I've decided to put my coupon binder back together! I was browsing through Rite Aid today and I found a BUNCH of clearanced items! If only I'd had my coupons organized in Binder style, I would have brought home a whole lot of stuff for really cheap! Well, I did bring home a whole lot of stuff for cheap, just nothing I would have had coupons for.
I found a lot of clearanced items, some of which were cleared off the shelves already. I always check the makeup sections because I've gotten about 20 bottles of nail polish and lip gloss in the past month and probably have paid no more than $5 for most of it. There are a LOT of clearance tags for 75% off items that are $4 and under. Today, I found Rimmel nail polish for .99 each (regular price 3.99), BOD men's body spray for .24 each (good stocking stuffers!), and nail growth formula for $1.61 (a bit more expensive than the other items, but my nails keep breaking and it was better than paying nearly $7 for this somewhere else!)
Things I noticed around the store were feminine products (Always and Carefree pads, which were already cleared out, and OB Tampons) 75% off, Garnier dandruff shampoo 50% off, select Rimmel nail polish, lip gloss/sticks, and lip liners. There were also a variety of nail polish brands with markdowns, but most of the REALLY cheap ones were cleaned out. However, $2 for an $8 bottle of nail polish might be worth it! There were some Sally Hansen nail polishes clearanced as well, and some Sally Hansen skincare products.
So, it's time to start carrying EVERY coupon I have with me everywhere I go! Maybe you should consider investing in a coupon binder system as well! As soon as I get the stuff to put mine together, I will post a blog so you can see how mine is made, and how I have it organized.
Showing posts with label organizing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organizing. Show all posts
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Cutting the Coupon Clutter
So, you've started out on your couponing adventure. You've been working the sales, buying your newspapers, getting all kinds of good deals... now, what do you do with all of those other coupons you haven't used yet? You can't leave them scattered on the kitchen table (I mean, you COULD just eat right on top of them, but who wants to risk a spill and ruin those good coupons? Or.... not.)
There are two main methods for organizing. First, I would like to share with you my personal preference, for the time being.
The Filing System
I spent an hour or so yesterday gathering up all of the coupon insert strays that had been placed on shelves, in my desk, on top of the microwave, on the piano... ya, it's been coupon chaos around here. I needed to feel like I am in control of my house again, and after furiously finding deals for everyone for the last few weeks, my home has been seriously suffering. So, everything got put back where it belongs, but there was no place for the coupons. So, while cleaning out my hall closet to make room for new shelves, I found a small pink crate that I had purchased specifically for my coupon storage a long time ago, and figured I would finally get around to making use of it!
My crate holds hanging files, and I tabbed each file, but didn't write on the actual labels. Instead, I used a dry erase marker to write the flier dates on the outside of the plastic tab. This way, I can erase them and reuse them when all of the coupons in those inserts have expired and I no longer need them. Now, I have a simple organization for all of my coupons, so when I search on the coupon database (here), and it tells me that there is a coupon in a specific insert that came out on a specific date, I can go right to that file, pull it out, and find the flier the coupon is located in. This is going to make my life easier because now, as soon as I get my inserts, they will be sorted into like inserts, then filed into these folders.
This crate was about $5 at Walmart during a back to school sale a couple of years back, and the hanging files I think were about $10, but I bought a large box of them, and they may have smaller boxes at bigger stores with more stock. It's an investment for sure, but will make your life much easier!
The Binder
Another method of organizing, which I have used in the past but have a hard time keeping up on, is a coupon binder. A lot of people like to use this method because it allows you to keep all of your coupons with you when you shop, so you never miss an opportunity to get a great deal. Many stores have clearance sections that you can find amazing things for already cheap prices, and a coupon can often make these items free or pretty close to it.
A binder is a relatively easy concept. Just clip ALL of your coupons (whether you think you would use them or not), and organize them into a simple 3 ring binder. I used baseball card holders, and tucked all of my like coupons into each slot. The clear plastic sheets have about 9 pockets per side (3x3) and allow you to see what coupons are in each slot. If you organize your coupons into categories, you can easily flip to that category to find out if you have a coupon for an item that is on sale or clearance, and could walk out of the store with an unexpected freebie. I found this was slightly high maintenance, but I definitely did find some amazing deals using my binder, and may consider going back to this method again, once I get better at this again.
Another bonus to having a coupon binder is that you can be well prepared for any coupon trip. All coupons are stored right in the same place. Many binders have storage in the front for things like pens and a calculator, which are vital tools when shopping and figuring on the fly. You can also keep a notebook with your shopping lists hooked right into the binder so there are no surprises when you get to the store (I have misplaced my shopping lists many times and it can cause a major meltdown!) You can also keep extra envelopes tucked inside so when you find a good deal, the coupons you will use can be taken out and held in a safe place until you get to the checkout.
Whichever method you choose will definitely make life a lot easier for you. I know that chopped up bits of paper all over your house can be discouraging and lead to frustration. I don't want anyone giving up because they just can't take the clutter! Keep everything organized and it will make it so much easier for you to plan your trips and reap the rewards!
There are two main methods for organizing. First, I would like to share with you my personal preference, for the time being.
The Filing System
I spent an hour or so yesterday gathering up all of the coupon insert strays that had been placed on shelves, in my desk, on top of the microwave, on the piano... ya, it's been coupon chaos around here. I needed to feel like I am in control of my house again, and after furiously finding deals for everyone for the last few weeks, my home has been seriously suffering. So, everything got put back where it belongs, but there was no place for the coupons. So, while cleaning out my hall closet to make room for new shelves, I found a small pink crate that I had purchased specifically for my coupon storage a long time ago, and figured I would finally get around to making use of it!
My crate holds hanging files, and I tabbed each file, but didn't write on the actual labels. Instead, I used a dry erase marker to write the flier dates on the outside of the plastic tab. This way, I can erase them and reuse them when all of the coupons in those inserts have expired and I no longer need them. Now, I have a simple organization for all of my coupons, so when I search on the coupon database (here), and it tells me that there is a coupon in a specific insert that came out on a specific date, I can go right to that file, pull it out, and find the flier the coupon is located in. This is going to make my life easier because now, as soon as I get my inserts, they will be sorted into like inserts, then filed into these folders.
The Binder
Another method of organizing, which I have used in the past but have a hard time keeping up on, is a coupon binder. A lot of people like to use this method because it allows you to keep all of your coupons with you when you shop, so you never miss an opportunity to get a great deal. Many stores have clearance sections that you can find amazing things for already cheap prices, and a coupon can often make these items free or pretty close to it.
A binder is a relatively easy concept. Just clip ALL of your coupons (whether you think you would use them or not), and organize them into a simple 3 ring binder. I used baseball card holders, and tucked all of my like coupons into each slot. The clear plastic sheets have about 9 pockets per side (3x3) and allow you to see what coupons are in each slot. If you organize your coupons into categories, you can easily flip to that category to find out if you have a coupon for an item that is on sale or clearance, and could walk out of the store with an unexpected freebie. I found this was slightly high maintenance, but I definitely did find some amazing deals using my binder, and may consider going back to this method again, once I get better at this again.
Another bonus to having a coupon binder is that you can be well prepared for any coupon trip. All coupons are stored right in the same place. Many binders have storage in the front for things like pens and a calculator, which are vital tools when shopping and figuring on the fly. You can also keep a notebook with your shopping lists hooked right into the binder so there are no surprises when you get to the store (I have misplaced my shopping lists many times and it can cause a major meltdown!) You can also keep extra envelopes tucked inside so when you find a good deal, the coupons you will use can be taken out and held in a safe place until you get to the checkout.
Whichever method you choose will definitely make life a lot easier for you. I know that chopped up bits of paper all over your house can be discouraging and lead to frustration. I don't want anyone giving up because they just can't take the clutter! Keep everything organized and it will make it so much easier for you to plan your trips and reap the rewards!
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