Building a coupon binder: Part Deux

Sorry I haven't typed in a while, working full time and supporting a family doesn't always give you a free moment but I only there are a few people who read this thing and they are all family so on wards and upwards.

So back to building a coupon binder. First of all I spent maybe $3 on the thing so far (maybe more in the future but I am working on this slowly), I got a sports card binder at Target, I got the thing for free with gift cards I got from purchases I had already made.  The binder is has a little more padding on it so it will help hold up better.  I strongly recommend getting a bigger binder, the smaller ones can fill up quick, the sports cards ones usually start at least 2 1/2 inches.  I also like to have some tools in my binder but more on that later.

I picked this up at my local Target, normal retail value at $14.99 I got free with gift cards

Another reason I picked this binder because I wanted the sport cards holder sheets (Tip: If your local Walmart, Target or any other big name store does not have them {check near the sports cards} then check your local collectors shop).

Basic sport card holder sheet has 9 spaces

The sheets are really good and splitting your coupons and allowing you to see what you have instead of flipping the all the coupons and risking having them stick together.  One thing that I have noticed is that not all coupons fit nicely in them like sports cards.  First I put the taller coupons on the bottom and the one ones that are just too wide for the holders I fold them so that I can see the product and value of the discount.

A page from my coupon binder

The next part that I like is basic sheet protectors.  I had these laying around from my old college days and helping my oldest son's science fair project (he got a superior rating but I don't think my sheet holders helped that much).

Standard sheet protect usually comes in packs of 30 or so

There are several uses I have for these.  First I use them to hold the weekly ads for the stores I like to go to.  The second use I have for them is to hold the sheets of preloaded coupons on my store loyalty cards.  I tried writing them down but I lost track of what I had and missed out on bunch of savings.  The other use I have so far for them is that I'm mapping out my grocery store, the maps are still a work in progress.
I also have page dividers,  I keep all the stores separated and place which coupons I will use in that store so that it's not a longer wait at the check out.  I have solid white ones for the stores now but I will ad color ones in the future to divide the coupons into departments. 

I use my label maker for the stores

The final tools I have for the binder is a pencil pouch, I got this from my son who has a new one every year.  I keep a few pens, a pair of small scissors(for cutting coupons) and my loyalty cards(I also have key flops for them as well). 

The pouches are really keep during the back to school sales

I also keep some loose notebook paper to make notes as I shop.  There aren't always notes but it's better to be prepared. 

In closing, this is not the end of my binder project.  There will be updates as I learn what works better for me and I will pass it on.  I did get some of my ideas from watching Extreme Couponers which had it's season's finale not too long ago.  Next time I will talk about where to get extra coupons from newspapers and online.