Eco-friendly coupon organization?

alexia598 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009, 06:19 PM

HELP! I've outgrown my little coupon binder. I've had it for years, but it's really stuffed to the gills and hard to organize. I know a lot of people use the binder method, but I'm not interested in buying the vinyl sheets to fill it. They're just nasty and stinky. I've used paper envelopes in the past (paper cuts -- ouch). So I want to hear from you Earth-conscious couponers... what do you you haul your coupons around in?

Thanks!

purplemoon2008 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009, 10:23 PM

I

Quote:

know a lot of people use the binder method, but I'm not interested in buying the vinyl sheets to fill it. They're just nasty and stinky.

Guilty as charged

. I'm REALLY as eco-friendly as the next person, however, I couldn't deal with any other organizational method for my coupons. That is, if I wanted to USE them

. It has to be neat and orderly for me. I use the those vinyl sheets to fill my binder and they were so great for me. I've had my binder for about 1-1/2 years and haven't had to replace ANYTHING. It's durable, easy to use and no paper cuts

.

ocean_brez · #3 (**permalink**) 11-18-2009, 12:04 AM

I use the box method. It is a $3+ toolbox that I found in the fishing department at Walmart. It has dividers made out of the cardboard from cereal and pastry boxes and has subsections divided by index cards. It ain't pretty, but it works for me.

purplemoon2008 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-18-2009, 12:39 AM

Have you ever DROPPED it?? I tried a similar method once and spilled it one too many times! lol! I love my zippered binder...even dropping it, the coupons stay pretty much inside their own pouch:~)

kristen.c · #5 (**permalink**) 11-18-2009, 01:10 AM

I use a long flexible plastic check file to organize mine. I really want to pattern one out of cloth with a zipper, but I haven't had the time or energy to tackle a project like that yet.

ocean_brez · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplemoon2008

Have you ever DROPPED it?? I tried a similar method once and spilled it one too many times! lol! I love my zippered binder...even dropping it, the coupons stay pretty much inside their own pouch:~)

I've knocked it over a few times without any problems. The only real issues with my box was when I forgot to latch it and the contents started to fall out when I lifted it up. That has only happened twice, once in the shopping cart and once in my truck. 2x in 4 years is pretty good if you ask me.

I briefly, and I mean briefly, tried the binder method. It was too complicated for me to keep organized (I organize by category and then A-Z by within these categories) and too visually stimulating. Flipping thru each page was a mental blah and it was just too much as I could not find a way to wrap my brain around it. Although I love looking at and going gah over other couponers binders, it just isn't for me yet.

purplemoon2008 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

I've knocked it over a few times without any problems. The only real issues with my box was when I forgot to latch it and the contents started to fall out when I lifted it up. That has only happened twice, once in the shopping cart and once in my truck. 2x in 4 years is pretty good if you ask me.

Not too bad at all

! I'm a klutz, so mine used to drop CONSTANTLY! DH says we need buy wooden dishes

!

Quote:

I briefly, and I mean briefly, tried the binder method. It was too complicated for me to keep organized (I organize by category and then A-Z by within these categories) and too visually stimulating. Flipping thru each page was a mental blah and it was just too much as I could not find a way to wrap my brain around it. Although I love looking at and going gah over other couponers binders, it just isn't for me yet.

lol! Had to laugh when I read this!! I love the "visually stimulating"!! I'm a para and I hear that all the time at school! I get it ~ it wasn't like that for me, but I can certainly see how it COULD be. I have mine broken down by categories (sort of within categories) as well. I put mine (or at least I *try* to) in order by exp. date (soonest first). That doesn't always happen and I just end up taking out the bunch and flipping through when I'm making my list. I'm glad our systems work for us!

OHeather · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 02:54 PM

I also use a binder with the photo pages. It's not the best option for me, but it's what is working at the moment. I don't think I'll ever find the perfect solution for my crazy brain.