Many shoppers clip coupons only to be disappointed to discover that they never use them. Others find great frustration in remembering an offered discount that was cut out of the paper but not having it handy when it was time to make the purchase. One key factor in making savings add up and seeing grocery bills reduced is organization. There are several different ways to keep coupons and store discounts so that they are readily available when they are needed.
Organize Coupons by Product Type
One way to keep track of the possible savings that can cut a grocery bill in half is through filing discounts by product type. Keep all of the food product coupons together. Do the same for cleaning products, personal items, pet needs, and other items used in the home. The most convenient way to store all of these categories is in an accordion style letter size plastic folder. Be certain that the folder latches in some manner. Many folders securely close with a button or an elastic tie. Use the provided stickers that come with the purchase of the folder to label each section. Place the coupons in the pocket of the folder and then close it shut. The letter size is easy to carry or to fit into a large purse.
Keep Track of Grocery Savings by Store
Some choose to sort their coupons by store rather than by type. The same storage container method as above can be used. Organizing by store works well when offerings that are location specific are gained. These are most commonly seen when register rewards and future purchase savings are printed. Stores such as Kroger offer printouts of discounts when a purchase is made. However, these discounts are only redeemable at the specified store. Walgreens and CVS often offer rewards for buying particular products. The rewards must be saved and used on future purchases.
File Coupons by Expiration Date
Others find that they prefer to keep track of their coupons by the expiration date. The coupons that are closest to expiring are placed together. This way, the customer knows that the coupons need to be used first. It is easier to place expiring months together rather than worry about specific days.
Using coupons can save shoppers a lot of money when it comes to grocery bills. However, some effort must be put into discovering where and when to use the discount along with ensuring that the coupon is there when it is needed.
Karri Weathers - Karri is a writer and a teacher. She taught 8th grade for four years, first grade for one year, and now is in her 5th year of teaching ...
Join the Conversation