I’ve had a lot of requests on how to make a coupon binder…so, below is my video I created showing my binder and my list of categories I use. You can tweak these to fit your needs.
*Beverages
*Cereals/Breakfast
*Baking
*Boxed Items
*Canned Items
*Sauces/Condiments
*Snacks/Candy
*Dairy
*Meats
*Frozen
*Personal Care
*Baby/Pets
*Cleaning/Medicine
While searching for a picture of a coupon binder (since I haven’t taken one of mine) I came across the binder pictured above! You can purchase it here for $26.99. That seems like a pretty good price but in my opinion you can still make it yourself for cheaper. I don’t think the one pictured above comes with the coupon holders (baseball protector sheets is what I use). You will end up paying around $10 – $15 for a zip up binder so if you want to fork out another $10 you can get the one pictured above which was made for coupons. It’s up to you… BUT WAIT! Before you buy that one (if you were thinking about it) check out the comment Lisa just left:
“I have that exact binder in the picture, but I got it on clearance at Wal-Mart RECENTLY for like $10 – $15! So you might want to check there if your Wal-Mart is anything like mine! My husband was actually the one who bought it for me, so I can’t remember the exact price, but it was left over from all the school supply sales.”
That’s not the reason I’m doing this post, just thought I’d add it in. I think it would be great to have you all that already have a binder, leave your tips on making a binder (where you got your binder, protector sheets, how much it cost, tips on organizing, etc)! Please feel free to join the conversation with any questions you may have as well!
I’ll start…..You can see most of this in the video but I bought my binder from Walmart as well as my baseball protector sheets. My tip would be to get a zip-up binder so you don’t lose coupons. I also recommend getting the plastic dividers not the paper ones (I have all plastic now since doing this video). The paper ones tend to rip. Another tip: Don’t have too many categories, it can be overwhelming when you go to insert your coupons. My last tip and favorite of all…..DON’T get behind on your coupon inserts! I suggest clipping them and putting them in your binder the same day you buy your newspaper. If you put it off, you will start compiling a big pile of newspapers and never want to mess with it! Uhhh-hummm…Yes, I know this from experience! 😉
Now it’s your turn….
Lindsey says
January 20, 2011 at 8:23 pmmyfatbelly.com has baseball card sheets for $10 for 100 of them. I thought that was a good deal
Hot Coupon Mamas says
January 20, 2011 at 8:34 pmThat is a great deal, better than Walmart!! Thank you!
carrie schweikert says
January 20, 2011 at 8:24 pmIve been useing the exspanding file works great and holds what i need plus it’s clear and easy to get to the coupon’s. Cost like $1.00 at Target also fit’s in my purse
Amelia says
January 20, 2011 at 8:30 pmI found some old photo album sheets I had that holds up to 5 pics per sheet so I can hold 5 diff coupons per side just load two kinds per slot with the diff kind flipped so you can see the other coupon when you flip the page. I bought these yrs ago for 10 sheet for a dollar
Lisa says
January 20, 2011 at 8:33 pmI have that exact binder in the picture, but I got it on clearance at Wal-Mart RECENTLY for like $10 – $15! So you might want to check there if your Wal-Mart is anything like mine! My husband was actually the one who bought it for me, so I can’t remember the exact price, but it was left over from all the school supply sales. My Wal-Mart always has A LOT left from those sales, so it’s also a great time for me on stock up on pens and paper for my business!
Lindsey G. says
January 20, 2011 at 8:35 pmEbay has 9,8,6,3 pockets for sale in lots so they can fit all the different sizes of coupons! Wal MArt has photo sheets for 2 $ they are found in the craft area and work great for the fatter and longer coupons!
Ann says
March 31, 2011 at 1:23 pmHow do I find them on ebay? What did you search by?
Julia H. says
January 20, 2011 at 9:07 pmI would also like to know how to keep the binder from getting messed up. I recently just bought a new one because it messed up so badly that my sheets were falling out.
Also, I live in a small town and not many people coupon, I’m only 25 years old and I’m a stay at home mom to 3 boys, so I coupon to save on money since I don’t work. The only people I see around here using coupons are older ladies, so it’s nice to see I’m not the only young one couponing like a mad-women!!! 🙂
I also have my Personal Care and Household sections, but I sub-sections in them.
Personal care I have 5 subdivsions because it’s just alot easier when I’m at the store with 3 boys when I need a toothpaste coupon, I go to the Toothpaste section. It does take a little longer on Sunday’s when inserting my coupons in my book, but I really only spend about an hour on Sundays Clipping, taking out expired coupons, and putting my new ones in, so it’s not too bad.
Maggie C says
January 21, 2011 at 3:12 amFirst Julia H. – I’m 24 and have been couponing for over a year now 🙂 I don’t really know many other people are age who do this:) I do it becuase I’m done with college but living back home my dad pays my car insurance and cell phone bill and pay for gas for the vehicles and groceries and my part time job barely helps so I’m all about saving money
I used Sarah’s categories because I like them better then what I had been using. But I need to subdivide the personal care one, and for some products such as Lysol and Glade have their own page because i can’t stand so many same but different coupons in one slot.
But now I find that my binder is to bulky so been trying to brainstorm what to do about that 😀
Jenna says
January 21, 2011 at 4:43 amI’m 22 and I coupon as well. I’m in a similar situation Maggie, I had to move back in with my parents. I also have a part time job that pays for my insurance, gas, and car payment, but I coupon to sort of “pay rent”
I started a binder about 2 months ago, and mine is pretty much the same as Sarah’s. I completely agree that you need to keep up with it. I had more hours at work over the holidays so I got like 3 weeks behind on coupons omggg it took forever to get them all cut and filed. But if I just do it the day I get them, it takes about an hour or so.
and I always pull my coupons when I make my grocery list. But i bring my binder in the store with me in case I find any great unadvertised deals!
laura says
January 21, 2011 at 5:05 amWell ladies I just turned 24 and a mom of two! Just recently started couponing in June of last year…my account went negative and I saw my 12 month old son looking at me and was pregnant. I’m in school to be a nurse. Had to figure out something … Well been doing it ever since Just found these blogger sites though in november and thanks to this site and a few others my kids had a christmas! Couponing has helped me get back on my feet AND save a ton of money!
Its nice to see girls my age doing it as well. Thanks for the help sarah I appreviate all ur hard work
Susie Payton says
January 20, 2011 at 11:21 pmWow, another completely dedicated coupon pal. I love your ideas.
Lynne S. says
January 21, 2011 at 1:07 amI used your video to set up my book awhile back….. it was a BIG help 🙂 I think the best tip I can give is that I taped an envie… like, a card size envie, with the top folded in so it doesn’t get in the way.. anyway… I tapped one to the front of each divider page. It’s good to put in coupons that are going to expire soon that you want to make sure to use.
I have a Walgreens section, RiteAid section, and Target section, so these envies are also good to put in the coupons that I am going to use that week.
cindy says
January 21, 2011 at 1:19 amSarah, I dont do the binder method but have been seeing a lot about it so i’m trying to figure it out.
Is this your complete coupon supply? Right now I get 4 newspapers every weekend and keep the entire inserts and file them by weekend. Seems like more work to go through each insert every weekend and cut and file. My binder would be overflowing in coupons if I cut them out and kept them that way. What am I not understanding? As it is, my 21 file accordion folder is bulging. Before I go to the store, i know what coupons i need for the current sale, pull them from the inserts and put them in an envelop. Do you take the binder to the store with you and coupon right out of that?
Cass says
January 21, 2011 at 2:32 ammmm, I do alot of the same things as all the other girl, I’d say if I had to give one point of advice, it’d be to buy enough of the ballbase protectors so that you don’t have to put coupons in the front and back, I always miss the ones on the reverse side and they expire! I have sooo many protector sheets that my zip up binder is bulging, any tips on that, what size binders do you girls have?
Christina says
January 21, 2011 at 8:05 amI use photo protector sheets from walmart. 10 for $2 and well worth it. I hated having to bend my coupons to fit in the baseball card pockets.
Thanks Sarah, for all you do. 🙂
michelle says
February 5, 2011 at 10:15 amHow many baseball card sheets do you put in each catergory of your binder?
Mindy C says
February 9, 2011 at 6:12 pmYou can’t really repair bent binder rings other than to attempt bending them back into shape which is really a futile cause because even if you succeed, the ring halves never seem to line up “exactly” the same- although I have been close a couple of times. I would suggest to keep them better lined, you may try first punching slightly larger holes in your sheet protectors. Then get some aquarium hose or some other kind of plastic tubing. Cut pieces that are roughly 1inch long and insert over one end of each set of prongs. As you close the rings, try to insert the other ends into the opposite side. I have not tested this yet myself but I plan to later this evening. 🙂
J.C. says
February 20, 2011 at 10:26 amI’m not sure if all the Wal-greens are doing this but I live in Memphis & it seemed that the 3 Ring File Zipup Binder w/Handle was 2 for 15.99. Thanks to a friend of mine I was able to buy a few for myself as a back up!!!
Jackie says
April 9, 2011 at 9:56 amHey found a great deal at walmart. Quality 3 ring binder card collertor’s album Near the registers toward the front of the store. Includes 65 9 pocket pages. Holds 585 coupons. 2.5 in x 3.5 in .
Total Cost- 13.98 plus tax which came to 14.96
Jamie Ramos says
May 3, 2011 at 4:13 pmI found my binder at Kmart it is a baseball card collector album came with 100 plastic pages for only $14.99
Brittany says
May 5, 2011 at 7:33 amI found my Binder at the Goodwill they had like 3 of them its a Five Star 4 in Binder with an expandable pocket it the front it came with a five star pencil bag and a 3 pocket expandable file section and it was $4.94 and looks brand new!! My Hubby had about 40 empty baseball care holders and I spent $3.47 for 50 Sheet protectors!
My Total Cost $8.41!!!!
Donna says
May 5, 2011 at 9:02 amYour link to Coupons.com is not working. It doesn’t come up at all.
Joan Bandy says
May 12, 2011 at 11:20 amThree years in, I have outgrown several systems I started and am using my sticker binder from Creative Memories. I switched from this method to that one because:
A. this one got too heavy and had no handle.
B. The Creative Memories has pockets on the from for my wallet, keys, sunglasses, and cellphone (or a velcro pocket on the inside front cover for it. Every time I was in the store, I had all the going on, and my purse, and a binder, then the phone would ring…and I was feeling all over the place.
C. The Creative Memories one has two handles, a hand carry, and a shoulder strap with a comfort slide. When I’m needing to move it in the van, I can grab the handle, and when I leave the store, I can through it on my shoulder.
D. It’s bigger…our Wal*Mart carts are so large that my other one was slipping down into the baby seat. It makes me a wide load at times, but it’s more functional.
E. I can insert a heavy duty 4″ binder into it (doesn’t come with it’s own rings. This way, the binder is sturdier to begin with, and I don’t have the cheap ring issue. If it wears out, I just replace the binder, not the whole enchilada.
F. I bought it on ebay for Scrapbooking and already had it!
Also, I use slide protector sheets (scrapbook store like ARchiver’s or on line( for tiny cleaning coupons. I do quarter fold them. I get 16 on a page. This helps with bulk when you buy multiple papers. I use a labeler for the labels inside a section to cut down on actual tabs, but it helps SO much in the cleaning and personal products sections.
Hope that helps!
lisa says
June 11, 2011 at 8:00 pmhi everyone. i’m looking for some input or advice on this binder subject so please reply !!!!! i have my binder with the zipper, the dividers, and baseball protector sheets as well. even my coupons are in there too. the only thing that is running through my silly mind is , am i the only one doing this ? i mean yes i know all of you guys are doing it and that makes me feel great. kind of like i’m welcomed here. but no one in my stores or area walks around with a binder in the baby seat of their shopping cart with coupons in it. i feel like out of place. so i would take out just what i need for the sale and head to the store. but then i see an unadvertised item which i had a coupon for and i say dam to my self. i know this is stupid , but does anyone else have this silly feeling too? thanks, lisa
John says
June 28, 2011 at 7:34 pmOk so everyone else is different….not you ….don’t let this get you down…..just enjoy your shopping trip.
Kelley H says
July 4, 2011 at 8:08 pmYou should feel proud to be saving, bump what is everyone is saying or thinking. I know i dont care because I am saving and I am getting stuff for free or cheap and stockpiling
Kandi says
June 18, 2011 at 12:44 pmThanks for the vid! I’m starting my binder so all the tips are wonderful!
I actually had some CD binder sleeves stashed away in my office (that I finally got around to cleaning out) and these are GREAT! They only have 8 pockets instead of 9, but you use the front and back of the page and there’s a felt divider in them to keep the front and back separate.
For your binder ring issue: I have a binder at work that has rings that are guaranteed to not mess up. I am almost certain I ordered it from Staples. It doesn’t have a zipper or handle but the rings don’t warp. I’ve had it for some 8 years now and never a problem in all of the re-purposing that binder has been through. I know everyone thinks that Walmart always has the best deal, but Staples has killer deals all the time.
Anyways, thanks for all the tips.
Ashley F says
June 20, 2011 at 9:30 amLisa-
I feel the same way in my store. However, you are saving so much money by having to pull your cart over to check a coupon 🙂
It is all worth it. Infact, yesterday I was in the cereal aisle and I had a coupon that I know I will not use and I gace it to a lady looking at that kind of cereal she was thankful …especially since that store doubles.
Kimberly Bates says
June 25, 2011 at 6:37 amI bought a binder and the supplies at Walmart..Thanks for helping me organized it.. The video is really helpful.. Now I love my binder!!!!… Thanks again.. 🙂
Amber L says
June 25, 2011 at 7:50 pmThis is for Lisa.
Don’t feel out of place. I walk through the store with my head held high with my binder in the cart. I am single and do not have kids, but I save a TON of money. I have a special diet (food allergies) and it costs a fortune without coupons. But now, I save so much money, sometimes I feel bad for the people who don’t do it. Chances are, they are envious of you. Every time I go, I get comments about how people wish they had a binder like mine. I even had the night manager at the grocery store I go to comment that he wished he had one ( I saved 60% on that trip)!
So, for anyone who feels embarrased, don’t. It’s kind of like showing up to a job interview when you look immaculate and everyone else in in flip flops and sweats…You know you did it the right way and in the end, you will succeed because you did. Your wallett and bank account will thank you! (and your husband if you are married)
John says
June 28, 2011 at 8:52 pmFor the bent ring problem…maybe get a short drinking straw & slide over it & then all you have to do is remove the straw,add or remove the sheets & then replace the straw on the ring….also get a pair of pliers & try to keep those rings as straight as you can since they are getting used alot.
saima says
July 12, 2011 at 10:59 pmI don’t even use the dividers. I don’t remember what they’re called exactly, but Post-It has strong plastic sticky labels that are meant for filing. I stick those right on the baseball card holders. Have had absolutely no problem with them.
Katherine says
May 12, 2013 at 6:57 amJust got a zipper binder yesterday on clearance for $3.50. I am saving up to get a zipper binder like the one shown. But I am tired of my current regular binder losing and dropping coupons out of it. Nothing beats zipper binders. 🙂
Laura says
July 28, 2013 at 7:58 amalways i used to read smaller articles that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this
post which I am reading at this time.