How To Create A Coupon Binder

Learn To Save Thousands At The Grocery Store

Why Create a Coupon Binder?

Creating a coupon binder is the quickest, most efficient way to keep track of your coupons. I bring mine with me to the super-market. I sit my binder down in the front of the cart so it’s in arm’s reach when I need something.

It helps keep things organized so I can easily hand them over to the cashier. It’s good to be organized and it is MUCH easier to find coupons and prepare for my shopping trips.have them categorized. Overall, using a coupon binder is a game-changer.

Getting Started

What you’ll need for a successful coupon binder:

1 Binder

First, get a binder. I suggest 2" view binder, but a 1" will work as well.

1-2 Packs of Binder Dividers

Smartsource.com - a wide variety of printable coupons.

30-50 Baseball Card Sheets

I found some cheap ones at my local Target store but here's a "best selling" pack on Amazon. You also may want to consider "currency sleeves" - these are good for printable coupons if you do not wish to fold them.

Not ready for a binder? Try a small accordion binder first. (Look for them at the dollar store!)

Creating a Binder

Creating a couponing binder is no different than when you had to create a multi-subject binder for school. Instead of filling your binder with loose-leaf paper, you fill it with baseball card sheets. (Also, feel free to put a few sheets of loose-leaf paper in the front of your binder for shopping lists and notes.)

Categories And Sub-Categories

Feel free to get creative but below is how I have my categories set up.

NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE TABS FOR SUBCATEGORIES, JUST GIVE SUB-CATEGORIES THEIR OWN SHEET(S). (And feel free to use post-its if they will help you.)

Store Coupons and Rain-Checks
- Remember: Store coupons can be STACKED with MFR coupons that’s why I keep them separate. For information on how to stack coupons, please see The Savings Sandwich page.
Produce/Veggies (think: bagged salad – Note: Items like canned fruit and veggies can go either here or in the pantry section.)
Dairy/Frozen
Medicine
Cereal (There are SO many cereal coupons every month, that’s why it gets it’s own section!)
- Optional subcategories: General Mills Cereals, Kellogg’s Cereals, Other Brands of Cereal
Pantry (pasta, rice, jarred and canned products)
Snacks (chips, pretzels, snack bars and candy)
Beverages (for non-perishable drinks, something like O.J would be in the dairy section)
Cooking/Baking (olive oil, cooking spray, sugar, flour, etc)
Bath and Body (Toiletries)
- Subcategories (most important in this section!) – Give each of these their own sheet: Razors, Lotion, Shampoo/Conditioner/Styling Products, Soap, Body Wash, Deodorant, Toothpaste/Toothbrushes, Feminine Care
(Laundry) Detergent
Cleaning
Paper Goods (paper and plastic/disposable products)
- Optional subcategories: Tissues/Toilet Paper/Paper Towels, Other disposables (paper plates/bowls, baking cups, etc), Trash Bags
Makeup
Baby/Pet
Misc (for the things that just don’t fit elsewhere like batteries, brita water filters and hand sanitizer)

Maintenance

When putting coupons in your binder, try doing a tri-fold for printable coupons so that you can see what the item is for in the front and the expiration when you flip the sheet over to look at the back. Coupons from the Sunday paper and other inserts may be folded in half or may be slid in the sleeve without being folded depending on it’s size.
However you decide to place your coupons in your binder, make sure that the item and expiration date are both easily visible to help you appropriately keep track of your coupons.

Once a week, make time to print/clip coupons and file them.

Once a month (usually the first of the month), flip through and go through each section. Get rid of expired coupons.

See the “Couponing Calendar“ page for more information.

Need Help With Couponing?

‘I Don’t Have Time To Save Money’ is an easy guide to learning how you can save money even if you’re crunched for time. With unique time-based approaches, The Kosher Coupon Lady teaches you different methods of saving and how you can adapt those methods to fit your lifestyle.