Creating a Coupon Binder

A coupon binder, or coupon notebook, is one of the biggest methods of organizing a extreme couponer uses. (Even the not so extreme ones)

I’m going to break it down as much as I can with Pictures, tips and resources to get your coupon organization going!

I will say.. This isn’tÂ myÂ favorite method of organizing. I think it is a GREAT way to be organized but it is time consuming. My time is very limited with having the blog, 2 kids and being a wife, cook, maid & all that ;) . I did use this method for quite a while though and it is great if you have the time to invest into it.

So what exactly is a grocery coupon binder?

A coupon notebook (aka binder) is a portable three-ring binder typically filled with plastic 9-pocket sheets.

Coupons are trimmed and placed in these sheets to give users a terrific coupon filing system.

Advantages and Disadvantages to using a Binder

Like all of the coupon organizers, coupon binders have their advantages and disadvantages. There are many many couponers that swear that Binders are the way to go. And there are others that disagree. Here are some comparisons.

Advantages:

Clear, easy to see through pockets
Super organized
Super convenient
Portable; quick to grab and go

Disadvantages:

Must clip each coupon to fit pocket
Some coupons must be folded to fit pocket
Pockets are small and fill up fast
Start up expenses
Time Consuming

Creating a Binder.. What you need:

Large 3 Ring Zipper Binder
The most important part of your coupon notebook is the binder itself.

I would recommend getting a small binder to start with and see how you like doing the binder method before putting alot of money into it.. Once you get comfortable I would recommend upgrading to a more sturdy binder that zips closed so that if dropped coupons won’t be flying everywhere and they’ll be protected from spills and various accidents..

I personally have a duel ring binder. Susan has a single ring binder. It is all about preference andÂ quantity.. The more coupons/sections/inserts you have, the bigger the binder you are going to need to hold it all.

Coupon Holders

Coupons come in a variety of sizes so you have options on how to organize them with your coupon holders.. These can be baseball card holders (9 slots on each page) or you can do photo protectors (4×6 or 5×7 or other varieties).

I have a collection of 5×7 photo holders for the bigger coupons, Baseball Card sheets for a majority of my coupons and a few page protectors for my store policies and any other paperwork I want to keep with me.

Usually you can find these at Walmart or online. I would recommend buying in sets of 50+.. You will need quite a few.

Accessories

Tabbed Dividers – These are to seperate your sections in your binder, you may need a couple packages depending on how many sections you are wanting to have.

Pencil/Pen Pouch – Keep a pen/pencil and a pair of scissors in here because those are always good to have on hand.

Small NotePad – Good to write any notes on. Just good thing to have on hand for many reasons.

Calculator – This is good to calculate any prices or totals in case you pick up something unexpected (like something on clearance or a good deal you find)

Coupon Sections
Sectioning is important and it’s personal. Your sections have to work for you and what you buy/use. Every person likes to have different sections in their binder..

Some people do Alphabetical, by expiration date or insert date.. If you chose to do by categories,Â go here to see a big list I put togetherÂ to help you find which ones you’d like to have. Remember at any time you can change your mind and use different categories (with a little coupon rearranging that is). Go Here to Print section inserts.

Assembling the Binder

Putting your binder together should be pretty self explanatory, but just in case you need a few more suggestions..

I would start with having all your coupons clipped and separated into stacks of each section you are going to have.

Label your Sections on your tabbed dividers.

Place a few sheets of coupon protectors behind each section (you can add more later).

I would work on one category at a time.. This will take quiet a bit of time at first because you will probably have a lot to put into the binder.

A note for folding your coupons.. It will take time and trial and error as to what works for you. You’ll want to make sure you see what the coupon is for but you also areÂ goingÂ to need to see the expiration date.

Well I hope this has helped you learn a little more about how to put together a Coupon Binder. Feel free to leave comments if you have any questions or suggestions!