Keep Cpoupon Tools Together!

by Jan Leasure

DEAR $UPER $AVER:  I am having some difficulty getting and staying organized.  I wonder if you could steer me in the right direction with some tips.  Thanks. Marge D, Holland, MI
DEAR MARGE: I have some tips for you, but I really liked the suggestions I received  from Reader Kris of Portland, OR who writes:
“I have a couponing system that works so well for me I just had to tell you about it! I have a square plastic box which is just the right size to fit into the “child’s seat” portion of a shopping cart.  In it I keep:
•    scissors for cutting new coupons
•    a stapler for stapling “like coupons together”
•    a staple remover
•    a magnet clip which attaches to my shopping cart and holds my redeemable coupons
•    envelopes with each local store’s name on it–I use these for weekly specials
•    all food/shopping category divider cards by which to organize my coupons; I have a section called “Expiring this month,” and “Expiring Soon”
I sort through my entire coupon box every three months and put all “expiring soon” coupons in the front of my box so that they will be used.  When clipping new coupons, I always look to see if I have “like” coupons in my box.  If so, I staple them together with those soonest to expire in front.  This eliminates a lot of sorting.  Also, I try to organize these “bundles” with the more valuable ones on top.  For example, Special K cereal offers multiple value coupons.  The $1 coupons would certainly be my first choice, so I place it on top and staple them together.
All of my coupons are designated with an expiration date or “NE” for no expiration date BEFORE I place them in my box.  This saves me a lot of time when sorting.  This system allows me to save a great number of coupons as you can imagine.