My Coupon Binder – The Categories & The Sub-Categories

My binder of choice: Case-It D185 4" D ring binder

Also see: Sources for the binder inserts (9 pocket and more)

Also see: Laura's Couponing and Refunding Hints & Tips plus Coupon Binder How-To


I had someone send me an email with this request and comment so I thought others might want to see this information as well if they are wanting to set up sub-categories or sub-labeled pockets within a section:

“I love your post to your blog about how to set up a coupon binder. I am new to couponing and am setting up my binder now. I have a request from you - I love the way you organize your "sub categories" - example: under dairy - eggs, sour cream, etc. Is there any way you could send me a list of the sub categories within each category? I have a label maker and plan to set it up like yours. I think that is so organized and will be easy to find what I need. I hope you possibly already have this list and it's not a lot of work for you. Photos of each page would be fine too if that's easier for you.
Thanks, in advance!
Ellen"

Ellen,


Here is one photo of a page in my binder that shows sub-categories:



My sections with the sub-categories are as follows:

• Store pages – these are 4 pocket pages I made using page protectors. I slipped in a piece of thin cardboard and then using a sewing machine I sewed down the middle and across the middle. Then used a craft knife to open the bottom pockets just under the sewn middle line on the front and back of the page. So there are 4 pockets on each side. I use the type pages to put my rainchecks in and coupons I know I am going to use at that store.
  • Store pages consist of the stores I have in my area such as:
  • Bi-Lo
  • CVS
  • Food Lion
  • Publix
  • Target
  • Kroger
  • etc. (these are alphabetized in my binder)

Here’s a photo of what I’m describing for the individual store pages with labeled pockets:

• Store cards – this page or two holds the extra store cards I have as most of them are either on my key ring or in dh’s wallet. I do not have 2 card accounts for any store. That is actually against many store policies and I have no need for an extra store card account as one card account gets the deals just fine. What I am talking about though is the extra card you may have from that one account. A store usually will give you two key tags and a wallet card. These pages hold the extra key tag or wallet card that dh doesn’t want to carry with him. I will hand them those when I give him a list and a set of coupons if he’s going to be near that particular store so he has no need to carry all the store cards with him.
• .
• Rebates & Refund Forms – this is a 2 page category and just holds the forms for rebates and refunds on items. Easier to carry them with me to see the requirements than to guess at what they are
• .
• Baby – this was a 2 page category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
  • Misc. Diapers
  • Misc. Wipes
  • Huggies Wipes
  • Huggies Diapers
  • Huggies GoodNights
  • Huggies Pull Ups
  • Pampers Easy Ups
  • Pamper Wipes
  • Pamper Diapers
  • another page was used for baby food, formula, etc. but I no longer use those so I removed the page and pass those coupons on to my daughter
  • .
• Baking – this is a 2 page category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
  • Vinegar
  • Baking Chips
  • Oils & Sprays
  • sugar
  • Spices
  • baking mixes
  • cookie mixes
  • cake mixes and icing
  • and there are empty pockets that I will put in coupons on yeast, cornstarch, etc. when I have them.
  • .
• Beverages – this is a 2 page category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
  • tea
  • juices
  • hot cocoa
  • water
  • coffee
  • soft drinks
  • empty pockets are used to put coupons in for things like koolaid, coffee creamers, etc.
  • .
• Canned – this is a 4 page category – Condiments are now in with this category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
    • pasta sauces
    • salsa
    • salad dressing
    • ketchup
    • mayo
    • mustard
    • peanut butter
    • jams & jellies
    • soups
    • marinades & hot sauces
    • canned meats (tuna, etc.)
    • canned vegetables
    • canned fruits
    • pickles and relishes
    • some of the above have two pockets to keep from ripping one pocket with too many coupons
      • there are empty pockets for misc. items like manwich, evaporated milk (although this could go into the baking section too)
      • .
• Cereals & Breakfast Items (cereals sorted by brand) – this is a 2 page category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
    • cereal bars
    • oatmeal
    • syrups
    • breakfast drinks
    • breakfast mixes
    • misc. brand cereals
    • kellogg’s brand cereals
    • General Mills cereals
    • Post Cereals
      • the cereal ones have 2 and some 3 pockets for those as there are usually a lot of those coupons
      • .
• Cleaning Supplies – this is a 4 page category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
    • dusting stuff
    • window cleaners
    • floor cleaners
    • toilet cleaners
    • shower cleaners
    • all purpose cleaners
    • dish soap
    • scrubbers
    • you could even make a pocket for dishwasher detergent and one for dishwasher rinse aids if you have a dishwasher
    • lysol spray as I usually have a few of those to make a separate pocket
    • fabric sprays
    • Airwick brand air fresheners and candles
    • Febreze brande air fresheners and candles
    • Glade Brand air fresheners and candles
      • some of the above have 2 and 3 pockets to accomodate the amount of coupons
      • .
• Dairy & Refrigerated – this is a 3 page category
  • sub-categories (in this case) labeled pockets are for:
    • 1 page is refrigerated drinks for items such as orange juice, teas, speciality milks like nesquik, hershey’s milkshakes, liquid coffee creamer, etc.
    • 1 page is actually a page protector I sewed down the middle and across and then cut the two bottom pockets open on the front for bigger coupons I sometimes get for organic valley, etc.
    • One of the pockets on the above page is for yogurt as I normally get quite a few coupons for yogurt
    • I also use one of the pockets to put refrigerated snacks in like the jello and pudding snacks
    • another page has sub-labeled pockets for:
      • cottage cheese
      • butter
      • sour cream
      • cheese
      • eggs
      • milk
    • of course there’s empty pockets to allow for other coupons
    • .
• Frozen Foods (with subsections) – 3 pages
  • sub-categories are:
    • one page is for frozen breakfast items & breads
    • one page is for frozen meals and appetizers
    • one page is for frozen desserts, ice cream, etc.
    • .
• Health & Beauty (with sub-sections)
  • This section has subsections and some of the sub-sections have labeled pockets (not all)
  • Feminine Care – I just try to keep like brand items in a pocket – all tampax tampons in one, all playtex tampons in another, kotex pads in another, kotex pantiliners in another, etc.
  • .
  • Deodorants – again with the like brand items in one pocket
  • .
  • Facial Care – again with the like brand items in one pocket
  • .
  • Hair Care – this one has sub-labeled pockets of:
    • shampoo
    • conditioner
    • anti-dandruff care
    • all in one (Shampoo & Conditioner together)
    • Stylers
    • you could also have a pocket or two for hair coloring items if you use those
    • for coupons that are good on any shampoo, conditoner, or styler, I just put those in a separate pocket
    • .
  • Lotions – again with the like brand items in one pocket
  • .
  • Makeup – again with the like brand items in one pocket – all Covergirl in one, All Maybelline in another, etc.
  • .
  • Oral Care – sub-labeled pockets for:
    • toothpaste
    • toothbrushes
    • mouthwash
    • dental floss
    • whiteners, etc.
    • some labels have two pockets for them
    • .
  • Razors, etc. – pockets for that brand razor, pockets for shave gels or lotions, etc.
  • .
  • Soap & Body Washes – again with the like brand items in one pocket
  • .
  • First aid
    • pocket for bandages
    • pocket for bandaids
    • pocket for metamucil, gas-x,fiber one, etc.
    • Prevacid – Zantac – Prilosec itmes
    • first aid washes
    • eye drops
    • and empty pockets for overflow or misc. coupons
    • .
  • Cold Meds
    • like brand items are together such as Tylenol, Advil, etc. in separate pockets
    • there is also a pocket for cough drops
    • pocket for blistex, chapstick, etc.
    • pocket for Sinex or other nasal spray
    • and unlabeled pockets for overflow or misc. coupons
    • .
  • Pain Relievers – separated by brands
  • .
  • Supplements & Vitamins – 2 pages for this one and are separated by brands
  • .
• Laundry Care
  • sub-labeled pockets for:
    • laundry detergent
    • dryer sheets
    • liquid softener
    • laundry boosters
    • stain removers
    • and there are empty pockets I use for overflows
    • .
• Meats & Deli
  • I really don’t have sub-labeled pockets for this but rather just keep like items together – you could label them this way though:
    • lunch meats
    • bacon
    • sausage
    • hot dogs
    • and other pockets could accomodate items that you find in the meat cases like the Hormel ready to heat and eat meals, etc. '
    • .
• Miscellaneous (this is for clothing, toys, non-grocery store like Jo-Ann’s, Michael’s , etc.) – usually take 3 pages for this one so I can keep it separated to see what I have
• .
• Paper & Plastic (with sub-labeled pockets) – 2 page category
  • facial tissue
  • napkins
  • cups
  • plates
  • plastic cutlery
  • bathroom wipes
  • toilet paper
  • paper towels
  • trash bags
  • plastic bags
  • plastic storage containers
  • plastic wrap
  • aluminum foil
  • wax paper or freezer paper (sometimes have to use two pockets for this one)
  • .
• Pasta & Rice
  • pasta uses 2 and sometimes 3 pockets
  • rice uses 2 and sometimes 3 pockets
  • I also keep the coupons for taco shells, tortillas, and such in this area too.
  • .
• Pets – Since we only have a couple of cats now, I keep only one page and have sub-labeled pockets for:
  • cat treats
  • dry cat food
  • wet cat food
  • and our cats are outside cats but I do sometimes have coupons for cat litter I keep for use on our icy steps in the winter… most times though I give these to a friend.
  • .
• Produce – just separated so I can see what I have – I do keep salad toppings here too like the Seasoned almonds, croutons, etc. and bagged salad coupons get kept in one pocket, etc.
  • I sometimes will put bread coupons in this section as it’s easier for me to just turn to that section when I enter the store as you are met with the produce there and some stores the bread is one aisle over – I don’t get many bread coupons though and used to put them in the Cereals & Breakfast section.
  • .
• Snacks & Candy – 2 page category with sub-labels for:
  • cookies
  • crackers
  • candy
  • nuts
  • chips
  • popcorn
  • .
• Restaurants -- easier for me to flip to the back of the binder is the only reason it's not in ABC order and I just keep the restaurant coupons separated in pockets so I can see what I have.

I hope that helps you Ellen in setting up your binder.



For others interested in setting up a Coupon Binder, here is the link to my how-to article: Laura's Couponing and Refunding Hints & Tips Plus Coupon Binder How-To


If you’re looking for a bigger binder or just a new one, check out my I got a new Binder for my Coupons! post to see the binder that replaced my old, worn out Mead binder I used for years. You can see how much smaller the old binder was here on this post: Comment from a Reader: Coupon Binder and BONUS: Woman's Day Article Featuring Me.