[Kristallovesmomof5]

I have been on here a while and have tired several ways to clip coupons. I was wondering how do you do it and whats your tip?




Any suggestions would be great as I am sure there is a bunch of newbies out there wondering the same thing.

[j4jac]

After all these years, I read a tip recently that someone used a ruler. They just lined up the ruler with the coupon on "tore" the coupon out. WOW>. it works great for me, but I don't have multiples soo.. I like it. Easier than the scissors.

[Kristallovesmomof5]

Originally Posted by j4jac

After all these years, I read a tip recently that someone used a ruler. They just lined up the ruler with the coupon on "tore" the coupon out. WOW>. it works great for me, but I don't have multiples soo.. I like it. Easier than the scissors.

Now See I would have never thought of a ruler.

[jfis2053]

When I cut large amounts of multipals, I match them all together and cut up to 10 at a time out. When I don't have as many I use a scrapbooking cutter. I never thought of a ruler, that is such a great idea!!

[Cricketm]

Now, I'm still pretty new at this (a year or so into it), but my tip is that i immediately cut out all the Q's of things that I KNOW I use all the time (silk milk, eggs, meats, etc) and file them.

The rest of the q's I leave in their flyers and mark them and store them by date. This way I don't spend unnecessary time cutting and filing q's that I may likely never use. HTH someone! -Cricket

[Kristallovesmomof5]

Originally Posted by Cricketm

Now, I'm still pretty new at this (a year or so into it), but my tip is that i immediately cut out all the Q's of things that I KNOW I use all the time (silk milk, eggs, meats, etc) and file them.

The rest of the q's I leave in their flyers and mark them and store them by date. This way I don't spend unnecessary time cutting and filing q's that I may likely never use. HTH someone! -Cricket

Do you file in a flie cabnet, expandable folder Or somthing else? Thanks

[Alexdur85]

Originally Posted by Cricketm

Now, I'm still pretty new at this (a year or so into it), but my tip is that i immediately cut out all the Q's of things that I KNOW I use all the time (silk milk, eggs, meats, etc) and file them.

The rest of the q's I leave in their flyers and mark them and store them by date. This way I don't spend unnecessary time cutting and filing q's that I may likely never use. HTH someone! -Cricket

I do this as well. But I have missed out on some deals that If I had that coupon I would have purchased.. but it's nothing that I can't live without.

I usually file it in a filing box. Mine is pretty torn up right now so I could use a new one..

[coupondiva55]

I used to clipped them all before, but now I just clip as I need them. It used to stress me out too...so that's why I do it as I need them now.

[dian2deal]

I am a devoted ruler clipper. I use a very thin metal ruler and have cut up to 10 inserts at one time although 5-6 is best. I just staple all like sheets at each coupon and then place the ruler tightly against the sheets and pull upward. This also works for IP although I limit it to 4 or so at a time.

[Kristallovesmomof5]

Originally Posted by coupondiva55

I used to clipped them all before, but now I just clip as I need them. It used to stress me out too...so that's why I do it as I need them now.

Do you use scissors.

[soccermom27]

I am new to this as well, two months under my belt, I used to just cut as needed and have this big stack of inserts, when u do it that way, when you go to the store and find a deal, then you don't have a coupon to match up with the product. Like today at target, Herbal essences and clearance for 1.48, could have got for .48 if I had my coupo0ns with me. Fortunately, I brought them with me and left them in the van. When I went back in, someone had already scooped them up. I was so frustrated that I came home, my husband and I sat at the table and cut them all and filed them in my coupon box. Won't leave home without them again.

[Cricketm]

Originally Posted by Kristallovesmomof5

Do you file in a flie cabnet, expandable folder Or somthing else? Thanks

I use a ring binder that I have filled with 3 pocket protectors (aka currency pocket). I bought a box of 100 off of amazon ... it was BY FAR the best tip I ever got for storing qs! Easy to access, any size q can be quickly slid in or out. I can stack them in any way I'd like to fit my needs. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! I keep these in my cool case-it binder i got at Sams a few months ago. (Love that too!) The binder goes in the car whenever I do. I have sections for Wags, Walmart, target, and regular groceries. And more.

Do I ever see deals that I have q's for at home? Yes. But not as often as you would think (I stay on these boards a lot and pull q's constantly as the deals pop up.) If there IS a great deal, I just make a note, pull the q's when i get home and make a note to remind me what or where, and usually make it back in the next day or two. I rarely miss a deal this way. And its worth the trade off of all the snipping and filing (which I don't mind ... but I HATE going through and pulling expireds! It just reminds me of all the wasted time I spent cutting and filing for nothing. But that's just me.) Everyone has to find their *own* groove....

HTH, Cricket

[Cricketm]

ps - Over time i have learned that certain items tend to go on sale for almost free or free or as MMs. I now clip those q's and keep them with my must-haves to be efficient. Always adapting....

[Kristallovesmomof5]

Originally Posted by Cricketm

I use a ring binder that I have filled with 3 pocket protectors (aka currency pocket). I bought a box of 100 off of amazon ... it was BY FAR the best tip I ever got for storing qs! Easy to access, any size q can be quickly slid in or out. I can stack them in any way I'd like to fit my needs. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! I keep these in my cool case-it binder i got at Sams a few months ago. (Love that too!) The binder goes in the car whenever I do. I have sections for Wags, Walmart, target, and regular groceries. And more.

Do I ever see deals that I have q's for at home? Yes. But not as often as you would think (I stay on these boards a lot and pull q's constantly as the deals pop up.) If there IS a great deal, I just make a note, pull the q's when i get home and make a note to remind me what or where, and usually make it back in the next day or two. I rarely miss a deal this way. And its worth the trade off of all the snipping and filing (which I don't mind ... but I HATE going through and pulling expireds! It just reminds me of all the wasted time I spent cutting and filing for nothing. But that's just me.) Everyone has to find their *own* groove....

HTH, Cricket

I use a binder myself. Do you file your inserts in a binder also?

[Cricketm]

No, I file my inserts one of those white rubbermaid baskets with the gray handles. It can hold at least 6 - 9 months' worth. It is VERY easy to go through my stash that way in a minimal amount of space.

[couponaddicted]

what I do, is lay the same like inset together, tear them apart at the seam. Then before I use my scissors I put the like one together with binder clips that I purchased for $1 at the Dollar Tree. In the pack them come in assorted sizes. Just make sure that the like ones are matched up together because just the other day, I made a mistake and end of cutting off coupons that I was going to use. That what I get for trying to catch up on my inserts late at night.....HTH

O, I forgot to mention that I do not cut out those P&G insert, because I have notice that sometimes, it seems like those coupons that P&G out are usually the same. So, what I do, is keep all those inserts in my binder or car, just in case I find a good deal

[martha8994]

I use scissors and I clip everything I get my hands on. I dont really like to spend money for coupons so I usually trade for them and I need all the coupons that I dont use to trade with. But I dont have millions of inserts to clip from. Usually just one or two.

[Barbara34]

Originally Posted by j4jac

After all these years, I read a tip recently that someone used a ruler. They just lined up the ruler with the coupon on "tore" the coupon out. WOW>. it works great for me, but I don't have multiples soo.. I like it. Easier than the scissors.

Primarily I use a ruler unless another one is too close, then I have to use the scissors. But a ruler is much faster. I also use a ruler on my IPs, even if it is only one, unless my scissors are on my desk instead.

[daygo22]

Scissors, because I can't find my Pampered Chef coupon cutter...LOL!

[fancy1]

I sit in the evening with a small cutting board and box knife, stack all like pages/inserts together and "slice" out the coupons. This keeps the multiples together, and then I staple the like coupons together. They all get filed in folders ie: dairy, cereal, paper prod etc. These files stand upright in a small milk crate that's easy to move around or set in the back of the car if I make store runs. I like it that way because I can keep copies of the store ads towards the back and they're not scattered around the tables.
There are very few that I don't clip, as most will be used or gifted to neighbors that will use them.

[yourock144]

I usually will only clip out coupons that I know I will use. I variate between scissors and one of those Scotch gift wrap cutters.

[preciousgirl1120]

I use scissors and only cut coupons that I know I use or will like to try. Then I file them all in the respected pages in my binder.

[applerama]

When I have more than a few, I staple the coupons and then clip them out. saves a LOT of time

[Kristallovesmomof5]

Grreat Tips

[hdcat]

I couldn't do the poll because my methods were not listed...I apologize ahead of time for making such a long post, but I tried to include as much info as I could.

How I 'clip' coupons really depends on how many copies of an insert I have (and whether its a P&G- those things are printed on thicker paper-). My tools of choice are from my former life of teaching at a quilting shop....a rotary cutting ruler, rotary cutting mat & rotary cutter (think pizza cutter with razor blade sharpness). I very, very rarely pick up my scissors, they just are not as efficient or as accurate, which was important for quilting as well as cutting coupons.

After I un-collate my inserts and staple through each coupon, I pick the best method based on the number of inserts & the thickness of the pages....and somewhat depending on the mood I'm in

For up to 15-20 inserts, I prefer to tear, using a rotary cutting ruler & mat. I find the thickness of the rotary cutting ruler (think thick plexiglass) & relative stiffness, plus the grippiness on the back helps hold the stack together better & tear more accurately. As does the size of ruler since I can put my entire left hand on it to hold it in place, just like I would when I cut with a rotary cutter. The grip of the rotary mat also helps holding everything together better. I tried using a few regular ruler (12"x1"), one all metal with a cork backing, another with only a metal edge, and I could use it for up to 10-12 inserts at a time...and not as easily or as neatly as I can with a wider & thicker rotary ruler (or even my 12"x1" rotary ruler). I use a couple different old rotary ruler, a 2 1/2"x12 1/2", a 6"x12" and even a 12"x1"; if I were to buy one for couponing, I would go with about a 4"x12" personally even if it was just for tearing coupons & not cutting.

If I have more then I can comfortable tear (15-20 up 60-about where my stapler gives out-), I rotary cut my coupons. I also use the rotary cutter to cut coupons apart that are very close together. I have several rotary cutters of various brands & sizes. My personal favorite for cutting coupons would be the Fiskars 45mm with the loop handle, as it lets me cut a lot of layers as once but is also ergonomically comfortable in your hand (and can be set up for right or left handed use). Most of the scrapbooking tools that use rotary cutting blades use the 28mm or 18mm blades, which are a lot smaller and won't let you cut through as many layers at once. Rotary blades are extremely sharp and will last a long time for cutting paper. In fact, if you know anyone who quilts, they probably have a stash of old rotary blades that are no longer good enough for cutting fabric but are still great for cutting paper...I know I have a lifetime supply myself .

BTW- one rule from quilting I try to follow with coupons is the part you want, in our case the coupon, is always under the ruler whenever I'm cutting or tearing. If I'm separating two close together coupons, then the one with most important part goes under the ruler, usually the bar code. The other rule you have to follow at all time when you are using a rotary cutter is that if you are not actively cutting then you need to engage the blade safety...no setting it down with an exposed blade or waving your hand hand around with the exposed blade either, okay