Remember how I said I was thinking about trying a new coupon organization system?
I was considering switching from the coupon box system I’ve used for almost ten years, to leaving my inserts whole and only clipping the coupons I’d need that week as I planned my grocery list. I was hoping this would save me effort and be more efficient. And was I ever wrong.
I took the plunge and tried it–for almost six weeks. And I think I can safely say it was a failed experiment. I found it to be more frustrating than anything.
When I clip and file the coupons in my coupon box, I have a sort of mental file in my head at all times of what coupons I have. When I didn’t clip them, I had no idea. I’d see an item in the sales flier that I guessed there might be a coupon out for, but then I didn’t know whether or not there was a coupon for it and I’d have to look online to find out or shuffle through six weeks’ worth of coupon inserts–which is not practical or efficient. Even if I knew exactly what insert it should be in, I still struggled to find the coupon.
Countless times, I was at the store and would see something on sale that I was sure I probably had a coupon for, but I didn’t have my coupons filed in my box like usual so I couldn’t take a quick look. And then I’d find myself feeling disorganized and out-of-sorts for not being able to pull out my coupon box and adeptly fish out the prized coupon.
So, yes, I tried the filing-your-inserts method and decided once and for all, it’s not for me. I’m sure it works great for some, but I found that after years of doing something a certain way when it comes to coupons, it’s pretty impossible for me to change.
I’m spending the next few days clipping and sorting and whipping my coupon box back into shape. Deals and unadvertised deals, here I come!