Coupon Binder Pictures

Wanna see some pictures?

I thought I’d share what my binder looks like ripping at the seams.

The coke cans are for reference to how thick this baby really is!

Oh my goodness.  I could zip it up until this past weekend.

Am I the only dork with a binder this full?  I am addicted!

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At first we have the bottom view of the binder. See the coke cans!

Next we have the side view of the binder.  See that I can’t zip it.

Next we have the double sided binder open full face. 

And this is exactly how it sits in the buggy while I grocery shop!

Finally we have pics of how my coupons are sorted inside.

Baseball card holders with colored paper behind the coupon so I can put more coupons on the back side so it looks nice and neat.  Read my post here about how it is organized by sections.  The one in the picture was all my cereal coupons.  Super OCD, can you tell? 

Well, I hope you liked looking at my binder. Now go make your own! You'll love it.

All 5 inserts filed and ready to shop!

Phew!  I worked on my coupon binder off and on yesterday until I had it all clipped & filed away.  I have to stay on top of my clipping because I normally average 20 inserts which in itself is alot of clipping but, that meant bunches and bunches from Sunday -- bunches!

Now that I am done I say I am definitely tired of cutting but glad that I am done! 

I saw the preview for this coming Sunday and it doesn't impress me.  You can check it out here at Cheapsk8mom.  Then again you never know what sale match-up will make something work out to be a freebie.

I was all ready to do my midnight shopping (without kids) and it came a pour down rain at dinnertime and hasn't ceased.  I'll go tomorrow maybe...night everyone!

My Coupon Binder

Ok, here it is...how my coupon binder is sorted. Now, I have apparently became a little OCD about categorizing my coupons so what works for me may not be necessary for you but this is how I do it.

I am a very visual person so I like to be able to see everything to compare to and run the numbers through my head to see if it is a good deal. Sure, I can search the blogs out there galore and write down deals they scored but that doesn't cover all of my needs.

There are plenty of different ways to organize a binder from an index card file, to accordians, to binders, and so forth. I choose a binder...because I am visual. I used the baseball card holders that I got at Hobby Lobby (or you can get them at Walmart but they're much flimsier) and I actually have a double three ring binder that I got at CVS so it is like I have two 2" binders in one!

Pretty cool but I am already busting at the seams. Why? I subscribe to 8 newspapers and I have in-laws and parents who don't want to take the time to clip but they want to get in on the deals I catch.

How do you know how many papers to buy for your family?  I suggest that you buy one paper for each member of your family in order to stock up on the items your family will need to get you through until the next sale cycle.  If the coupons are really great then I suggest buying a couple of extra but you'll eventually find a number that you're comfortable with.

So, here's the nitty gritty of the binder.
 
FOOD: (on one side of my double binder)
Baking tab
- Sugar, spices, etc-
- Mixes, misc (Bisquik, cake/cookie mix)
- Bread 
Breakfast tab
- Cereal Bars
- Cold Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Pancake Syrup, Other misc
Canned/Boxed tab
- Pasta, Sides, Rice
- Canned Meat, Tuna
- Sauces, Tomatoes
- Soup (could easily be multiple pages General Mills is generous)
- Veggies, Fruit, Other misc
Condiments
- Dressings
- Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup
- Pickles, Sides
- Peanut Butter, Jelly, Other misc
Dairy
- Cheese, Misc other
- Milk, Butter, Eggs
- Yogurt (another easily multiple pages)
- Pillsbury (all by itself because so many coupons)
Drinks
- Coffee (including the coffemate etc)
- Coke, Juice
- Mixes, Tea, Other misc
Ethnic
- Misc (not much here but my mom likes egg rolls)
Frozen
- Breads
- Breakfast
- Entrees
- Ice Cream, Desserts
- Meat
- Pizza, Tv Dinners
- Veggies, Sides, Misc Other
Meat
- Breakfast
- Misc Other
Produce
- Misc Other
Snacks
- Candy
- Chips, Cookies
- Gummies
- Popcorn, Nuts
- Misc Other


So, that's it for Food and I flip to the other side for my Non-Food stuff:
Beauty
- Baby (which I don't have broken down more because my daughter is 2)
Feminine
- Pads, Tampons, etc
Hair
- Color Hair Dye
- Shampoo, Conditioner
- Styling Aids
Makeup
- Almay
- Clairol
- Covergirl
- Max Factor
- Revlon
- Misc Other
Oral
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Misc Other
Soap
- Bars
- Body Wash
- Hand Soap
Personal Other
- Deodorant
- Lotions
- Razors
- Shaving Cream
Household (this is weird but I haven't redid it yet so ... yeah)
- Air Freshener (Glade & Airwick on separate pages with others mixed in at bottom)
- Bathroom
- Cleaners
- Floor
- Kitchen
- Paper Stuff (TP, Kleenex, etc)
- Other Misc
Laundry
- Detergent
- Fabric Softener
- Other Misc
Medicine (You'll need this for great CVS & Walgreens)
- Advil
- Excederin
- Motrin
- Sudafed
- Tylenol
- Vitamins
Other Misc (This will be big unless you split it out more which I haven't yet)
Pets
*Not an area I've done yet but I would do it by brand similar to my medicine)
Yada Yada
All the other stuff I couldn't fit into a category.

I also have a little 3 ring zipper bag that holds my scissors, pen and calculator. I also throw Q's in here that I need to refile or if i pick up Q's in the store.

So, this is what works for me...what works for you so far?