[kurlisola]

bexx, I have to tell you, that before I started doing it this way, I was pulling my hair out & getting very overwhelmed and depressed. I had never ending piles of coupons on the table, desk, coffee table, van ect... Your post could have been mine back then. If you want to start doing it this way, then here is what I did. Set up a spreadsheet (if you pm me your email addy, I'll send you my template). Get some large manilla folders, sharpie, carrying box (on sale at Home Depot this week, B2G1 free..you'll need 2, one for your main coupons, the other for extras), small according (arranged by store...I got mine at Walmart a couple years ago) & a shoe box style box with index cards for your loose coupons (trades, blinkies, catalinas, rainchecks ect...).

Don't worry about adding your already clipped coupons to the spreadsheet...just weed out the expired every month & in about 2-3 months it will be mostly empty anyway.

Don't record every coupon on your spreadsheet. The purpose of this method is to streamline and be as efficient as possible. So, if you are probably never going to use the .25/1 Sure deoderant, don't waste your time recording it. There is always the data base to fall back upon). Think of it this way, you might have to look up a coupon on the database & then check your folder...but that is alot less time than entering 50 coupons that you will never use (plus it saves paper & ink when you print out your list).

Within a day of setting up this system, the piles were gone. It was like a weight off of my shoulders. With the exception of the last few months when I was unable to dd, this system has worked wonderfully & I don't think I'll ever need another. This system does not work well if you only get a couple multiples. Also, if you do alot of trades, then you might have to record more coupons in the spreadsheet.

Good luck.