Reader Spotlight Casting Call: How Do You Stay Organized?
January 18, 2012
Okie dokie guys…since the start of a new year means that many of us are trying to get a bit more organized, I’m going to ask all of you to share an organizational tip or two today!
Your tip could be about how to best manage all your coupons, how to plan for your trip or shop more efficiently, or how to organize your stockpile. With all the great tips I’m sure you guys have, we should all be able to get motivated to get things straightened out in no time!
Leave your tip(s) in the comments for this post…and ‘tune in’ to upcoming Reader Spotlights to see your name in lights!
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When preparing for my trip I use paper clips, a pen, and an envelope. I start off by making a list of what I plan to buy and what the cost will be both with and without coupons. I take my coupons out of my binder that I will be using and clip like coupons together (ex: 5 pasta coupons in one clip, 3 shampoo coupons in another clip, and 6 sausage coupons in another clip). This helps the cashier when I get to check out and know exactly how many coupons I have of each item and what my total will be after tax with my coupons. That way I can tell if he or she missed any coupons both by knowing how many coupons should be scanned and what my total is.
I recently downloaded an app for my iPod that tracks my coupons, let’s me know when any are about to expire and helps me calculate sales. It is a little tedious getting started, but as long as stay on top of inputting newly acquired coupons, it will be a huge help!
What’s the app??
I use Track My Coupons (free version) and like it.
Do a little every day if you can with clipping, sorting and pulling expired coupons. I hate it when I let stuff pile up and have to spend an hour or more on it.
Let your husband, partner, children or anyone else that reaps the rewards of your couponing help you! My husband will clip, I will organize and my 3yo discards the excess paper.
I have to go to the store with a very specific list based on the current ad, our recurring needs, and any coupons that match the list. I keep the coupons in an envelope paper-clipped to my list. When I grocery shop, all 4 of my children join me. Yes, I am THAT woman. Since it’s all 5 of us at one time, I only have the energy to go to the store 1x per week. This forces me to make a strict list and strategically plan what we will eat for the next week based on the sales ad. Also, going weekly is about all the planning I can currently manage. If I miss a sale or clearance item due to not knowing it was included in the sale, I just miss it.
Since Publix has added the listing feature with aisle locations to their weekly ads on the website, I have shaved at least 15 minutes off my grocery trip. That doesn’t sound like much, but with 4 kids who usually are in some sort of meltdown by the time we leave, it’s a major help. I had been using a map from my store but with the recent and ongoing store upgrades, nothing quite matched.
I do not not see the aisle listed anywhere. help please:)
If you are looking at the weekly ad for your store and have started a grocery list on the ad, at the bottom of the list box there should be 2 options. One is “print weekly ad items only” and the other is “view/edit/print my grocery list”. Click on the “view/edit/print”. Another screen will pop up with a database of your list. You can add items to the list and if you know their aisle, you can add that as well. It will also let you change the amounts to purchase. To the far right is a box to check for each item that you have a coupon to match. This feature is only about 2 months old and is a HUGE timesaver for me.
I keep a notebook near my computer so that I can write down deals as I see them. I have a page for Publix, CVS, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie. This is especially for new deals that pop up during the week and aren’t on the Weekly Deals list.
I have a binder for each store and as the deals come through, I have a spreadsheet for each store and their deals, as well as I add the coupon source so when I get ready for my trip, I know where to go to find them. I find it is easier to keep track of the store coupons, current deals, and policies. It is very important to get to know one store at a time. You definitely have to master it and having a binder for each helps me stay somewhat organized
Also paper clipping similar coupons for your trip are very helpful to both the cashier and yourself!
Organizing coupons—– I NEVER cut coupons til I am ready to use them. I have actually lucked out and and found an amazing paper delivery person that saves her coupons that are left over to throw away for me and I supply her with tons of food. But even before this amazing arangement I was getting at least 10 sunday papers every sunday. With that many coupons, cutting them became an issue with space. I tried everything including the book. So I decided to start filing my coupons in a filing cabinet and not cutting them until I needed them. That eventually wasnt good enough either because I am now getting about 20-40 sets a weekend from my coupon lady. So I went to staples bought stackable boxes and label them each week. About every 3 months I go through older sets to see if they are all expired. Then every week when ad goes up monday, she tells us what flyer to go to and I go directly to that box and pull the coupons and cut them I then return the rest of the page to the top of the box. If I do not get to using them all I put the cut coupons in a smaller box organized by coupon catagory. One other quick tip. when you are cutting several coupons at the same time, staple them together to keep them from sliding under the scissors. this also keeps them organized in my shopping box. Just be sure not to staple the bar code or expiration dates. good luck
i have a spreadsheet for each store to write things down as they pop up, because i can’t remember anything! i also use paperclips and a zipperbag when taking coupons to the store and a list in order of stores layout. and my plan for publix since i usually shop with my 1&2 yr olds is car cart, hit the free balloon first, get the kids cookie before checkout to by that extra time. balloons, cookies, and coloring books, come on, we LOVE publix!! we also shop durning the day when the old folks think it’s cute that my boys race to get to the next blinkie
Last week, the cashier at my local publix told me that they accept expired coupons (manufacturer and Publix,) up to one month. Check with your local Publix’s maybe they do too?
wow -I sure wish ours did none in my area do, one day after and no go. Even Pulix coupons one day expired they won’t take
wow milissa! where do you live???
I, too, would like to know if you live where I shop!
My desk is a table and does not have a file drawer. I did not want to buy expensive file pockets but wanted my “inserts to file”, “savings spreadsheet” and “purchases pending” files neat and pretty as well. I posted 2 stick on hooks with 1″ flat bottoms (each hook holds 3 lbs) a few inches apart from each other in 3 vertical rows. I bought a few pretty file folders and now my files rest on each row of hooks against the wall and look really cute as well. I spent $1.97 on the hook and $4.97 for a 12 pack of folders.
The rest of the folders are labeled for bills, to-do, etc and are in a $4.97 black vertical napkin holder on my desk. This way, the files are within reach but only take up about 4″ of desk space and are pushed against the wall.
Besides my coupon folder with pre-cut coupons, I started carrying full inserts to the store with me in a nice sturdy bag and a big pair of scissors. Having full inserts on me helps tremendously when I run into an in-store clearance b/c I can just whip out my i-phone, get on the I Heart Publix database, and quickly check the coupon source and get the coupon(s) I need. My bag is a little full, but I have my inserts organized and it saves me tons of time
I have a pretty pink filebox I file my inserts in after I look through them. I have a good stockpile thanks to Michelle so I only clip what I am pretty sure I will use and file the rest of the inserts away. Each week has it’s own hanging file to hold the inserts.
I keep the clipped coupons in a smaller shoebox that I can tote with me to the store.
I also use http://www.couponcleanout.com to know when it’s ok to toss certain inserts so I don’t have to check each coupon/insert.
I use my own Excel spreadsheet to organize my shopping trips, and a simple envelope for storing the coupons for each trip. If anyone would like my Excel template for Publix deals (BOGO deals included), just leave a comment!
I first input all the deals into a master spreadsheet, then calculate how many total deals I can make based on how many coupons I have and how much available storage space I have. Then based on how many items and/or deals I am getting, I organize the deals into shopping trips. I try to calculate for less than $50 worth of groceries each trip so that I can use more $/total$purchase coupons (e.g. splitting $200 worth of groceries into 4 trips so that I can use 4 $5/$30 coupons rather than only one).
Next, I find the coupons and store them in separate envelopes – one envelope per shopping trip. I print up the spreadsheets for each trip and place them into their respective envelope; this is my list for referral. This is especially helpful at the register so I can ensure the cashier doesn’t miss a coupon! I also tend to carry an extra envelope with extraneous coupons for just-in-case-it’s-on-clearance scenarios…
I generally carry all my envelopes when I go to the store, so that if one deal doesn’t pan out, I can take a deal from a different envelope and use that to get my total high enough for that $/total$purchase coupon.
Wow, you are like my couponing twin! That sounds exactly like what I do! The only difference is that lately I don’t organize my deals into shopping trips because things are out of stock so often that I always have to change my transactions. I mostly just have my master list and all of my coupons (I use a small file instead of envelopes) and I make smaller transactions on the fly. I’ve found that it only takes me a few minutes to organize my coupons right before I check out. I am curious to see your template–my email address is may_christine@hotmail.com. Thanks for offering!
I’d LOVE a copy of that spreadsheet!
TIA,
Lori
Sharkysgal@yahoo.com
I make a list with number of items I want with store prices, put coupons in envelope, go to the store and (here’s the biggy) STICK TO MY LIST! That last one gets hard for me sometimes. Oh and learned a long time ago to leave my son and husband at home. Son whines about how long it takes and husband put random things in the cart.
Hi! My tip is a “time organizer” and I just started it myself. Also, I have not read any of the other tips, so I apologize if its a repeat . .
When you sit down to read the MONDAY Publix preview, sit down with a pen and notepad and write down your favorite deals, and print the printable Q’s you need right then and there. That way, when its time to shop on wed/thurs you are already have your list together.
Repeat for any other stores you shop at when that preview comes out on your favorite site. It saves a LOT of time instead of reading the previews, then going back later to write the list when you “think” you have more time.
Also, If you “only have a minute” to read the preview, then DONT read it, wait until you have the time to sit down with it and do what you need to do.
When the SS and RP inserts come in Sunday’s paper, I write the date in black sharpie pen on the outside page and then stack them in a plastic tub. That way, it’s easy to find the particular week’s coupons when it’s listed under a sale items. I do not clip coupons until I need them (which is when an item is on sale and a valid coupon is available). saves time.
what a smart idea to write the date in bigger numbers, I always try to go back and read those little tiny dates on edge of coupons! thanks for the tip, i love hearing new ideas!
My husband just discovered the grocery list on http://www.publix.com. You can put in your local Publix store number and the list will even tell you on which aisle you will find the ingredient you wish to buy. There is a place for taking notes and to indicate that you have a coupon for each item. It tells you the price and / or special for that week, and you can save it for later, e-mail it to view it on any carry-size device where you can get internet (i-pad, kindle, cell phone, etc.) or print it out for a quick trip.
This is a fabulous timesaver!
I organize in a file box by date. On Sunday when I get my new inserts, I pull them apart and staples like pages together. This makes it easy when I need several of the same coupon. I only have to clip once.
great idea!
2 more tips: I store my extra inserts (dated on front in sharpie marker) in my binder in a plastic pocket, one pocket for each week, so I always have them with me. (The clipped coupons for the shopping trip is in an envelope marked “Today’s coupons.” But I also carry an envelope with “Expire this week” & “Expire next week” coupons.) Also in my binder is a 3-hole-punched pencil pouch, where I keep a pencil, pen, highlighter, marker, and scissors. I carry my calculator (cell phone) and add up as I go so I will know when my totals add up to the $5 off $50 purchase and track that all coupons were used.
My best organizational tool has got to be my coupon file that I keep in my purse at all times. I bought it at Publix (of course!) and it is about 10 inches long and 5 inches high with 13 sections. I have a dedicated section for each of the different drug stores and grocery stores I frequent, and also a section for store and restaurant coupons. I use the back section that doesn’t have a label for coupons that need to be filed in my binder (which I use for insert coupons that I *know* I want to use and for my printables, blinkies, and tearpads). I have all of my loyalty cards in the appropriate spot, as well as my current shopping lists and coupon matchups for each store. I NEVER forget my coupons, because they are always with me!
I use a shoe keeper to put my inserts in, by date. My shoe keeper has 4 sections on each row, and I use one for each Sat/Sun of a particular month. (First section/first weekend, second section second weekend and so on). I usually never have more than 3 rows full.
When I clip my coupons I just pull the set I need out!
I also check the couponcleanout.com and just toss the whole set when I know there is nothing in it I will use. If there is one or two I can use, I clip them and put them in a binder, along with my peelies, tear pads, blinkies and other misc coupons I collect here and there!
The app I use is called My Coupon Tracker. Once downloaded, it will just say My Coupons.
I have found that using CardStar for all of my Store Cards has been a lifesaver. It got to the point that I had more Store Cards on my keychain than keys! With CardStar, you just load the card and the name of the store and when you get to the store, they can scan the number from from your Android/IPhone.
I love all your ideas and have tried a few out. The one that works for me, is going thru the Store Flyers and circling what I want. Going to SoutherSavers.com to make my shopping list. Clipping my coupons and attaching to the list. Each list goes into a seperate envelope for the week. I have them in my car ready to go when I go by that store. The BEST thing I have done, is only buy what is on the list.
Thanks for all the great ideas!