Coupon Binder on the Cheap!

YI've been wanting a coupon binder ever since I've seen them all over Facebook and I've been trying to win one loaded with coupons to no avail.

Sooo...being the sewer and crafter that I am, I have made my own from things I already had in my house!

You heard me right....No Cost!

I had recently cleaned out my sewing room and gave away many of my quilting magazines that I kept neatly in binders.  I had at least 4-5 3" binders left over by the time I was through clearing out the magazines I didn't need anymore.

I combined those with a few items below that I already had in around my house

3 ring 3" binder

Cardstock and page protectors

Sewing machine

Ruler, marker and scissors

I had looked at the store for the inserts that are usually used to make a coupon binder, but I didn't like what I saw and how much they cost.  I could have ordered some online, but that would take time and too much money.

So I made some up to match the coupon sizes that I needed.  I placed a piece of cardstock into a page protector, made sure it was all the way to the bottom in and all the way to the left side.  Then I started measuring and marking my sew and cut lines.

Sew along both sides of paper

Sew on solid lines, cut on dotted only through the plastic

Remove the cut part between the dotted lines

Make sure to cut out parts on both sides of the pages

You can see I've made pages for all different size coupons!

Next I taped some index tabs (that I have had sitting in a drawer for at least 5 years) to the pages to label the sections accordingly:

Clothing, Restaurant, Goodwill and Reward coupons
Fry's store coupons, food, cleaning, health and beauty
Walgreens coupons
Then manufacturers coupons:
Drinks
Breakfast
Diary
Refrigerated
Frozen
Snacks
Pantry
Paper Products/storage
Dishwashing
Laundry
Cleaners
Health and Beauty
Dental and first-aid

Here are some of my finished pages!

I also printed out some helpful Grocery lists to put in the clear front cover of my binder.

Courtesy of 

orgjunkie.com

grocerylists.org and

freeprintablegrocerylist.com

I have also made a Master Grocery List of all the products I use in my house.

You can view it here:

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=2378939118054

I use this list to mark coupons I am in need of.

I update it and post it weekly on Facebook and on coupon trading pages like

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CouponSwapaholic/176345662424173

It is wonderful to have a place to swap coupons I don't need, for coupons I really want.

I also send out expired coupons to 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coupons-For-The-Troops/167878536608621?sk=wall

Let me know what you think or leave me any question you have about making your own!

Ellie

P.S.

If I get enough comments on this post...

I think I will make one for a lucky reader!!!

Spread the LOVE!

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Free Samples in the mail

About a month ago, I jumped on the coupling bandwagon.  Mind you, I am not an extreme couponer, I do not have a stockpile or products all over my house.  I stick with what is on sale, what I have a coupon for, use both store and manufacture coupons when I can and only buy what we are going to use.  Along with saving with coupons, I also subscribed to http://www.allyou.com/ magazine which is full of coupons, but if you sign up for their newsletters, they will also send you an email for a daily "freebie" or sample to send away for.  I have also signed up for a few sites on Facebook for "freebies" like https://www.facebook.com/sweetiesfreebies.  They post many daily "freebies" on Facebook and in email too.
I knew the samples would take a few weeks to start arriving, so my daily walk to the mailbox actually became exciting!  Two weeks later, I received my first free sample from http://www.invisibleglass.com/. Two packets of two wipes each, plus coupons for my next purchase.  Now, if only I could get someone to wash my car and windows, I can try out my first "freebie".  In the past two weeks, I have received 7 free samples in the mail all shown in the picture above.  The list includes:
Invisible Glass, Eucerin SPF body and face lotion, Atkins starter kit including 3 meal bars, carb counter book, a recipe book, get started guide and coupons.  From Costco I received samples of Fekkai color care shampoo and conditioner, which you need a member # to sign up with.  Breathe Right sent me a 2 pack trial size, and Degree sent a sample of their motion sense deodorant.  My biggest sample was the NeilMed Nasaflo Neti Pot like you've probably seen on the Dr. Oz show.  It came with the pot and two premixed packets.
Many of the samples can be found on Facebook sites for the products you like or on a products company website.  You can also check out Walmart.com, Target.com and your local grocery store websites for free sample tabs.  And again, there are many Facebook pages that help you find coupons and
"freebies" if you type in these words in the search pages box at the top of your Facebook page.  I usually send away for all the samples I can find, even if I don't use the product so I can give them to friends that do use them or donate them to a food bank or even save them up for when my son moves out!
Here are the links to the products I have featured here:
http://www.invisibleglass.com/
https://secure.startsampling.com/sm/fekkai101636/captureAddress.iphtml?item=101636&source=
https://www.facebook.com/DegreeWomen?sk=app_184705598240838
http://community.atkins.com/index.jsp
https://www.facebook.com/BreatheRight
https://www.facebook.com/EucerinUS
https://www.facebook.com/neilmednetipot?v=app_7146470109
https://www.facebook.com/sweetiesfreebies
https://www.facebook.com/giveawaydirectory
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shopping-Tips-and-Tricks/134287357973
https://www.facebook.com/pages/EllieSewSweet/215666981796455

Would you like to win my free sample of the Neti Pot?  just leave a comment on this blog along with your email address and I will pick a winner in one week, June 2nd.
For an extra chance to win, sign up to follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you did so.
For one more chance, tell a friend to sign up to follow my blog and you each will receive an extra chance to win!  I will announce the winner at 12:00pm.  Good Luck!