website. Most of them have printable coupons or eCoupons (coupons that you load to your shopper’s card)
- Print coupons from Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, and RedPlum.com
- Print coupons from the Coupon Network.
- Target shoppers – sign up for their mobile text coupons.
- Upromise – Go here to learn more.
- Sign up with VocalPoint – they send out samples and high value coupons
- Look on manufacturer’s websites. You’ll be amazed at how many of them have put coupons for their products on their websites.
- Look in magazines – my personal favorite is All You Magazine. It is jam packed with coupons every month (this is the only magazine I pay for). You can buy it at Walmart or get a subscription.
- You can always purchase coupons from eBay and clipping services. I have never done this but I have heard from people that do this and love it. Here are a few clipping service companies:
- Always check my coupon database for specific coupons you are looking for!
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
I currently use a coupon binder and it works great for me. I love stacking coupons at walgreens and sometimes target since its not that close to where I live. All You Magazine is a great way to get a lot of coupons!! I love getting the magazine and there is always deals to renew or start subscribing pretty cheap. I have bought coupons from ebay a few times and it has worked out great.
When you print coupons online from SS, RP, etc. do you print them as you need them or do you just go ahead and print all of the ones that are available so that you have them?
I forgot to check the paper I bought at the Dollar Store yesterday and there were no coupons
Thankfully my mother bought the paper and gave me hers!!!
I currently use a single plastic file folder and keep all my coupons (inserts and online) together. It is time consuming to go through them each week and I am hoping I can find some time this week to organize them better
Thank you for organizing this class!
This is my first timne hearing of the All You mag, so will try that. I would like to try buying clipped coupons too. Thanks for the tips!
I am using the binder method with the baseball card inserts and orgnizing them alphabetically, mostly by brand so I know right where to go to find the coupon I want.
Stacking coupons is great. I didn’t know that was possible until now! With three ladies in the house, I used the $3.00 off Stay-Free Wal-Greens coupons along with the BOGO coupons – final purchase price of each pack was $0.49!!! I am also planning to head to Target for the lightbulbs and to Wal-Greens for the ThermaCare products – online printable coupon for $1.00 off plus the RR – gives me a $1.00 profit on this product!!
I am signing up for Vocal Point and going to subscribe to the All You Magazine this week.
I am using the binder method with the baseball card inserts and orgnizing them alphabetically, mostly by brand so I know right where to go to find the coupon I want.
Stacking coupons is great. I didn’t know that was possible until now! With three ladies in the house, I used the $3.00 off Stay-Free Wal-Greens coupons along with the BOGO coupons – final purchase price of each pack was $0.49!!! I am also planning to head to Target for the lightbulbs and to Wal-Greens for the ThermaCare products – online printable coupon for $1.00 off plus the RR – gives me a $1.00 profit on this product!!
I am signing up for Vocal Point and going to subscribe to the All You Magazine this week.
Couponing is my new hobby!
I use a small coupon organizer, along with an on-going Excel spreadsheet that lists all of the coupons I have with their expiration dates, so I can easily see which coupons I have on hand! It works great for me and I can quickly remove coupons when they expire.
I have tried the insert method, the binder method and I use the file box method. It works best for me. I also go to sites like coupon mom to see what is at 50% or more of and the coupons to use with it to get some really good deals.
Thanks for this refresher.
Thanks for giving options for organizing coupons. That is my next step but your explanations will help me choose an option that will work for me. I just joined VocalPoint. Do I need to regularly check the website for coupons & samples or do you automatically get them through the mail?
I’m using the binder method which is working well so far! BTW, love this class!! Thank you!!
I’m currently using the small coupon organizer method and it isn’t working for me. I am thinking of starting a binder method (Not sure I like the little baseball card holders..my fingers are too fat to play with those.) I like the looks of the small box method. I will just have to feel it out. It is probably just a personal preference thing. I have stacked store coupons and mfg. coupons before…just at drug stores though. I wish I had a Target and a Publix. I’m hearing a lot of folks doing well at those stores.
I stacked coupons today at rite aid. I used $2 off clearasil in store cpn as well as a $2 off Manufacturer coupon. Thanks!
I use the binder & BB card sheets but it is very time consuming. I have mine catagorized by like items, Bakery, Beverages, Breads, Canned, Dairy..etc It works great, but again is very time comsuming.
I like that I can see what I have and tend to remember I have coupons for items when I see unadvertised sales. Since the match ups help save me time from going through sales ads I think I’m going to try filing whole inserts for a few months and see how well that works for me.
I love this class format!
Thanks so much for doing this for us!!
I use a 3-ring binder & baseball card pages sorted by categories. I used to use one of the small coupon sorter things, but found that too time consuming for me. In the front of my binder, I also put a grocery list (I found one online & laminated it so I could re-use it time after time), so I can match my coupons to items we need. I also have a pencil pouch with scissors, dry erase marker, sharpie, & pens. Since your class, I’ve started going through the Walgreens, Rite Aid, & other store ads & writing in them when I have a coupon for an item. I then keep the store ad in a poly page, also kept in the coupon binder. I really like having everything in one portable spot, so I’m not always having to search for something.
I’m working on the binder method of organizing. I’ve done envelopes in the past, but the binder is a great way to quickly see which coupons will be expiring so I don’t miss using any really good ones even if there’s not a sale. Sometimes you don’t need the sale if it’s a good coupon. Also, I’ve been signed up with Vocalpoint for a few months, but I’ve never heard a thing from them. Do they send e-mails? I don’t think I’ve heard from them.
Another great class. Just signed up for Vocal Point as I have never heard of it. Thanks so much.
I have signed up for VocalPoint and I <3 All You Mag as well!
I have learned alot so far. I am excited to keep learning.
Thanks for more great tips this week. I have my Target light bulb coupons ready to go and will be heading there in the next couple days. I have also never heard of the All You magazine and will be signing up for that as well. Thanks again.
I file my coupons by insert date but never thought to write the date on the front page! Will this save me some time or what! Thanks for all you do
I use the Filing by Insert. I have found in some places a printed list of all the coupons that are included for the week so I add that with the weeks file so it makes it easier if I have to do a quick search. I have used the Coupon Dede service if there is a REALLY GREAT coupon that I want a lot of and they have been really great with accuracy and promptness. I think this is a wonderful online course and refresher. Thanks for offering this!!
How do you use the target mobile and kroger mobile?
Thanks for the Target Mobile tip.
Thought I’d already committed on this lesson but guess I haven’t. I will reread this one especially, as well as all again. This one had excellent things to know to get started. Figuring out which method to use is the hardest to me b/c there are several good ones out there that I like. I did get the light bulbs for even less than they were suppose to be.
Thanks for the very detailed information!
I LOVE All You Magazine. When I buy it, I usually purchase 2-3 copies. They always have great coupons. Thank you so much for this class because I’ve heard some things about couponing from co-workers but I’m learning a lot from you…thanks again!
Ok, just really read through the first two lessons. Sorry for the question earlier about what you used on the Fox 41 segment – I found you already have that covered! Thanks again!!
I am an insert-saving pro! LOL But … not much savings there, tho, if you don’t do much with them!! I am going to really try to do better, starting with your classes. However, one more question … how long do you save these inserts? I have gone through and found some where maybe a handful don’t expire for a couple of months later than everything else in the insert. Thank you so much! You are really providing a great service here!!
I keep mine for about 6 months.
Hi Julia,
I just went to the Kroger website (L’ville) and was going to load a whole bunch of e-coupons when I saw a YouTube video that said if I do that then I can’t use the paper coupons that I clip from the Sunday aper. Can you clarify this for me? I saw there were e-coupons that were identical to the paper coupons in the insert. Can I use them both at Kroger?
Also, (and you might address this in a later lesson, but I will go ahead and ask) is it necessary to shop several stores to get the most out of your couponing? I usually shop Kroger and WalMart but now I see some deals like a free deodorant at Target and I’m wondering how to keep this all in perspective. I would love to get something free, but I don’t want to shop a bunch of different stores for a single item… Help me not feel overwhelmed please!
Hi Melanie,
Kroger recently changed their policy – you can no longer use an ecoupon with a paper coupon (except for Upromise and Saving Star coupons – these work like rebates). My best advice is to only load ecoupons for products you do not have a paper coupon for. Ecoupons over ride paper coupons (so if the amount of your paper coupon is greater than the ecoupon you will lose money). Coupons up to $0.50 double and ecoupons do not double.
To save the most money you do need to shop at multiple stores. However, couponing is about saving money. It’s OK to shop at one store and save what you can. Some weeks that’s all I do. Other weeks, I’m at all the stores! And guess what, some weeks I don’t use coupons at all!
Thanks for the explanation Julia! Two other questions – does Kroger accept competitor coupons and do they stack coupons? I’m loving your site. You’ve really made this an exciting journey! Thank you!
They don’t accept competitor coupons nor do they stack coupons.
Thanks, Julie. Six months sound reasonable. I just checked & I culled many, so have less than six months now! Guess I’ll hold on to them a bit longer in the future.
I’m fairly NEW to couponing….so your Web-site has been really helpful for me as I go along. I initially started out with the small coupon holder, well, that lasted for about 3 weeks, it just seemed to get me frazzled once I hit the Grocery Store even though the coupons were categorized. By the time I got to the check out lane I was DONE with that method. So, I’ve bought a Binder & I’m heading for bigger & better savings…personally I believe this will be better for me, since I thrive on organization.
THANK YOU so much for all of your Time & Effort put into helping us newbies.
I got my tools for organization today and I also went coupon dumpster diving… hahahahaha! I sure did, I got loads of coupons… I am going to clip and get them all in the binder… ty again for this course… <3
Hi Julia,
I’m a new couponer and my question is on stacking coupons. Can we use 2 or more MFC for the same item as long as it is different coupons and not duplicate coupons? I hope this makes sense! Example: Hunts Ketchup, I have a coupon for .50 and an other coupon for a 1.00. Some say that this is another way of stacking coupons . Is this for real because the stores here in Hawaii don’t allow this! They only except 1 MFC with store coupon. Can you also explain what 1 coupon per purchase means? Does it mean per item or per transaction? I understand it as per item but the cashiers here are confusing me on this specific words on the coupons. Sorry so many questions but I’m realy confused! I love your site and Thanks for the FREE classes!:)
You can only use one manufacturer coupon per item (so on the Hunts Ketchup you would only use the $1.00 coupon). If your store has their own store coupons and allows you to stack them you could then use two coupons (one manufacturer coupon and one store coupon). One coupon per purchase means one per item. You are purchasing one ketchup – so one manufacturer coupon. If you purchase 3 ketchups you can use 3 coupons. It is hard for some cashiers to understand this (for some reason!). I hope this helps.
I use the binder method. I went to Amazon and brought 100 sheets of the 8 pocket baseball card holders. I like them better then the 9 pocket ones. Easier to put the coupons in and don’t have to fold them as much. I use the binder that zips up and it also has several other departments in it. Like a file section to put my store ads in. A place for my pen, store cards and a pouch for whatever else. Got it for $10 at Walmart. I had the cheap plastic binder and it fell apart the first week I used it. The one I have now is cloth.
I also print coupons from places like mypoints, inboxDollars and sendearnings. My points gives you points for each coupon you use which you can cash in for gift cards. InboxDollars and Sendearnings pay you 10 cents for every coupon you print and use. I been on Swag bucks for a few weeks now but, haven’t printed the coupons off that site yet. So far I have collected over 400 SB doing searches and watching videos. Wal-mart.com has coupons you can print plus you can order free samples. Love getting free stuff in the mail.
So, I guess I’m still getting started in this coupon game…and I’ve always just organized and kept them in envelopes. I pretty much remember what I have and always check my list before heading to the store to make sure I have all of the coupons I need. My recent trip I saved $22.00 which I was pretty proud of and I’m going tonight with a list and coupons in hand and expecting to save about $25.00. I’m just getting started, but I’m loving all of your advice!
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