How To Set Up A Coupon Binder

April 12, 2012 by 9 Comments

The following is a guest post by Outside the Box Mom:

Is the Coupon Binder Method for Me?

The advantages of using a coupon binder are that you have all coupons at your disposal, can take advantage of unadvertised deals, and it can be expanded for more storage. The disadvantages of using a coupon binder include the large, heavy binder, the time required to clip and file all coupons, the time required to remove all expired coupons, and the expensive supplies to setup. I’ve never used a coupon binder. For my current season of life, the con’s outweigh the pro’s. I have only used a coupon file and the insert method. I have written this tutorial as if I were going to do setup a coupon binder for the first time, myself.

how to make a coupon binder

The advantages of using a coupon binder are that you have all coupons at your disposal, can take advantage of unadvertised deals, and it can be expanded for more storage. The method also works for online coupons for your favorite stores. The disadvantages of using a coupon binder include the large, heavy binder, the time required to clip and file all coupons, the time required to remove all expired coupons, and the supplies to setup.

Supplies Needed to Make a Coupon Binder

  • 1-1/2″ (or larger) binder (zipper styles are more expensive but will stay together if dropped)
  • Baseball card pages ($4-$10 for 35-65 pages at national superstores)
  • Tabbed divider sheets
  • Presentation style folders with pockets (2)
  • Pencil pouch
  • Calculator
  • Scissors
  • Pen
I would estimate that all supplies would cost approximately $40.

How to Set Up a Coupon Binder

  1. The most important step is to [Read more…]
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The Pros and Cons of Timeshares as an Investment

November 30, 2011 by 4 Comments

The most important thing to understand about buying into a timeshare is that it’s a real estate deal. So if you’re using it as an investment opportunity that just happens to give you a few weeks in desirable locales each year, you need to know that there are both pros and cons to consider. A timeshare is a special type of investment because the value is based on a number of factors that may change over time  and it can be largely subjective.

Additionally, it can be challenging to get out of a timeshare opportunity once you are in one. Unfortunately, many bad companies do this purposefully, so you simply quit. As a result, it gives the industry a bad name. But don’t worry. Reputable timeshare exit companies are willing to lend a helping hand and do the complex work for you.

So before you go ahead and sign up for that timeshare in Cabo, here are
a few things you may want to consider.

First, timeshares can be good investments. People with stressful jobs and disposable income tend
to like vacationing as a way to escape from the harsh realities of their daily lives. But they may not
necessarily want to deal with the additional stresses of booking hotels, dealing with noisy tourists in
surrounding rooms, and paying through the nose for each and every night of this torture. So you should
have a ready marketplace when you go to sell your timeshare down the road. Of course, it doesn’t hurt
that you get to enjoy your shared property in the meantime.

The other bonus is that you’ll share all the expenses of ownership. So not only will you save on hotels
in most cases, you also won’t have to foot the entire bill for upkeep of a residence. And since the other
people involved in the timeshare will also be using the residence throughout the year you should never
have to arrive to a house that is covered in cobwebs (assuming everyone does their part to keep the
place clean). This is a great selling point that is undeniable. The cost of maintaining a property from
afar can be astronomical if you’re doing it [Read more…]

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It’s Time For Coupons! All About Saving

October 16, 2011 by 6 Comments

The following is a guest post by Outside the Box Mom:

Last week, we discussed goals when using coupons. This week, I’ve listed some common reasons why people don’t use coupons.

I Don’t Have Time

Ten years ago, I used to do my own match-ups, clip every coupon, and check prices on every item I had a coupon for to see if I could get a good deal. That was before I was married with two children. Now, I file whole coupon inserts, check store deals blogs, make my list of best deals for the week, shop with that list, and skip some unadvertised deals I happen upon in the store (because I don’t carry all of my coupons with me). One hour a week could save you 50% on your grocery bill.

I Don’t Have Any Coupons

You could ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers to save their coupons from the Sunday newspaper for you. Or, you could print coupons online from sites like Coupon Sherpa using your own computer and printer. My friends and grandparents save their coupons for me. In addition, there is a free local newspaper in my area that includes the Sunday Smart Source coupon inserts. Each week, I have at least 6-8 sets of coupon inserts.

It’s Too Overwhelming!

Start small and slow. Pick the most expensive item or the items that cost you the most collectively (because you buy them most frequently). Then, work your way up to at least 10-15 items which you could get for much less if you used coupons. Once you begin to see your grocery bill decrease and your grocery budget stretch further, you will want to try more and more deals.

No Coupon on Products I Buy

According to moneysavingmom.com: “[t]here are often coupons available for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, flour, baking soda, toothbrushes, razors, toilet paper, and light bulbs.”

There are even coupons on pet products, organic products, restaurant meals, hair cuts, and other types of services. Many coupon blogs maintain coupon databases where you can search for coupons by brand name or item (example: “Purina” or “dog food”). While it’s fine to be brand specific on certain products (maybe 20% of items you regularly purchase), you will save the most money if you are open to other brands on the remaining 80% of items you regularly purchase.

Next week, we will discuss how you can overcome these common obstacles by changing one thing.

What makes using coupons too challenging for you?
This is an interactive series, which will feature answers to your questions. So, ask away!

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– Outside The Box Mom features quick, easy, time-saving tips and solutions to help busy, working moms find balance, easy meals, deals, and time for moms. Follow her on Twitter.

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