There are two basic ways to organize your insert coupons. Choose the method that best fits your style, or create a variation that utilizes pieces of both methods.
Method 1: You will not clip any coupons until right before you go to the grocery store. You will simply file your coupons away each week, not to be pulled until the Current Deals List (or another similar program you are using) says you need a coupon from a certain insert for your shopping trip that week. This is the simplest, most time efficient way to use & organize coupons. The instructions for this method are listed below.
Method 2: You will clip your coupons when you get them. You will file them by category. You will pull the coupons the Current Deals List (or another similar program you are using) says you need each week, but you will also take all the coupons with you to the grocery store. In this way, you will be able to take advantage of any unadvertised sales you may find. This method of coupon clipping will take more time and work. Since we prefer Method #1, we do not provide a detailed explanation of this method here. However, you can find a great example here.

Instructions for Method #1:
Step 1: Buy a mini file folder. Label a section for each store that you plan on shopping at. Put a couple of 3x5 cards in each section. Write “Not Used” on one other section. You can use envelopes instead if you'd like.

Step 2: Each week that you get inserts, do the following:
(1) Write the date on the front of each insert that comes with your paper.
(2) Write the same date on the top of an empty envelope.

Step 3: File your inserts by date in a large file box or cabinet. Keep each envelope at the front of all the inserts for that date. Make sure you can see the date on the envelope. This envelope has two purposes: (1) It will help you separate weeks instead of just months, making your coupons easier to find; (2) You can place coupons that you clip, but don't use, back in the envelope making them easy to find later (b/c the store was out of that item).

Step 4: If you want to use Internet Printable coupons and you are using the Weekly Tools, visit Printable Coupons & Deals daily if possible, but at least 2-3 times a week. Print any coupons for products you think you would buy if they were on sale at a 5* level with a coupon. File them with that week's Sunday newspaper inserts coupons.

Note: The reason we suggest visiting Printable Coupons & Deals often is because printable coupons have print limits. This is different than the limit of 2 per computer. For example, if a coupon has a print limit of 10,000, once it has been printed 10,000 times, it will be removed from the web. Popular coupons go fast...sometimes they are gone within a few hours. So, although you could try to wait until the Current Deals list tells you to use a coupon from her site, then go, find it on her site and print it, it is very likely it will no longer be available to print.

Step 4: Plan a Shopping Trip. If you are using the Current Deals List, it will print a list titled "Coupons to clip for this shopping trip." The coupons will be listed according to where they can be found by the following code: The date the coupon came with the Sunday paper followed by the initials of the insert. For example, 10/12 SS is the October 12th issue of the Smart Source coupon insert. 01/04 RP is the Jan 4th issue of the Red Plum insert. The coupons printed from Printable Coupons & Deals will have the initials PCD.

Note: occasionally the coupons found in the Sunday paper inserts will vary between newspapers. They may have a slightly different value or a coupon may be included in one paper and not in another. This is rare, but it does happen.

Step 9: When you get home, open your “not-used” section. Using the same coupon list you used earlier, re-file those coupons into the envelope that corresponds to the date of the insert you clipped that coupon from. This way, you will still be able to find the coupon if you need it in the future.

Variations on the two methods:
1. Create just a few extra categories in your small file folder for things you buy a lot of frequently. For example, you could create a Baby, Pet, Soda & Juice, or Cereal category. Glance through the inserts each week and clip just those coupons (or you could periodically use the Coupon List to look up those categories). Place them in your mini file folder. This way, you will have coupons for your most important items at the store with you in order to take advantage of any unadvertised sales you may find.
2. Each week, when you get your inserts, clip only coupons for items you are likely to use. File these by category as described in method #2, only use a small file folder, envelope, or a mini CD case. Take just these coupons with you to the store (in addition to the coupons you already know you need for that week’s shopping trip in your mini file). File the rest of the insert away as described in method #1.
2. Follow Method #1, but bring your large coupon file to the store with you. You can even leave it in the car if you'd like. Each week, before you go shopping, print the entire Coupon List sorted by category. If you find an unadvertised deal, you can check the list to see if there is a corresponding coupon. If so, write it down. Finish your planned transaction(s), then go to your car and clip the coupons you need for the unadvertised deals. Return to the store and purchase those items.