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Coupon Organization and Lingo

Whether you are new to couponing or need a refresher, here are some tips for coupon organization and lingo to help you Coupon Smartly.

First we talked about How To Find Coupons and now we are going to talk about Organizing Coupons and Coupon Lingo! It can be confusing at first, but don’t let the deter you.

coupon organization - guide to using coupons

Coupon Organization and Coupon Lingo

Coupon Organization Methods

It doesn’t matter what you use to organize your coupons, but coupon organization is a must to save time and money at the store. If you don’t, you will be overwhelmed before you start.

There are a few different ways you can organize your coupons. If you have a way that works for you that isn’t listed, I would love for you to leave a comment and share!

Envelopes: If you are just starting out, envelopes are great for coupon organization. Have a separate envelope each store you shop at or for different types of items. As your coupon stash grows you may want to upgrade to one of the options below.

Filers: Coupon filers, like these on Amazon.com, come with separate compartments so you can easily organize by type of coupon, store, date, or whatever works best for you. You can find these for as little as $1.00 in the Target Dollar bins on occasion. This is how I started to organize my coupons. I carried one for groceries, one for baby/kids products, and one for everything else.

Binders: For those of you who watched episodes of TLC’s Couponing Extreme you are familiar with coupon binders. This can house LOTS of coupons and makes them more visible. This coupon organization method comes in handy for those that buy lots of papers and clip several of the same coupon.

I currently use a binder and LOVE it! It’s easy to go through at the store, and it’s easy to clean out. When you use a coupon binder, you will need sleeves to hold all the coupons. Below are some of my favorites.

 Here are some important tips to remember when keeping coupons organized:

  • Out with the old and in with the new. Pick a certain day to clip coupons and when you put those new ones in your filer/binder, take out the expired ones.
  • If there are high value, free, or hot coupons that you want to make sure you use, keep them up front.
  • Find a system that works for you. Whether you organize by type of item, store, date, etc. Make sure it is a system that works for the way you shop.

How do you keep your coupons organized? Do you have any tips you would like to share?

Coupon Lingo

There are lots of coupon abbreviations and nicknames when it comes to talking about coupons. Here is a list of some of the most popular coupon lingo:

  • Blinkies: The machines you see at stores attached to a shelf. They have a blinking light and spit out coupons for a specific product.
  • B&M: Brick & Mortar- Meaning in-store only, not available online
  • BOGO/B1G1: Buy One, Get One
  • Catalina: Coupons that print from the register at checkout.
  • ECB: Extra Care Bucks that are earned at CVS Stores for certain purchases.
  • MFG: Manufacturers Coupon
  • MIR: Mail in Rebate
  • OOP: Out of Pocket- Generally used when explaining what a deal will cost you.
  • Peelies: These are coupons that you find on a package at the store.
  • RP: Red Plum Newspaper Coupon Insert
  • RR: Register Reward- These are reward vouchers that print out at Walgreens for certain purchases.
  • SS: Smart Source Newspaper Coupon Insert
  • Stack/Stack-able: Using a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon together for one item.
  • WYB: When you buy- Referring to a deal you get that requires the purchase of a specific product.
  • YMMV: Your Market May Vary – deals that vary by region will have this label.

Guide to Using Coupons:

Part 1: How to Find Coupons
Part 2: The post you are reading
Part 3: How to Start a Coupon Train

Guide to Using Coupons Part 2: How to Start a Coupon Train

For more advice on saving money, check out my other posts: