# Help! Coupon clipping and organization tips requested

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-coupon-clipping-and-organization-tips-requested/47817>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 30, 2000, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-coupon-clipping-and-organization-tips-requested/47817 "2000-12-30T19:40:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/53a042/32.png) [@Vinnie\_Virginslayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vinnie_Virginslayer)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-coupon-clipping-and-organization-tips-requested/47817/1 "2000-12-30T19:40:31Z")

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I need help from the more organized out there. Every week I am totally barraged with coupons, but I always lose them, or find myself forced to buy a coupon item but at full price because I left the coupon at home and I cant wait to make a second trip.

Or I just totally forget I have the coupon until a year later when I’m going through my files and find it- expired months ago of course!

HELP!!! I need tips. I’ve tried keeping them in a file, in my car, in my Franklin Planner, all to no avail.

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**Author:** ![Rally\_Vincent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Rally\_Vincent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rally_Vincent)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-coupon-clipping-and-organization-tips-requested/47817/2 "2000-12-30T19:44:52Z")

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Glad to know I’m not the only one in this situation!

I tend to keep the coupons that I know I want to use in my wallet.

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**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-coupon-clipping-and-organization-tips-requested/47817/3 "2000-12-30T19:55:28Z")

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I sort them _by date_ and put them in plain white envelopes with the expiration month pencilled on the front. Helps me keep track of the ones that are about to expire.

FWIW, I only use coupons for things already on my list. Just before going on the Grocery Death March, I go through the list and match up coupons, then pop list and all into another plain envelope in my purse. If I have more than one coupon for an item, i.e. different brands, then I clip 'em together and figure out the best deal at the store, then toss the ones I don’t need.

Not perfect, but it works okay for me. Helps keep them organized–especially helps at checkout!–and keeps me from insane, impulse purchases.

Veb

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**Author:** ![Oncle\_Biere\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oncle\_Biere\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oncle_Biere_1)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-coupon-clipping-and-organization-tips-requested/47817/4 "2000-12-30T21:15:50Z")

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I made an accordian file just folding a couple of strips of paper into a fan.

Then I wrote down on each partition which aisle of the market it was, frozen, canned fruit, soaps, etc.

Now my coupons are quickly sorted by aisle, so I never have to dig through a random pile while standing there.

Since doing that, my coupons get used and never discarded for age.