Get Organized To Maximize Your Savings
What do we do with all those wonderful coupons after printing and cutting? Start out by either using envelopes or an accordion filer. Or you can put together a coupon binder for under $30. I know $30 sounds a bit expensive, but trust me… it will hold hundreds of dollars worth of coupons and will pay off right away.
1 – find a nice coupon binder to fit your needs and style.
I started out with a small accordion filer and graduated to what I believe is the
most effective coupon filing system which is a zipper binder. To hold the coupons in place purchase baseball card holders & separate your categories with dividers.
2 – Figure out the categories you’d like to add to the tabs of your binder.
3 – Clip your coupons, sort them, file them by their corresponding category.
4 – Keep CVS, Rite Aid, Shop Rite, etc. cards in your binder.
5 – Don’t keep coupons you don’t intend to use & check their expiration dates.
6 – Keep it simple and neat and it’ll help you stay organize and save more.
7 – Keep printouts of you store’s coupon policies somewhere in your binder.
(they can come in very handy at the store)
The binder method is the best tool for successful couponing. I only clip the coupons I intent to use. It takes a bit long to organize at first – but once you have it set up and know where everything goes, it’s much easier to keep track of all your coupons. Best of all, you can bring the binder with you to the store and grab your coupons as you shop, this way you won’t miss an awesome in-store sale, or clearance item you can grab for free with a coupon.
Coupon Lingo 101
I know the abbreviations are confusing, but as you become more familiar with them, they will become second nature!
B1G1 or BOGO = Buy One, Get One Free
B2G1 = Buy Two, Get One Free
Blinkies = Coupons that are in the coupon dispensers attached to shelves in your store. Dispenser is often red and often blinking.
DND = Do Not Double (this applies to people who shop at stores that double coupons.)
EBs = Extra Bucks (instant rewards that print out when you purchase
select sales items at CVS)
Hangtag = Coupons “hanging” around the necks of bottles, jars, etc at your store.
MAN or MFR = Manufacturer Coupon
MIR = Mail in Rebate
MM = Moneymaker
OOP = Out of Pocket
PG = Procter & Gamble Coupon Insert
Peelie = Coupon attached to items at stores that you have to peel off
RP = Red Plum Insert or printable coupons
RR = Register Rewards (instant rewards that print out when you purchase
select sales items at Walgreens)
SS = Smart Source Insert or printable coupons
Tearpad = Coupons you have to tear off of pads at your grocery store
WYB = When You Buy
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary (this means that a deal that works for
me at my store, may work differently for you at your local store)
Don’t get discouraged by the fancy coupon verbiage and lingo, it takes time to learn everything. It took me about a month before I felt comfortable and confident enough to not be committing coupon fraud. Beware of too good to be true coupons, never photo copy a coupon, and please use your coupons for the items intended.
Visit my blog at www.lovehappystuff.com for more frugal & DIY ideas.