I ended up performing a little experiment completely by accident, and I learned something:
I have to clip!
Couponers seem to be divided in to 2 "camps"...those who clip and those who don't. There are the people who clip up every insert and file their coupons, and there are the people who file their inserts whole and only clip the coupons that they need as they need them (note: this is why almost every site like mine will list where to find each coupon...for the Filers).
February was a strange month for me. Aside from my Month of No Spending project, we had some extended family issues, I had a cold that just wouldn't end and I managed to completely overextend myself in my "offline life". As a result, one of the first things to be sacrificed was my clipping. After a few weeks of not clipping, I figured that it was worth just keeping it up.
Last night I threw out a TON of expired coupons...coupons that I didn't know that I had and would have used because I remember those items being on some pretty good sales or that I needed anyway during the month. It's a good thing that my children were in bed because I let loose a string of expletives that would make a longshoreman wince.
My days are usually crazy enough, between being a mommy, keeping the house somewhat presentable, school and social commitments and of course, taking care of this site. I found that the last thing I wanted to do for an hour before each shopping trip was to pull specific inserts, search for the desired coupons and clip them. By clipping my coupons at night, after the kids are in bed and while I watching TV, I manage to not only save the time when I am getting ready to go shopping, but the very process of clipping and filing makes me remember what coupons I have at all times.
I'm sure some of you reading this are Filers and think that Clippers waste too much time clipping coupons that they will never use. That may be true, but what I can tell you is that if I don't clip, then the coupons that I WILL use don't get used. For me, clipping is the right method.
Now I just need to get caught up on my clipping....
How about you? Are you a Clipper or a Filer? Have you tried the other way?
Julie H
I used to just clip coupons, but now I am trying out filing the inserts too. Last week I found out I had thrown away a couple of coupons I wanted to use to get things free. I sure love clipping though.
Susannah
I used to file the inserts, but realized that was not best for me when I would get to a store and wouldn't have the coupons I needed for "unadvertised" specials or ones I had missed. What good is a coupon if it is sitting at home when you need it? I take all my coupons to every store, every time. So if TP is on sale but wasn't in the store circular, I can grab it and get extra savings with my coupons.
Celia
I did try filing and it didn't work for me either. I need to clip. Plus, I kind of enjoy clipping coupons- I used to do it with my Gran at her kitchen table. Then we would go to the store together.
I just wish I could find a way to file them that I was happy with. I have tried an index card box and an envelope system.
Jess
I too am a clipper. I need yo have them all with me when I go. I dont clip all only ones I can use or my extended family would use. Or I will clip things that I can donate. Like the poster above me I too have not found the best way to take them. Love your site and your Giant postings I have learned so much. Thanks
Jennifer
I agree with you, I clip everything and the act of clipping, sorting, filing helps me remember almost exactly what I have. I think filers rely completely on another source to tell them what coupons to use. I prefer to do most of the leg work myself and then I might double check a site that matches sales and coupons before heading out the door, but more times than not I don't miss anything. Plus if you don't clip them, what if you happen upon a great clearance item? Do you even have your coupons with you? If you do, you have to cut it out in the store.
I do it while watching TV at night too.
Amanda @ Fake Ginger
I'm definitely a clipper. I agree with what other commenters have said, holding them in my hand and clipped them helps me remember what I have. Plus I prefer my coupon holders to fit in my purse and the flier way just wouldn't work out like that.
Bonkers
CLIPPER all the way.
Heather
I'm a clipper. Seeing them in my coupon organizer is how I remember what I have. Plus, I take my organizer with me when I go to the store that way if my fiance decides that OMGHEJUSTHASTOHAVEAFROZENPIZZATHAT'SNOTONSALE I can at least hand a coupon over to take a little off of the price. I wish I could say that I had coupons for the $65 worth of meat he tossed into the cart last week too but I can't. And yet, somehow the fact that the bill became rather high was my fault. Imagine that. Hmmm.
Jenny
*raises hand* My name is Jenny, and I'm a clipper too. For all the reasons listed in the previous posts. One thing I have gotten better at, though, is clipping a lot of coupons that I *might* use rather than just the ones I KNOW I'll use...so when I read about a good deal on a blog, i often still have the coupon in my stash.
Debbie
A clipper. I tried using the filing system and it didn't work for me. I found I spent a lot of time looking for coupns that in many cases my insert did not have. Also, some of the inserts would mysteriously come apart (LOL) and then I wan't sure what I had!
Right now everything is a mess and I need to sit down and get things organized again. I do keep the P&G inserts intact, however. Many of the coupons in there are for products that I would buy only if there is a great sale, so I just file the whole insert
Mandy
I just started the filing system 2 months ago and this totally works for me. I sit down in front of the tv on Sunday night and prepare my store 'order', getting out the right coupons and sorting my list in terms of the store aisles. I know ahead of time how much I expect to save (and spend) and I am very strict about following my list and not getting off track. No more impulse buys for me this way.
Jennifer
I'm a clipper. I've tried both ways. Clipping is hard, but... I'm definitely a clipper.
kimmiep621
i like you are a clipper. i've been slacking on my coupons and i have missed so many deals because i don't have time to sort through my papers. i have to get strict and clip and organize the past 2 weeks worth before this sunday's paper. i need to go to store today and i'm not prepaired it sux
Christi D.
I'm a filer 🙂 Used to be a clipper though...
Sarina
I'm a filer. I can appreciate the frustration of not having a coupon for an unadvertised sale, but I struggle so hard to keep my lists organized let alone all the coupons. So for now, until I find that my organizational skills blossom, I'll stick with filing the inserts. 🙂
Jennifer Y.
I do both. I clip most of the inserts and then file away for future one-off needs when I get a tip. I've learned to clip ALL HBA coupons, though. There's always something on clearance at CVS--lol! Although, the longer I coupon, the more I see the need to clip the whole darn thing! Just not there yet.
I use regular 3-ring binder with baseball card inserts for organization. Still trying to work out a good system to keep all my inserts. I need a small filing cabinet or box!
fran jackson
I am basically a clipper. I clip high value coupons and ones I know I'll use. I usually don't waste time with the coupons that state buy 2 or 3 items to save $-they are a waste of time, unless you do use those products and don't have a high value coupon. If I'm buying 3 of the same items, then I want 3 coupons. I have my clipped coupons in 2 boxes (the plastic shoe boxes work great) separated in catagories that work for me. You can also use paper clips to clip multiples of one coupon. For the coupons that I don't clip, I use large binder clips to hold them together, separated by dates (I write the dates on the front with a magic marker). I still prefer clipping even though it does take more time. I waste time looking for an unclipped coupon, because I usually don't find that coupon anyway, since we all seem to get different coupons.
lee
I'm a clipper! After a long search i was able to find a box with a track in it so that i can file my clipped coupons just how we filed Walgreens ad tags when i worked there, except i use dif catagories. Works out great. I even took a photo and posted it on my blog.
Jenny
Definitely a clipper - generally products I use or good coupons for new ones, and done in front of the TV. I pop them into my little wallet-sized coupon holder, which usually lives in my bag. That way I've got a pretty good grasp of what I have. I tried filing, but I like having what I need at hand, and I have enough clutter in my house already!
Mindi
WOW! It's great to read everyone's comments! Being a clipper is hard when you have 3-20 copies of the inserts to deal with, and probably does waste some time....but it is what works for me!
Tonya
I've been way too busy to clip, and I just purged a bunch of coupons that I didn't even realize I had. I could have used a large number of them! I really need to find a new organization system.
Bethany
I'm a clipper. I staple all my insert pages that are alike together and clip away. I clip and file everything...just in case. I also don't leave the house without my coupon binder! My kids might ask for ice cream and I won't have my free ice dream coupons from Chick-fila!
Shan
I definitely am a clipper. I started trying to enter my inserts into a Google Doc instead of clipping and now I have at least a months worth of inserts that need to be gone through. My plan was to do the Google Doc entry and then clip them but I never got to the clipping part. It's a disaster. I was doing much better at just clipping and putting them into my organizer.