Coupon Control

Whoever invented coupons is a genius! Whoever invented clutter, eh, not so much.
Coupons are a great tool to save money, catch great deals, and enjoy good food, entertainment, and recreation on a budget. The problem comes when the coupon collection becomes disorganized and you have no real view of what can be used and what has expired. Treat your coupons like money. No, you cannot deposit them into your savings account or tip your waiter, but you can create what I like to call, a coupon portfolio. In essence, a simple binder or photo album used to collect and categorize all coupons.

Typically, for photos it is not in your best interest to buy a photo album with sticky pages, because the adhesive can damage them over time - but with coupons it's perfectly ok. Let's get started! Follow the tips below and get your coupons organized so you can begin using them before the expire!

1. Purchase photo album

Visit your local Walmart, Big Lots, or dollar store for an inexpensive photo album. Be sure to purchase one that is fitting to the amount of coupons you save. (i.e. 8 x 10 album with 50 pages, 3 x 5 album with 20 pages) I recommend a larger album because you have space to add more coupons, if necessary.


2. Sort through coupons

The sorting process simply requires you to look through all of your cluttered coupons and toss (recycle) what has expired or what you will never use. If you have a coupon for the Big & Tall store, and you are small & short, TOSS IT! Another option is to give the unexpired coupons away to a friend or relative. However, do not use this as an excuse to hoard the coupons and eventually, recreate coupon clutter.


3. Categorize binder

Label categories throughout the binder providing a guideline for how you will organize the coupons. You can organize them by expiration date, product (i.e. beauty, restaurant, recreation, fashion), or alphabetically.


4. Stock the binder with remaining coupons


These simple steps will help you better organize your coupons. Remember, if there isn't any room to add new coupons, it's time to sort, toss, and make space. To ensure use, consider keeping 1 or 2 coupons to your favorite restaurant or store in your wallet. Continue saving money and using great discounts in an organized fashion!


Until We Blog Again....



CEO, Organize N Refine