Topic #4--How do I organize my coupons?

There are a few different ways you can organize your coupons. No method is right or wrong, it's all about what works for you.

Some methods you can use (these are just the ones i've heard of):
* Binder(s)
* Filing folder
* Filing cabinet or bucket
* Envelopes

When I first started couponing I put them in envelopes and then put them into one of those filing folders that you can take with you. I started buying more coupons so that didn't work out for me anymore, so then I started using a binder. I bought dividers and baseball card holders to put my coupons in and it has worked for me ever since. Now that I buy even more coupons I have three seperate binders. I have one for health and beauty, food and cleaning supplies. If I kept them all together I would need a HUGE binder. This works for me because when I go shopping, I put all of my binders in a bag, then when I decide to go to a store I just bring in the one I know i'm going to need or sometimes if I'm looking for unadvertised deals, then I will just bring all of them.

What do I do when I get new coupon inserts?
Every Sunday before I start cutting out my coupons, I go through all of my binders and take out expired coupons. I save mine to send to the Military. They can used expired coupons for up to six months after the expiration date. You could also just throw them away if you wanted to.

Since I get multiple papers, I take all of the like coupon inserts and work on them. I take out all of the pages and match each of the like ones together. Then, once i'm done, I grab a stack and on each coupon I write where it came from (ex: SS 2/24). Once i'm done with that, I cut all of the coupons out and then place them in the category they go in. Then I go onto the next stack and so on..

 

What way(s) do you file your coupons? If you don't coupon yet, which way seems the easiest? Or do you have a different idea? Please share :-)

Topic #3--Getting to know your coupons

This post is about what you will find on your coupons.

*Expiration date
*What kind of coupon it is (MFR, store, etc.)
*Dollar amount off and how many that amount is good for. (Example $1.00/1)
*Picture - Most times theres a picture on the coupons. Now, even though there is a picture, doesn't mean you have to buy the product that is pictured. Always read what the coupon says it's for. Sometimes it says off ANY or a certain one (flavor, color, shampoo, conditioner, styler, etc.)
*That specific coupons rules - I'm going to go more into depth on this in the next post I make. Always make sure you read it, it's very important. It states how many of those coupons you can use.

Topic #2--Coupon Lingo

Sunday Inserts: 

* P&G/PG - Procter and Gamble

*Rp - RedPlum

*SS - SmartSource

Others:

*$1/1, $1/2 - One dollar off of one item, one dollar off of two items

*2/$1, 3/$1 - Two items for one dollar, three items for one dollar
*Balance Rewards - This is Walgreen's new rewards program. You can earn points when you make qualifying purchases and then redeem them as a Walgreen's gift card 

* B1G1 or BOGO - Buy one, get one

*Beep - Sometimes the register will beep when a coupon is scanned if a price needs to be entered or if there is a problem with that coupon

*Blinkies - Grocery/drugstore coupon dispensers with blinking lights

*Catalina - They print from a separate machine when your receipt prints.
*Coupon Insert - Coupon circulars are inserted into Sunday papers. These include Smart Source (SS), Red Plum (RP) and Proctor and Gamble (P&G/PG)

* DND - Do Not Double

*Ea. - Each

*ECB's - ExtraCare Bucks. This is CVS's loyalty rewards program
*Ecoupons - These are electronic coupons

*ETS - Excludes Trial Size

*Exp. - Expires or expiration date

*GC - Gift Card

*IVC - Instant Value Coupon. This is Walgreens store coupons that are found in their ads and monthly booklets

*MIR - Mail In Rebate

*NLA - No Longer Available

*OYNO - On Your Next Order

*OOP - Out Of Poacket

*OOS - Out of Stock

*Peelie - Peel off coupon that is found of product packaging

*PSA - Prices Starting At

*RRs - Register Rewards. this is Walgreens catalina coupons

*Q - Coupon

*SCR - Single Check Rebate

*Stacking - Using both a manufactures coupon and a store coupon on one item

*UPC - Universal Product Code (bar code)

*Tearpad - A Pad of coupons that you can tear off. They are usually by the products that offer the coupons or by the registers