Organization is the KEY to couponing.
I can't stress that enough.

I've been couponing off and on for years.  I tried the coupon pouches, the accordion folders, the shoe boxes and the Zip-Lock baggies...all in a vain effort to become organized.  5x7 index cards only go so far in the process for me.  Now I've read that each of these ways works...for other people.  Some may work for you.  Hey that's great!  But I had to move on and create my own organized chaos.

Lo and Behold!  I came across this awesome idea.  A Coupon Binder.  Sounds pretty cool, eh?  Well it IS.  I read through a few (ok several) blogs and the concept was fairly easy.  Though each blog had its own unique way of actually organizing the coupons inside the binder, there was a common thread.  How it was initially put together.

These are the links I read...you can read them all or glance through...your choice.  I'll give you a few moments to glance through...

  1. http://www.5dollardinners.com/2009/04/my-coupon-binder.html
  2. http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/2008/12/all-about-couponing-organization-101.html
  3. http://www.couponing101.com/2008/12/first-vlog-my-coupon-binder.html
  4. http://littlemissknowitall.net/
  5. http://mywoodenspoon.com/2009/01/31/how-to-create-a-coupon-binder/
  6. http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/2008/07/my-coupon-binder-video.html
  7. http://www.imaybecheap.com/2009/04/coupon-organization/
  8. http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/07/lauras-couponing-and-refunding-hints.html
  9. http://theattitudeofmyheart.blogspot.com/2009/01/wfmw-new-try-at-coupon-organization.html
  10. http://lifefrommylaptop.com/2009/04/22/my-coupon-binder/
  11. http://justdoingmybest-heather.blogspot.com/2009/04/coupon-binder.html
  12. http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/2008/11/lesson-three-how-to-be-coupon-mommy.html
  13. http://jamieisamoneymagnet.blogspot.com/2009/02/organizing-your-coupons-part-2-did-you.html
  14. http://www.momsneedtoknow.com/2009/01/06/coupon-101-sorting-and-organizing-your-coupons/
  15. http://www.northerncheapskate.com/2009/01/my-coupon-system-isnt-working.html
  16. http://bargainbriana.com/2009/04/more-coupon-organization-ideas/
  17. http://couponsdealsandmore.com/library/coupon-organization/
  18. http://thecouponhigh.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-coupon-binder-i-have-being.html
  19. http://shoppingwithcents.blogspot.com/2009/02/getting-started.html
  20. http://inpassionatepursuit.blogspot.com/2008/09/grocery-guru-saves-125.html
  21. http://monroeice.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-do-you-cut-your-coupons.html
  22. http://getbackthebalance.blogspot.com/2009/04/coupon-binder.html
  23. http://beautiful2god.blogspot.com/2009/04/organizing-my-coupons-saving-money.html
  24. http://www.survivingthestores.com/2009/03/how-i-organize-my-coupons.html
  25. http://hundfamily25dollars.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-coupon-system.html


Ok...yea, lots of reading there...but I tell you...it's worth it.

So...long story short on my binder...

I have a binder that zips closed and has a strap to hang from your shoulder.   I wanted that because I didn't want to take a chance of loosing any of my coupons.  There's a spot to hold my scissors (VERY important to keep those handy) and a pen or two.  I keep a 1 subject notebook in there (one of my 5cent deals from the early bird back to school deals) to jot down notes, prices of things I buy regularly, sale prices/dates...whatever.  I have 6 folder/tabs for holding store ads, my "mission" for the trip, special coupons, and receipts.

 
  
As you can see, I have baseball card pages holding the coupons.  Very handy...you can SEE everything you have including WHEN they expire.  I hear you can purchase these just about anywhere...though I'm not real certain on exactly where.  I was lucky enough to have a bunch of these from when I owned a specialty store a few years ago...thankfully I didn't get rid of them!  I would suggest checking out Target, Wal-Mart, Meijers first...you might find a good deal there.  My last resort would be to go to a baseball card shop...I'm sure that they'd have much higher prices.
In between each section, I put those manilla tab dividers (remember from high school or even work).  I wrote each section down on both sides of the tabs to make it easy to find stuff.  You can probably use just post-it's if you wanted to reduce how thick your binder is (I don't think it makes THAT much of a difference).
Ok...now each person will have a different set of sections.  It all depends on what YOU purchase.
For instance, mine are:
Baby (which holds anything and everything Kara needs)
Baking
Batteries
Bread
Cereal
Chicken Broth
Cleaning
Condiments
Dairy
Deodorant
Dish Detergent
Drinks (includes everything for coffee)
Feminine Stuff (you ladies know what I mean)
Fruit
Household/Office (computer stuff, light bulbs, candles, etc)
Laundry
Meat
Medications
Noodles/Rice
Razors/Shaving
SlimFast
Snacks/Crackers
Soap/Shampoo (hair care)
Soup
Storage (Zip-Lock, Reynolds Wrap)
TP & PT (toilet paper/paper towels...any other paper product)
Toothbrush/Paste/Floss/Rinse
TV Dinners/Ready Made Meals
Veggies
Now these aren't set in stone.  My sections could easily change pending on stuff that I buy.
Hopefully this gives you something to think about as you begin the the overwhelming task of organizing your growing collection of coupons.