Using Coupons Makes Sense

Yes, it’s annoying to get stuck in line at the grocery store behind someone who’s using a stack of coupons when you just want to get out of there with your dish detergent and a head of cabbage ASAP.  Beyond that tiny inconvenience, however, it’s hard to think of too many bad things to say about coupons.

If you want to save some money (and who doesn’t?) you should be clipping and using coupons.

Many people wrongly think that it’s one of those frugality projects that simply doesn’t make sense because the savings are so low in relation to the time it takes to set things up.  I’ll be honest, I used to feel the same way.  After awhile, though, you have to start paying attention to what actual coupon clippers have to say about that.

So, when I found out that the folks from The Simple Dollar were making the equivalent of over $57 per hour by using coupons effectively, I started to change my mind.   And you can only hear so many true stories of people cutting their grocery bills by 2/3 before you have to admit that taking out the scissors every once in awhile is a good idea. 

Organization Is Essential

If you’re going to use coupons, you need to find them.  That isn’t particularly hard.  Pick up your local Sunday paper and you’ll have a surplus of coupons at your fingertips.  That’s just the beginning, though.  You also need to organize them.  Those great deals aren’t worth a penny if you can’t find them when you need them.

That’s why a good coupon organizer is an absolutely critical piece of the frugality puzzle.  As Smead Organomics states:

The coupon organizer is a necessity in any home that clips coupons (and enjoys saving money). Without easy access to the coupons they have clipped, most people forget they are there! This is why a coupon organizer can be one of the easiest yet most effective ways to quickly organize coupons and save some money.

 The Right Coupon Organizer

There are a million and one different coupon organization systems out there.  Using coupons effectively is simply a matter of finding the system and coupon organizer that works best for you.  Let’s look at a few options.  Maybe one of them will be a perfect fit for your couponing needs.

Envelopes are cheap!  If your quest for maximum savings extends to the very infrastructure of coupon clipping, you could go with the good ol’ envelope system.  Basically, you sort coupons by category into appropriately-labeled envelopes.  That’s it.  Easy and just about as cheap as you can get!   This handy tip article discusses the envelope system and a few other ways to sort your clippings.  You can consult it for a few additional ideas.

Mrs. A’s Coupon Organizer.  This is one of the most popular commercially-availabel coupon organizers.  If you’re ready to make a small investment in order to post substantial regular savings, you might want to take a good look at what Mrs. A is selling.  The company claims, “No more fumbling with coupons one at a time. Increase coupon savings like never before! This is the best coupon organizer you will ever buy!”  That’s a bold claim, but I have to admit that this looks like a nifty product.

The Couponizer.  This is another commercially available coupon organizer.  It’s actually a complete “coupon system” featuring everything from a sturdy wirebound notebook to a guide on how to use coupons effectively.  They even toss in a carrying bag, blank grocery lists and a pair of scissors.  The Couponizer is one stop shopping for any coupon clipper.

C.R. Gibson.  This company offers much more than coupon organization solutions, but their organizer is attractive and appears to be quite functional.  It’s an accordian file with a notebook integrated into it.  C.R. Gibson’s organizer is also refillable, allowing you to use it indefinitely.

Do It Yourself Binder.  If you’re not interested in finding a dedicated coupon organization tool, consider using a binder with insert pages.  It won’t cost as much as a commercial coupon product and you’ll have some flexibility in terms of how you want to set things up.  If your criteria for a coupon organizer involves keeping it cheap and very customizable, a binder system might be the right choice for you.

Now…  Start Clipping, Start Saving!