Couponing Burnout

I follow this blog to do my couponing, which several people have asked me about over the last year or two.  And while I love saving money, I have noticed in the couponing community, there is a fallout point, a "burnout" point if you will.

Then, I saw this post where Jenny talks about how to organize your coupons, and gives a finger point to why there is the burnout.

The Massive Coupon Binder.

Every extreme couponer has it, and everyone who is envious of the extreme deals and steals contemplates getting/making one.  I fell victim, and I do mean victim - as this thing stole my time, my sanity, my patience, and left me bitter and mad.

It's just a bit too much, as in, way too much.

If you're unfamiliar with this torture device, I'll give you a rundown of the typical binder.  Every coupon is classified into a category of usually around 20 categories.  Everything from baked goods, to laundry detergent, to hair care to over the counter medicines.  In each category, there are several sheets of baseball card protectors.

Every Sunday, the object of the game is to clip all the coupons from the paper, lay them out by category (usually on my floor since there's so many categories), and then proceed to take each pile, and origami them into works of art coupon chaos.

Unless you're Sir Speedy, or magic with tiny bits of paper into even tinier plastic pockets, it takes for-ev-er.  For-Ev-Errrr.

I can't tell you how many hours I've spent cutting and cutting to only get tired before I even organize them.  Or I've been sitting on my floor looking down so long, both my neck and rear hurt.

So, I've created my own system.  It's a organized enough I can find things quickly by category, but I'm not spending 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon folding ridiculous bits of paper.

I still use a binder and those dividers that I spent so much time on, but I put full sized sheet protectors in between each divider.  No more origami!!

Some people use this system with an accordion file system, but one of the reasons I didn't like it, was that I couldn't see in there without digging first, and it didn't have enough categories.

I've also stopped clipping every single coupon.  I don't care of buying Depends with my coupon will give me $5.00.  I dont need them/want them nor do I have space in my 770 sq foot house to store them til I donate them.  Those coupons would just sit and expire anyway, making me work even more taking them out later than just tossing them to begin with.

So, if you've experienced this "couponing burnout" but love the deals and hate the binder, I say create your own system that works for you.  Just because it works for one person, doesn't mean it will work for you.  I don't care if Susie Q. saves $400 a month using this binder and thinks you will too - if you dont have the time it requires and the patience for that folding mess, you're gonna stop couponing altogether soon, and you'll be more frustrated that you spent money and time on that binder to begin with.



Where you a couponer who burned out on the binder?  Have you stopped couponing altogether or have you found your saving grace in another system? 

Christmas 2010

Every year, as Christmas approaches I start to dread the end of December.  And part of this goes back to my Thanksgiving Post about the things that speak love me.  I dread Christmas because it only has an honest and "good" message when you're at church on the 25th, or at the Christmas play you go and see. 

Every year, I have a huge problem coming up with ideas for a Christmas list, because I keep being told "They should be things that you want." Well, not a major newsflash to many of you, but I tend to think I'm kind of a minimalist.  I like things organized, and I like there to enough of what we need, but none of what we don't.  We didn't even pick out a china pattern, because I thought it was useless - the plates we registered for were inexpensive, sturdy, and basic enough I could dress them up if I really wanted to, but great for everyday dining, and I could put them in the dishwasher.  It really doesn't take much "things" to make me happy.  Now, that's not to say a thoughtful gift here or there doesn't make a huge impact - I can definitely appreciate someone seeing something that is inexpensive, yet says "That's Dana!" to them and picking it up for me. I like that. 

However, Christmas has become about lists, and "who-to-buy-for"s and outdoing last year's gift, or picking out the gift that will be remembered the most. 

And I'm exhausted by it all. 

We've barely made it halfway through November, and I'm already exhausted by the thought of Christmas.

So this year, I'm doing things differently.  I'm starting now to think about how I want those things to change, because I really don't want to stand in a long line to buy a gift that I know will either be accepted with that "Oh...thanks." response that I know really means, "Great, another one of these...." or will tossed into the toy bin binS, as I know that child has more toys than we have bills.

Maybe I'll go the handmade route, and make some of my gifts this year.  Maybe I'll try the quality time route, as that seems to be something that we have very little of, but we could all use much more.  Or the service route, and do something like volunteer to wash and fold a few loads of laundry or treat a family to dinner with no cooking and no cleaning needed on their part. 


Do any of these things sound like something you'd like as a gift, and what things speak love to you?

My love cup is running over.

The weather is turning cooler, and with November about to start I get a little antsy at the thought of my favorite holiday getting close - Thanksgiving.  I really do love this Holiday, and the older I get the more I love it.  I love sensory stimulations and so many things are triggered in my mind: the small 2 bedroom, 1 bath house my entirely too big family (40+ people) would cram in to fit, laughter, tons of food in a warm house, kids running everywhere, and finally getting to catch up with family I haven't seen in a year.  I smell the turkey cooking in the oven, and the front door is constantly swinging with more people coming in, with arm loads of yummy dishes.  Hugs and love are passed around freely to anyone standing too close and all the things on everyone's "To-Do" list are set aside with no hindrances on time.  I can remember when my Aunts had heads full of dark brown hair, and of ladies being pregnant, new dads overcome with pride from their newest little one being passed around with "Ooo"s and "Ahh"s at every little expression.  I can see people hover over the table as we all wait for the blessing to start this wonderful holiday of food.  I see my cousins continue to grow as I once remembered them just old enough to start school, and are now about to drive.  I soak this holiday in with every ounce of my being.

This, Thanksgiving, is My Holiday.  The one celebratory date on the calendar with which I feel the most at peace.  It's My Holiday because I feel I connect with it the most.  Food is one of the ways I show love.  Nothing gives me more joy than to make a huge, 3 day-prep, over the top, delicious meal for family and friends I hold dear.  I feel at peace because of the hand made love in each dish, because of the pure intentions of this meal to see family and spend time with them.  No gifts, no presents, no rushing to buy the latest gadget or toy or jewelry or something to satisfy someone's wants.

And this year, as with every year, I am more thankful than the last.  I am thankful for a warm house, with a loving husband, with a house that has the opportunity to make a difference in our life.  I'm thankful for the wonderful job I've worked at for almost a year, that provides us the ability for John to continue making his business a full time job.  I am thankful for my parents, for the distance I have come with them, for the strides in our relationship that have taken me years to make.  I am thankful for all of my family, for their ability to show love, patience, support, and help when we needed, regardless of how little, or how big, it was. 

My Thanksgiving will be a very joyous one again this year, and I can't wait to eat Turkey and sweet potato pie til I can't move, and see my family to hear how this past year has treated them.  And my to-do list will only get longer - but for a brief few days, I wont care about the list, and my heart will be full of enough love to last me until next year, when we do it all over again.