When I first seriously started couponing three years ago, I found
myself unable to find coupons I knew I had cut out because they were
misfiled, or I had forgotten to take them out of my organizer when I went
to the market. I decided what I needed was a system, and proceeded
to set one up.
I set up a simple system which, through the years, I have refined
and improved upon, until I have a system today which enables me to
access any of my coupons instantly, thereby saving money at the
checkout. If you take some of these suggestions, and tailor them to your
own needs, you should be able to set up your own system, which can be
as simple or as complex as you like or need.
I started by “buying” (they were free with coupons) two clear
Rubbermaid shoeboxes, 7 1/2 “ x 12” x3” which I used to organize my
coupons, and take the boxes with me whenever I go to the market or
around town. They nest nicely, and fit in the “carrier” seat of the shopping
cart, for hands-free shopping. My coupons are organized by categories,
which are separated with 3” x 5” index card dividers, which you can
purchase at any stationers. My categories are very broad, because within
the categories, I have sub-categories organized in ziplok style snack bags,
and I write the categories on the top right edge of each bag with a
Sharpie marking pen, then put clear tape over the words so they don’t
smear. Within each of these clear bags, I alphabetize the coupons by
manufacturer, and arrange them from high value to low value, so that I
use the high value coupons first.
When I get the weekly flyers from our local supermarkets in the on
Wednesdays, I look them over very closely, matching the specials to my
coupons. Usually I pick up two flyers, and circle all the deals in red felt
pen on the first flyer. I cut up the other flyer, and staple my coupons to
the ads for the deals of the week, which I will pick up when I go to the
store. All the deals and coupons I will use are in their own envelope,
arranged according the floorplan of the market I will visit, so I can get in
and out as fast as possible.
After I finish my shopping, and am waiting in the checkout lane, I
review my coupons one more time, and while reviewing them, detach
the staples from the flyer pictures, so my order won’t slow down the
checker. If there are people in line behind me with only a few purchases,
I invite them to go ahead of me because it creates good will, and also
makes me less nervous as I go through my coupons for the final assault.
There are occasions where I have 50 or more coupons, and I feel better if
I don’t feel like people behind me are getting annoyed.
Most people waiting in line behind me are interested in what I am
doing, rather than hostile towards me, as long as I am ORGANIZED, and
don’t waste time checking out. That includes being thoughtful to the
checkers, too, by organizing all the free coupons at the beginning or the
end of the order, and knowing the prices of the free items, so the checker
doesn’t have to stop the line to look up prices if the scanners don’t do it
for them. Sometimes, I’ll write the price faintly on the back of the free
coupon, to save time. Be prepared, and don't bumble around when the
time comes to check out.
Finally, when you are all checked out, and ready to leave the store,
pull over with your cart, review your receipt for mistakes because now is
the easiest time to rectify any mistakes, not after you’ve driven all the way
home with your frozen food melting in the trunk!
Once you get in the habit of filing everything away, you’ll be
amazed how much time and money you’ll save at the checkouts.
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