The Issue:
The 3-Ring holes are torn and my pages fall out!
Well I have mentioned keeping them in a binder (zippered) in the lovely plastic sheets usually used for photos or sports cards. But these were not designed to be flipped, stuffed and handled so frequently. The 3-ring holes tear quickly from the constant flipping of the pages. Now what good are a bunch of pages that fall out of the binder every time you go to look for your coupons?
Enter duct tape. Yes-and now thanks to some very creative person or persons-we now have duct tape that is hip, stylish and/or all snazzy with designs for your taping needs. I bought (of course with a 40% off coupon at Joanns) a Hawaiian style one to secure up my ripped up pages. I had already had these pages, so they were somewhat stressed to begin with, and then from the wad of coupons and my use they were tearing at an alarming rate! I needed something very strong and durable-the duct tape was the perfect solution.
yes, I had to fuzz out all the bar codes
What about those printed coupons I have-they are huge and
I don't want to mix them with the insert coupons?
Since I began seriously couponing-the printed [via online] coupons have always been kept separate. I put them in envelopes labeled by general categories. These expire a lot quicker than most insert coupons and they are generally a lot larger too-so it just made sense. But that got old real fast....flipping thru those trying to see what I had. I finally found a lovely solution at Michaels and only because the clerk was slow. For once it was a good thing. As I patiently waited-I looked about and saw behind me on the scrapbook end cap [the shelves at the end of the isle] a display of smaller-sized scrapbook supplies [insert stars, music and glassy eyes] where this two-pocket, clear-paged doodad beckoned me. Mind you these are not full size like the sports page inserts but are 8.5" x 6.5" (not including the 3-ring part). Problem? I didn't have a binder for 'em. Or did I?
OK so it hangs out over the edge.
Not pretty but efficient.
I do not pay full price unless absolutely necessary (oh and yes-I used a 40% off coupon I hadn't used to buy the pages)...so I didn't want to purchase a binder right now since it is not Back-to-School time. Those babies are full price right this time of year, and man do they over charge for those! I also wasn't too sure they would work since I didn't have any coupons on me to visually see if they would fit. I bought one packet. I wanted to be cautiously optimistic they would work before even thinking of going on a binder purchase spree. Of which I have yet to do. Waiting for August to do that.
I thought I took a pic of the pages, but cannot
find it right now. Will get the name brand for ya soon.
When I got home, I found that yes, they would fit if I clipped them very close to the edge of the coupon (or just stuff those puppies in) and lo-and behold they have a lovely home til I pull them to save money! I had a smaller 3-ring binder from my Stampin'Up! days. Well almost-it isn't as 'fat' as it needs to be. I am not picky and it will work for now. So I typed up a cute label, put my duct tape on and punched out the holes. I also cut up some old, and kinda ugly in color card stock to provide double side storage too. Ah. I have solved my problem. I was near the Michael's store a week later and used yet another coupon to get another pack. I may need more but prob'ly not since those coupons are less reliable and I can have sections with nothing in it or have it over flowing, depending on what is available at the time.
Pre-paperclipped
The first two pages are where I put those store catalinas. Now those kinda want to jump ship so I have just put a paper clip at the top to help hold em in. It works.
What was that about inserts in the sections?
I cannot recall where I saw this, I believe on one of the sites where a lady who sells kits for coupon binders but it is really quite elementary. I have copy paper [actually from the scraps from printing coupons] in my main binder to separate the pockets giving me two sides to use, instead of one without them. Problem is the paper tends to slide out a lot when I pull coupons. I will be switching those out with card stock soon. The printed coupon binder has them already. They seem to stick better when I am pulling coupons which is a huge blessing. I do have a nice paper cutter so making them was a snap-if I had to cut them with scissors-well gosh I dunno. If you don't have a paper cutter, use one of the Joann or Michael coupons to get one or better yet ask a pal who does have one if you can borrow it. I just eye balled the size and went with it when I found it fit. I have been scrapping long enough to do this but you may need to properly measure to be sure.
Yes the dividers are too small-on my 'to get' list.
And there you go. Nice and tidy ways to keep those precious coupons safe. And even tho my printed coupon binder is not zipped, I find it works well for this application. I wouldn't suggest it for one with tons of coupons because as the pages get more stuffed they tend to want to pour out the contents a lot more too.
Look for another post soon about what kinda coupon gal I am...a flipper or a clipper (as the Krazy Coupon Lady gals labeled it). Love that site!
