It's funny that when we moved into our new house eight weeks ago, my husband and I never thought we would be fighting over the same room in the house...the GARAGE! He wants to put "guy" stuff in there but, I have been using it for homeschooling, my office, and couponing! I tried to coupon at the kitchen table, the homeschool table, my desk, the living room floor, but no, I decided I needed a space dedicated JUST to couponing. So, I set up a rectangle fold out table that is out of the way in the garage, never has to be cleared off and is just for myself and my new barcoded friends.
However, since I get more than one newspaper every week, I needed a little something more. SO, I turned to a favorite organizer to help me out, the shoe organizer! I use these for everything EXCEPT organizing shoes. With more than one newspaper every seven days, I need to make sure I am on top of things. After all, a coupon isn't worth my time and trouble if it is expired now is it? But I am just now getting my coupon binder organized so I don't won't to go throwing coupons anywhere in there. My family which includes two kiddos aged 10 and seven, are now on board to help by using the shoe organizer because NO ONE is allowed to touch my coupon binder except me!
I hung the shoe organizer by my coupon table and when coupons are cut out they are placed in the corresponding pocket that I have labeled by category on the shoe organizer. The hubby and kiddos are now more willing to help me clip coupons if they know where to put them because I won't let them put them in my binder. The reason for that is simple, I re-write the expiration date on the coupon (don't write over anything!) so I can see it more clearly while in the store and I know if I have duplicates and I might file let's say coffee coupons with cereals (the breakfast aisle) whereas, my hubby might think beverages. So, you get my point.
A separate couponing space, a shoe organizer and a zip-up binder with baseball card plastic pages & some dividers are making this adventure a reality now. And yes, so far it is working. Last week I made my first serious grocery store trip with my coupons. My total was $260 and after the cashier scanned my coupons, my total was only $139. I don't think I will be featured on TLC' "Extreme Couponing" anytime soon, but its a good start and my small stockpile and being a good steward of the money is something that makes my heart beam with joy. Who knew later in the week, my husband would finally get his job request of a year and a half honored and he would be able to work locally after over three years on the road! We were able to celebrate his unexpected homecoming for the joyous occasion that it was, rather than fretting over the pay-cut and having just purchased a new home, thanks to my coupons!
~Clarissa
P.S. If you aren't ready for full-time couponing, make sure you at least check out www.couponmom.com as a starting point. She also has tutorials on YouTube and a great book over at Amazon. Her system is hassle free for super busy people and very user friendly. Saving a little or a lot is always better than saving none!
