As giddy as a school-supply-shopping 4th grader!

So the envelope method works. But with flaws. Not only are they flimsy, clumsy, and prone to major coupon-spillage, but they are sort-of old school. I can no longer call myself a frugal "newbie". It's about time I upgraded my coupon organization method.

I needed an all-in-one tote with easy access and enough slots for my growing number of categories.

Well, and something stylish. I mean, I don't want to actually look like a coupon shopper, how lame is that? And especially in the presence of hard-core competition. So I also needed discrete.

And if you want to know the truth, losing 20 envelopes containing 8+ insert weeks worth of painstaking Sunday afternoon cutting, sorting, and filing is enough to motivate any cheapskate to reassess and hone her coupon organization skills!

Yeah, I wanted to CRY. I left them in the paper towel isle in, of all places, CVS! The utmost capitol of coupon competition! I couldn't believe it.

I can just imagine the squeal of glee bursting from the lips of some red-eyed ECB-clutching mad woman who, while scouring shelves for the insane Viva deal, stumbled upon the said pot of gold.

Well....you can have it, lady! I hope you enjoy your good steals - I mean deals!!!

Losers weepers, I guess. The incident is already an entire month behind me. I have almost completely recovered. Although, it's still painful to walk through the paper towel isle without shedding a couple crocs.



It was time to ditch the slippery envelope system.




So then I was wandering around Staples one day, and this be-U-tiful blue and yellow file carrier jumped right into my cart and begged me to take it home. And WITH A HANDLE!!!!!!

I mean, relentless. What was I to do but relent?




And here it is.




Perfect.

Oh, and don't you go thinking anything is "up" just because yes, I have a category slot for diapers. I'm serious. You'll be the first to know. Or at least the third or fourth, depending on the circumstances. :)




Not too professional of a job with my category labels, but hey, it works for me. (I suppose now I'll have to participate in Shannon's WFMW this week. First time.)

I must admit that I still use envelopes for my "food" categories. I had to double up each section as it was. If any of you have a suggestion on how to organize my food coups (all 14 envelopes worth), I'd love some suggestions. My tote has more than maximized its category capacity (or CC - we could come up with all sorts of frugal lingo!). Granted, it's not as difficult hauling around 14 versus 45 envelopes, at least without them either slipping through the grocery cart cracks or spilling all over the sticky produce floor (this is WalMart, people), I suppose I just need something less white and without flaps.

Plus, I'm quickly approaching a crisis. My "freezer isle" category desperately needs expanding, and that could easily mean 4 or 5 more categories! I'm not super keen on shelling out another $10 for an additional tote (I am trying to save money, after all), but there's got to be a better way.




You know, coupons are to deal lovers as baseball cards are to little boys.