Here are two reasons you should keep every coupon that you find (that has yet to expire):
1. You never know when the coupon will result in something being free. Even if it is a product that you don’t normally use, you could donate the item to someone in need. It’s also good sometimes to get something that is free, if it allows you to “roll” your rewards from places like CVS and Walgreens.
2. You never know when the coupon will result in something being better than free. Meaning, you end up with an overage. Who wouldn’t like being paid to shop? You can use that overage to pay for the things that you do need, and then donate the items you don’t need.
Is it important to keep every coupon? In my opinion, yes. Is it important to clip every coupon? In my opinion, no. I use an expandable file for my coupon inserts, and keep the coupons that I really want in a Couponizer. The inserts are all filed by date. When I need a particular coupon, I look up the date in a coupon database or on weekly store deals, and then go to the appropriate insert in my file, and clip it. I place it in my Couponizer, and then head out to the store.
For more ideas on how you can organize your coupons, and what exactly “rolling” rewards means, check out my Coupon Basics for Newbies post here, and CVS 101 here.
How people organize their coupons, can differ greatly. I find that it’s always best to try the different options out there until you find what works for you. How do you organize your coupons?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I clip them all, keep what I know I’ll use or coupons for items that go on sale frequently. The others get passed to a friend in the area. She sends back what she’s not going to use, so I have most of them. Maybe I’m spending too much time clipping though… I’ll have to think about that one!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Making Money Online: Surveys & Emails =-.
I agree about trying out different methods to organize your coupons. I tried by category then by date and right now I’m going alphabetically which I found a bit easier.
Coupons I don’t use I don’t clip and keep in a different binder because if it results in a freebie or an overage then I’ll have it. If I don’t use the item I keep it and donate it to the local elementary school (that my kids attend) who always need to put together baskets for families in need.
If it’s an item I don’t use and it’s near expiring I help the coupon fairy by leaving coupons randomly at Albertsons or Target.
.-= Yasmin´s last blog ..This is post #667! LOL – Albertsons chicken =-.
I have a scheduled posting on just this issue. I keep almost every coupon except a few minor ones, Prilosec being one because none of us have acid reflux. Not only do I keep them I have to cut and file them. This takes more time I know but it is worth it to me. Bi-Lo has close-outs all the time and I score tons of deals there along with Walgreens and Rite Aid. I like having them at my fingertips so if I come up on a clearance or close out I can get them for $1 or less, but FREE is best! I tried the whole insert thing but I felt frustrated most of the time. Thanks for the post I always am evaluating what the best system is for where we are.
I clip and sort almost everything and haul it all to the store in a 12-month receipt expando folder thing. This is because we all go shopping as a family, and we end up buying things that are not on the list. I’m sure we all have noticed that shopping with a family means that things just show up in the cart without you noticing before you get to the register….. I find that the ability to coupon “on the fly” is important to keep a shopping trip fun for everyone.
There are a few items that constantly have coupons in the inserts which I never cut — my folder system is just too tiny to hold things that we’ll never buy, even if they generated overage or could be donated. I’m personally uncomfortable with the environmental/health impact associated with some of the commonly-couponed products — items with very low food value and high levels of fake stuff, toxic cleaning products, aerosols, hair dyes, plastic plates, etc. So I skip those and minimize the clutter in my folders.
.-= Kaylea´s last blog ..Cook-a-thon Round One =-.
I have heard that military commissaries will except coupons for 6 months after the expiration date. Does anyone know if this is true?
If so, can you post where to send them?
Maybe the coupons we clip can have a use after they expire!
“For military families who relocate overseas, the financial transition can be difficult. Enlisted soldiers and their families may find stretching their dollars a real challenge, even more so then those who are based in this country.
One way that we can help is by saving expired or unused coupons and sending them to select co-op operations around the country. There are several military family support centers overseas who offer coupon exchanges. The military commissaries overseas accept manufacturer’s cents-off coupons for up to six months past their printed expiration dates.”
taken from about.com
CC, if you go to hotcouponworld.com, you’ll find a special section for military moms. Just pick one, and send your coupons! I am saving up mine and will mail them next week.
I absolutely agree with TM on saving every coupon. I have learnt it in my first months of couponing when I came across an awesome clearance at CVS and didn’t have cpn that seemed not so valuable with me. Now I carry my office type spiral folder every time I go to any store!
thanks for the tip.
I’ll be sending mine too!