My (almost) finished coupon binder!

I've talked about my coupon binder before while it was quite the work-in-progress.  I am just about finished with it. 

I need to add some more pocket pages to it and finish clipping all my coupon inserts.  I also need some more divider tabs.

But it's definitely more functional than it was a few weeks ago.

Here's more details:

New Avery Office Products Review

 I received a goody bag (box) of new Avery products to try out.

I immediately went for the Clear Label Index Maker Dividers because I've been working on my coupon binder and needed dividers for it.

Organizing your Coupons: Coupon Binders

I am ALL about my coupon binder now!  A year ago I didn't think I would use a binder but now I love it!  I have a Case-It Binder that I bought second-hand.  It's awesome!  It has two sets of 3 rings.  It have plenty of pockets and it came with folders.  I use the folders to store my receipts by month and rebate forms that I want to use.  And it zips up completely!  Love that feature.  Mine also had a carrying strap but it broke.  :(

Here are some Case It binders from Amazon.  They are a bit pricey but you want to get a good one.  Just a cheap plastic 3 ring binder is not going to hold up.  It doesn't have pockets to hold pens, calculators and scissors (which are necessary binder items!)  Also, since it doesn't zip, you're coupons aren't safe from, say, dropping your binder in a puddle while loading groceries on a rainy day.

I think the second one is most like the one I have.

  
 

CSN Stores Review and $20 giveaway!

I LOVE CSN Stores!  And I love being a CSN Stores preferred blogger!

I actually had a hard time this time deciding what to get.  When I finally settled on the Fisher Price Froggy Friend Potty I was disappointed to find that you can only buy it in sets of 2 from CSN.  Well, I don't need two and certainly don't want to pay $35 to get two of them when I only need one.

So....I had to think of something else....

New Years Resolution - Be A Better Couponer Part 1: Get organized!!

Yes, couponing is a lot of work.  I won't lie to you.  And that's the excuse most people use when it comes to using coupons.   It's too much work.  But to me, work = pay.  So let's look at how much coupons "pay" you.  I cut our monthly budget $300-$400 a month when I started seriously couponing (I used to just be a "casual couponer").  So I basically get paid $300-$400 a month to coupon.  Sounds to me like the "work" is worth it!  :)))

So, if your new years resolution is to be a better couponer, the first thing you need to do is organize your coupons!

The easiest way to organize your coupons is a small "coupon-sized" accordion file.  This is good for just starting out.  Eventually, you'll outgrow your accordian file as you begin to amass large amounts of coupons.  (I'll talk about coupon binders later...)

But, to begin with - let's talk accordian files.

Most of them come with either tabbed index cards or they have the plastic slots with pieces of paper to write on and insert.  You'll want to organize your coupons by category.  Some examples are:
Baby
Baking
Beauty
Beverages
Breakfast
Canned Goods
Condiments/Sauces/Spices/etc.
Cleaning Supplies
Dairy
Dry Goods
Frozen Foods
Meats
Medicine
Paper Products
Toiletries/Hygiene

You can modify as needed.

Now, with an accordion file there isn't much "organization" you can do past inserting the labels.  Each coupon goes behind the label for which it is categorized.  You can keep them sorted within each category by expiration date if you wish.  Or you can group like brands together.  (for example, under breakfast have all the Kellogg's cereal coupons together and all the General Mills cereal coupons together).  This may help you when you are looking for a particular coupon.

So pick up a coupon organizer (I had a plastic one I really liked that cost less than $4 from Walmart in the office supply section) and get organized!

Just know that once you get the hang of this, you're going to want to upgrade to a binder.  But don't overwhelm yourself just yet!  :)))

Happy couponing!

Do all your inserts still have valid coupons?

I organize my coupons by insert.  I keep the inserts intact and file them in folders by date.  That's why all blog sites will list "item - price - coupon (insert)" so you can go right to the insert that the coupon is found in.  Or if a product is on sale or there is something I need to get, I can check CouponTom.com to see if there is a coupon out on that product and what insert it's in.

But sometimes my filing system gets backed up with inserts that aren't good anymore because all the coupons are expired.  Every so often I have to thumb through my oldest inserts to see if it's still good anymore.

But I won't have to do that anymore because I found a list that tells you which inserts still have valid coupons in it!  (If the insert isn't on the list, you can throw it away!)  Click on each insert's date and it will tell WHICH coupons are still valid and which are expired!\

Check it out at Coupon Tom today!