Why people don't use coupons...Part IV

For the past few weeks I have been sharing some of the reasons that people have given me that they don't use coupons. So far I have shared:

It takes too much time.

Store brands are cheaper than a name brand with a coupon.

I just don't know where to start.

This week I would like to talk about an excuse I hear a lot:

I'm just not that organized.

I would agree that it takes a certain amount of organization to be an avid couponer. There are so many different options from clipping all of your coupons and storing them to keeping your inserts intact. I actually do a little bit of both depending on how much time I have and what kind of mood I am in.

There are also a lot of tools to help you in the process:


Coupon Binders - this is what I currently use. I actually was using a box/envelope system then I won my coupon binder during a giveaway. I love it! If you think this system will work for you, my fellow blogger Lisa sells them here.

Fellow Bloggers - these are my biggest resource. They will share what is on sale, what coupon goes with it, and where to get the coupon (insert with date, a printable link, etc.). This along with keeping inserts whole and by date makes for quick planning.

I really feel that the bottom line with couponing is that you can do as much or as little as you want. As you can see from my shopping trips, I don't use a coupon for every purchase, I don't even get the very best deal with everything I buy. I just pay attention, use other blogs to get ideas, look at the ads to get some of my own ideas and go shopping while trying to stay within budget.

It is important that you don't stress out - and that you do what works best for you. I literally live in the middle of everything in Boise, Idaho. Within 5 miles of my house there is a Walmart, 3 (or 4) Walgreen's, a Rite Aid, 2 (or 3) Albertson's, 2 Wincos, 2 Fred Meyer, and a K-Mart. I can drive to every one and still not use too much gas (not that I would). It works for me to shop several stores, but that doesn't work for everyone. My coupon binder system works great for me, but might drive others crazy.

I promise. You don't have to be the most organized person on earth to coupon. If you did, I wouldn't be doing it!