Organize Those Coupons!

Have you got your coupons organized?

After several requests I am posting about how I organize my coupons. I am by no means the guru! This is just what I do and it really works for me. The system is easy to maintain and I can quickly look at what I've got if I need to search for a coupon while at the store.

Here's how I organize my coupons:


First I sorted my coupons into these categories: (You can change them - condense them or make them more specific based on how many coupons you have).

:: Beverages
:: Bread
:: Beverages
:: Candy
:: Cans
:: Condiments, Spices, Sauces
:: Dairy
:: Baking
:: Frozen Food
:: Fruit (including dried fruit, canned fruit, etc.)
:: Pasta, Helpers, Rice
:: Refrigerated Dough (think Pillsbury items)
:: Snacks
:: Laundry and Dish Soap
:: Air Fresheners
:: Paper Products (toilet paper, paper towels) and Bags (ziploc and trash)
:: Dog Food
:: Miscellaneous (batteries, etc.)
:: Deoderant
:: Lotion
:: Make-up
:: Shampoo
:: Soap and Shower Gel
:: Feminine Care
:: Razors and Shave Gel
:: Toothpaste
:: Personal Care (items that don't fall into one of the above categories)
:: Cleaner and Household
:: Allergy Medicines
:: Acid Reducers
:: Pain Relievers
:: Vitamins
:: Other Medicines

I also have envelops that I fill weekly (or bi-weekly) - like my CVS envelop, Wal-mart envelop, Walgreens envelop, and Bi-Lo envelop. Once I look at the ads and figure out what I am buying I make lists and find the coupons that I am using and put them in the store envelops.

For CVS my envelop also includes all my ECBs, Gift Card, and my transactions are clipped together. For example One transactions coupons are clipped together along with a quick list of what items I'm planning to buy in that transactions. Here's a picture of my CVS envelops contents:

In addition I have my scissors, calculator, paper, pens, and some paper clips in my box.

Every Sunday night or Monday night I clip coupons and file them in their envelopes. At the end of each month (about a week prior since most coupons expire at the end of a month) I go through my coupons and pull out the ones that are going to expire. I check to make sure none of them are for items I use often or that I want to use in the upcoming week before they expire and then I put the ones that I am not going to use (that are expired) in a bigger envelop and mail them off to the military. They can use them for a couple months after they expire.

While we're on the topic of coupons be sure to check out this article entitled, "Why I'm Not Embarassed To Use Coupons." HERE.

How about you? How do you organize your coupons? I know there are at least a hundred different ways! Link your system here and maybe you can help someone else who has 'em tossed in a bag or someone who is just getting started!