Help!!! Overcome with Coupon Flyers!

kseals · #1 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 11:03 PM

I have been collecting and dating the coupon fliers since June. I clip the coupons I normally use and put them in my Couponizer (great product by the way). I date the rest of the flier and place it in my file drawer, which has gotten me some pretty good deals and some coupons to trade with in the coupon trading forum.

My question is this: When can I safely get rid of a flyer without throwing a way a coupon that may still be valid. I have no problems with the PG ones...I have figured out that they are only good for the current month...but what about the others.

Anyone got a great system for purging coupon fliers? At 4 papers a week if I don't get a handle on this I am going to be the Sarah Sylvia Cynthia Stout who never took the coupon fliers out!

paige · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 11:13 PM

Oh my gosh this was so me last weekend, when we got all those coupons, I have been cutting them all out yes 4 papers a week, then this weekend the house was a mess coupon piles everywhere here their their here oh my gosh, I about lost it!!! for real and I said I wasn't cutting not one more coupon ever!! I was such a rec, so this week I only got 2 papers and filled them in something I got last week just for this. O and And go threw the older ones and if most of the coupons are out of date clip the one you might use and put them in an envelope, throw the rest out!!!

Stockpiler · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 11:45 PM

Coupons, coupons, coupons. Yes, all over the house and starting to stack up a little in the car. Lol. I need help too. So busy but I need to get up extra early one Sunday after picking up the papers and finally de clutter my inserts etc. My inserts were staying pretty organized until I had to start cutting out some coupons that took away some of my dates and well the insert are all a mess and I think you get it. I'm not sure how long to hang on to them either but I did toss some from March thinking everything was expired after sifting through them and well there were a bunch of deals I had missed. Guess I need to get a file cabinet strictly for this hobby of mine before it takes over the home and car. My boyfriend has been so patient but thinks I need help. Ha

lizandsasa · #4 (**permalink**) 09-12-2008, 12:00 AM

This is exactly how I felt after this weekend. I am so overwhelmed by the amount of coupons we got. I have finally learned that I need to not cut every single coupon. I am not thinking when doing this and my table for teaching the children has been filled with coupons. I caught the flu and can't get myself to put all the coupons away. I need to learn a new system other than the one I thought was working. My binder is overly organized but filled to the max that I'm having to use another folder for overflow. It looks like I too need to invest in a file cabinet where I can keep these booklets and label as advised by Stephanie. I truly felt it would be easier for me to access if I just cut everything and put it in the binder but after getting nearly 200 coupons from the 4 booklets this weekend, somethings gotta change.... I'm still learning and always seeking advice of others... if anyone can enlighten us on the easiest way to handle the overflow, the back dated books, etc... we would all be so grateful!

daisydoescoupons · #5 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 08:41 PM

First, I must say that I can relate. When my plastic accordion file started to break, I decided that it was time to purge. I match up the inserts so all the duplicates are together. I then see what is expired (while I watch tv). If all the coupons on both sides of a page are expired, I rip out that page. Go to the duplicate sets and repeat. I then insert the identical pages together in one insert so I only have to look at one set to find all my copies of a specific coupon. I do this mid month and the first of the month as that is when many coupons have expired.

When looking for a coupon to match a deal that doesn't have a coupon listed, I have often found one that is very old in my early inserts.

OCDsaver · #6 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 09:16 PM

DON'T throw them all away....maybe you can trade with someone else on here, or send them to an overseas military base..there is a tab to this on the home page of this site. They apparently take Qs up to 6 months past their expiration date, but please be good when you send them...sort them out into envelopes by category.

maybe you can start clipping them all out. I do this by tearing the fliers in half and sorting them by page so I can clip all 4 at once...just be sure to cut just past the dotted line incase your pages aren't quite lined up. Then you can start organizing the Qs by exp. date or something.

if you have children, maybe you can get them involved in sorting them by date.

Kaydee · #7 (**permalink**) 09-13-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kseals

IWhen can I safely get rid of a flyer without throwing a way a coupon that may still be valid.

I file by insert too. When I get them each week, I use a Sharpie pen to mark the insert date in big print on the front, and then in parenthesis I put the date of the last coupon to expire. You can get the latest date by flipping through your insert, or by using the Coupon Mom Grocery Coupon Database and look (or sort it) to find the latest date. Then, I always know when it is safe to toss the whole thing!

TLC · #8 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008, 09:29 AM

I went threw my on labor day... had the extra day off and just decided this was getting too messy.. plus with the coupons still in the flyers I was missing out on some good deals. So i went threw them all threw out several flyers that were totally out of date.

I put them in my file folder, now I carry it with me and always have my coupons available

grandma · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008, 09:47 AM

WOW you guys are scaring me! I just started with the coupons in August. My file drawer is getting full. I dont want to get pilled up like you are. Anymore ideas from anyone? i thnk I better start going through and clipping more out. I need something I can carry with me to the store. I was also thinking of getting me a big purse with dividers to use only for coupon shopping. My purse now is to small and everything gets smashed of almost falls out. Afraid I will loose one. Then I get frustrated.

Grandma

mevoirin · #10 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008, 10:01 AM

This is how I organize: PART I: I look through the coupons and only cut out coupons for products I know I will buy. I leave the rest of the inserts in tact. Then, I take a sharpie and write the date on the upper right corner. I bought a big accordian file that had a lid at Staples (I have also seen these at Wal-Mart). I bought a pretty one that is blue/green (since it is pretty, I keep it by my kitchen table). Then I file the coupon inserts in groups by the date. So when I print out the coupon list, I go cut out the coupons I will need at the store. PART II: I just take a simple letter size/small envelope and I cut 2 paper inserts in different colors. In the front section - I put the coupons I will use in the store, in the middle section - I put the coupons for the products I cut out that I always buy, and in the back section - I move the coupons to the back as I put the item in my cart at the store. This system works for me, because I am not spending a lot of time cutting/organizing coupons and I keep the envelope in my purse at all times. I know a lot of people like having the big binder, but for me, I like the simplicity of having the small envelope in my purse at all times.

As far as purging old coupons... when my accordian file gets full, I go to the back and look through each date on the coupon... most will be expired. The ones that are not expired, I cut them out. Then I put them in an envelope marked "old." That way if it is an old coupon and I don't still have the insert, I will still have the coupon. Don't want to miss out on getting something free... yes we are all BAD aren't we?? At least our addiction is saving us money.