My Coupon Binder

After many, many months of trial & error, I have finally found a binder that works great for me. I created this binder using a combination of methods and it has made shopping so much easier. As I stated on the "Coupon Organization" page, I encourage you to find the method that works best for you.

Below, you can see pictures of my binder, along with my list of categories & subcategories. Use some, use all - whatever works for you.

Happy Couponing!

My Personal Coupon Binder

I've tried the envelope method, the accordion style method, and the box method. Nothing seemed to work for me, and none of them felt "right". I was watching an episode of Extreme Couponing, and I saw a woman with the binder. I thought, "Hey, I've tried everything else - why not?" I originally started with baseball card sheets, but I didn't like having to fold the larger coupons to fit into the slots, especially since I use a lot of Internet coupons. So I traded by baseball card sheets for currency sheets and I couldn't be happier!

I bought this Trapper Keeper at Target for around $10.00 and it works GREAT! It has a front pocket for keeping small stuff, like paper clips. The front pocket opens up and has storage for pencils/pens and a pocket where I keep my calculator. The zipper part on the top is a deep pocket, which I don't use (mostly because I haven't found a use for it. Give me some time, I'm sure.)

When you unzip the binder, there are large pockets on the inside. I use these pockets to put the weekly circulars in, extra paper, fliers with coupons that I get in the mail, and anything else that is pertinent. I also put my envelope in this pocket, with my coupons & shopping list that I've already drawn out. 

This is my "Master List" that breaks down each category and the subcategories. I did this for two reasons - one, sometimes I even forget where coupons go and two, my husband requested this in the event that he needs to find a coupon when he's running to the store. Yes, even my husband coupons. I have officially converted him into a money-saving monster. 

I used heavy duty plastic dividers with tabs for each category. Each divider has a pocket on BOTH sides (love this!) and they come in handy if I don't have the time to put the clipped coupons into their categories. I will simply drop the pile into the folder & file them away later on. You can see in the picture that I put the CVS ad and the coupons that I'm using right on the first pocket. Usually I will put them in an envelope in the front pockets, but gosh darnit I couldn't find an envelope yesterday. I think my son is hiding them from me.

And finally, this is what each page looks like. These are currency pages, which I purchased from a company on eBay. There are 3 pockets on each sheet, and the sheets are heavy duty plastic. I absolutely LOVE these pages - no more ripping pockets for me! I even went the extra mile and labeled each pocket. That way, I don't have to sit there looking at the coupons & trying to figure out which subcategory it is.



Categories & Sub-Categories


BABY
Huggies Diapers
Huggies Wipes
Pampers Diapers
Pampers Wipes
Pull-Ups
Misc. Diapers
Misc. Wipes
Diaper Rash Cream
Bath Products

BAKING
Baking Mixes
Brownie Mixes
Cookie Mixes
Icing
Sugar
Spices
Flour
Baking Powder/Soda
Misc. Baking


BEVERAGES
Juice
Tea
Soda
Coffee
Water
Hot Cocoa
Drink Mixes
Misc. Beverage
Health Drinks

CANNED GOODS
Pasta Sauce
Salsa/Dip
Soup
Canned Meats
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruits
Misc. Canned
Stock/Broth

CEREALS & BREAKFAST
Cereal Bars
Oatmeal
Syrup
Breakfast Drinks
Kellogg’s
General Mills
Post
Misc. Cereal
Breads

CONDIMENTS
Oil
Vinegar
Salad Dressing
Marinades
Peanut Butter
Jelly/Jam
Ketchup
Mustard
Pickles/Relish
Misc. Condiments
Mayonnaise
Hot Sauce
Croutons
Bacon/Toppings
Salsa

CLEANING SUPPLIES
Dusting
Windows Cleaners
Floor Cleaners
Toilet Cleaners
Shower Cleaners
All Purpose Cleaners
Dish Soap
Sponges
Lysol Products
Fabric Sprays
Febreeze
Airwick
Glade
Clorox

DAIRY
Milk
Yogurt
Sour Cream
Cottage Cheese
Eggs
Cheese
Biscuits/Crescents
Sweet Rolls/Cookies
Juice
Butter
Misc. Dairy
Creamers

FEMININE CARE
Tampex
Playtex
Kotex
Carefree
O.B.
Stayfree
Pregnancy Test
Lubricants
Cleansers
Medications


FIRST AID
Bandages
Band-Aids
Topical Medications
Eyedrops
Misc. First Aid

FROZEN
Breakfast Meals
Pancakes/Waffles
Ice Cream
Dinner Meals
Appetizers
Meats
Desserts
Frozen Vegetables
Frozen Fruits
Snacks
Breads
Pizzas

HEALTH & BEAUTY
Men's Deodorant
Women's Deodorant
Shampoo
Conditioner
Styling Products
Lotions
Hand Soap
Bodywash
Facial Care
Women's Razors
Men's Razors
Shaving Cream

LAUNDRY
Detergent
Dryer Sheets
Liquid Softener
Laundry Boosters
Stain Removers
Misc. Laundry

MAKEUP
Covergirl
L’Oreal
Maybelline
Revlon
Almay
Neutrogena
Hair Dye
Chapstick
Nail Care

MEATS & DELI
Lunchmeat
Bacon
Sausage
Hot Dogs
Chicken
Misc. Meat

MEDICATIONS
Tylenol
Advil
Excedrin
Aleve
Allergy
Cough & Cold
Cough Drops
Child Cough & Cold
Child Pain Reliever
Child Allergy
Misc. Child Medications
Adult Vitamins
Child Vitamins
Gas/Heartburn
Nasal Sprays
Misc Medications

ORAL CARE
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Whitening Products
Mouthwash
Mouth Medications
Toothbrushes

PAPER & PLASTIC
Tissues
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Napkins
Paper Plates
Plastic Cups
Cutlery
Bathroom Wipes
Trash Bags
Storage Containers
Plastic Wrap
Storage Bags
Misc. Paper & Plastic
Wax/Parchment Paper
Aluminum Foil
Batteries
Office Supplies

PASTA/RICE/ETC.
Pasta
Rice
Tortillas/Taco Shells
Breadcrumbs
Side Dishes

PETS
Dog Treats
Dog Food
Cat Treats
Cat Food
Cat Litter
Misc. Pet

SNACKS
Cookies
Candy
Potato Chips
Pretzels
Boxed Snacks
Granola Bars
Fruit Snacks
Nuts
Popcorn
Jello & Pudding
Cakes
Misc. Snacks

STORE SPECIFIC 
I use this category to put coupons that are store specific, such as Catalinas for ShopRite or Walgreens coupons from their in-store ad. I also put Rainchecks from specific stores too.

Additionally, I have printed copies of the Coupon Policies of the stores I frequent the most. I put them in the folder portion of this divider. In the event that I have an issue at checkout, I can pull the policy out of my binder & refer to it.

RESTAURANTS
Do I really need to explain this?? =)