Couponing= Clutter!!!

I began to notice rather quickly that as my couponing "hobby" was growing,  so were my piles of clutter: Papers, ads, Sunday coupons, printed coupons, mailer coupons....and the stock pile itself! In a perfect world I would have hours to browse deals, organize ads, sort, file, clip, shop, and put each item purchased neatly in it's row. Well, that's just not happening!

To Address the Paper Clutter:

Previous idea: Coupon binder. Although I love the organization of it, it's just not practical for me to clip and file each and every coupon. So, I now use it for clipped coupons that need a home (ones I clipped and didn't use, mailers, ones from magazine ads, register coupons, etc) and items that I always need to buy (like diapers, formula, and protein bars). It is a great tool, and I still carry it with me for unadvertised deals and I have gotten some great savings with it...Just too time consuming.
*Tom Thumb has a clearance section (at the back behind all the aisles near dairy usually). I have gotten AWESOME deals there (by having my binder handy) on everything from Gerber products and formula to canned black beans!

 A plastic divider with pocket for each store. Put list, ads, and envelope with specific coupons for a trip here.

 I removed the pages from a photo album for large coupons or store coupons that print out at the register to keep behind the plastic divider for each store.

 Clear page protectors for large coupons or fast food coupons that I always keep in my binder in the car.

 And of course the baseball card pages ($1 at Dollar Tree for pack of 10) labeled with categories for coupons. Categories are: baby, baking, batteries, bread, candy, canned, cereal, cleaner, condiments, dairy, eggs, frozen, fruit, hygiene, jelly/peanut butter, meat, medicine, paper, pasta, pet, salad dressing, seasoning, snacks, target, toothpaste, toys. ( I cannot remember which coupon site I adapted these from, but I'll add it later!)

Current Idea: I write the date the coupons came out on the front of the coupons as soon as I get them. I then file them in file folders labeled with the date and store them in a sterilite container. (Idea adapted from Couponmom.com) The majority of coupon sites do the major work of matching deals with coupons for you. They list the date the coupons came out and from what source (smart source, red plum, etc.). No need to spend hours clipping and filing...just file them by date and clip it when/if you need it for a deal!

  I also have a file for:
-Store ads
-Target coupons (the ones that come randomly in the mail. I put the ones that print out at the register in my binder)
-All You Magazine (great coupons and Couponmom lists these deals also)
-Food
-Fun
-Car, home (like oil change coupons, floor cleaning, etc...)

 

I reused file folders by placing address labels over the old writing.

Now all those ValPak coupons that I save have a home. (Which means I can actually locate one when I need it!)

To Address Product Clutter:

If you want to save the most money, you have to buy in larger quantities than you normally would when things are on sale or at their "rock bottom price". It's a lot of work in planning and storing, but it really pays off! You don't have to go crazy...Just enough of a product for your family for a few months (when the product will most likely go on sale again). I shopped A LOT the first couple of months, but I have just been filling in with perishables and freebies for quite a while now. Average savings on trips is 50%. Sometimes everything is free...Sometimes I only have a couple of $2 off coupons, but I just need something.

Now to the storage...
The grocery stores are on to something! I organize my food like a grocery store...In rows in my pantry- by expiration date (aka ones that expire sooner in the front)
Patrick (my wonderful husband and handy man) added shelves to the coat closet to turn into a linen/storage closet for hygiene items.

**My rule of thumb (and to avoid becoming a hoarder) is to stop buying when pantry and/or linen closet is full. If I just can't resist freebies, they go directly into the charity box or to family and friends! A free bag of food and hygiene products can really help out sometimes!

I hope this is helpful to someone! Happy Couponing! =)