[stefani1]

Welcome to AFC. I'm sure everyone will have some advise for you. There are soooooo many different ways of organizing and it's really just a matter of finding what works for you. Many people do the binder method - but I personally hate it. It's a great tool so that you have all your coupons right in front of you and won't miss anything, but the set up and upkeep for that is just too much for me. I keep my inserts in tact for the most part and just write the date on the front so it's easy for me to see it. When there is a great deal - I use the coupon database to see where the coupon came from and then I'll cut it. I have 3 little photo books that I use to hold my "key" coupons. I keep 1 -3 of them in my bag all the time with everyday things that I use or would like to get if I saw a great sale on them. The other one is usually for specific deals that I know are coming up and don't want to miss. It works for me - I'm not bringing in a HUGE binder to every store, I don't have to cut every coupon out and try and fit it in little baseball card holders every week, and I can easily look up and find the coupon and it's not a big mess. I keep the inserts in a large accordian file thing that closes and is neat. Now, there are people that get hundreds of inserts a week (I'm not one of them) and they obviously couldn't do this.

Just remember, I thought the same way you did - what's $.50 when you have to clip them and all that stuff ----- but - you will be AMAZED at all the stuff you can get for free or cheap with these things. If you hit a deal right with the right coupon, you'll get it free and then become like most of us that won't pay anything for that product again. For example - I won't EVER pay for toothpaste again!!!!! I have shampoo, conditioner, deoderant, and so many other daily items that I won't pay for anymore.

Read up and ask whatever questions you may have. People here are REALLY nice and helpful!!!