Where do you take your binder?

[lillady83]

So it went good at Target yesterday. No strange looks really. For the most part people ignored me which was nice. I was able to help a lady who wanted to use a Target coupon. I explained that she could also stack it with a manufacturer's q which she was happy to know. The checkout lady was training someone so she was nice. Overall I had no problems so that is a relief!

I also went to HT. Now I shop their several times a week with my binder and I will get the occasional comment about how organized I am and such. However, last night I had three separate people who asked me where items were because they thought I worked there. One lady asked me where the parchment paper was and I said I wasn't sure and I looked around. She kind of looked at me with a what do you mean you don't know look. I then said I didn't work there but I think they were on a certain aisle. She then saw all the groceries in my buggy and apologized. It was just kind of funny. I hadn't had that happen before, and I ended up having it happen three times in the same night.

[uncommon]

Don't you worry about Walmart! Or other stores. Once you take your binder into other stores, it will be a short amount of time before it is just second nature, like a purse, a cell phone, a diaper bag.

Here is what will happen when you take your binder into Walmart.

-Every once in awhile, the greeter will ask you if you have a return. LOL

-People will stop and marvel over your organization...and say, "I could never do that!"

-You will hold yourself back from eye-rolling when you hear people say, "I could never do that, I have KIDS!" (Assuming you have kids. I have a kid, and a husband who works out of state 4 consecutive days a week. See, here comes the eyeroll, lol)

-Men will say, "I bet your husband LOVES how much money you save!" (And it makes you wonder how much his wife has racked up in credit card debt as you smile and continue to walk down the aisle in search of your free toothpaste and .15 toilet paper, lol)

-Random people will stop you and ask where things are located...and then try to hide their surprise when you tell them you don't work there.

The *only* negative experience I ever had was in the spring, when I heard Kmart was planning a Super Doubles event.... I went to the store 2 weeks early to scout out prices, do coupon match-ups, etc. I strolled each aisle, taking notes in a notebook.

A manager (I presume) was stalking me for a good 10 minutes before she demanded to know what I was doing. I told her I was jotting down shelf prices and she had a hissy fit and told me I needed to sign myself in at Customer Service, and that I wasn't allowed to be doing what I'm doing.

I "hissied" right back and told her I was a CUSTOMER and I was doing PRICE COMPARISONS FOR MY OWN PERSONAL USE. I opened my coupon binder and told her I don't mess around with overpaying for our household needs. She scurried off and I didn't see her the rest of the time I was there.

It wasn't enough to get me to stop bringing my binder almost everywhere I go. :)

Bolded - ha that happened to me last week. I was buying a lot of multiples and I had my binder out and then a guy asked me where the yeast was (I was in the baking aisle) and I happened to know so I told him and the next thing I knew someone was asking me a bunch of questions and when I said, "Um, I really don't know" they were like "OH, wait, do you work here??"

It was amusing.

That Kmart manager was being ridiculous - since when is browsing, which is basically what you were doing, against the rules?

[MaMaHaHa]

I agree-customers frequently ask where such and such an items is...I love when I can give them a coupon to go with it. When Krogers had the Oil of Olay BOGO last summer, and the $3 coupons were out there; I had a gentleman ask where they were located-he was just running in for his wife to get two...so I showed him and gave him two coupons...about ten minutes later, he returned and asked if he could have two more promotional coupons...he had taken them out to his wife and she sent him back for some more and told him to be sure and get the promotional coupons...LOL

[tjmini]

I have a birght yellow folder which I keep in my car and take everytime I go to the store. The notebook is wearing out so time to change it to the green one. I wish I knew a better way to organize my coupons.

[tinkinpink84]

I really need to organize my binder and coupons, i try and have a small binder for drug store coupons. like the typical items that go on sale or possible good coupons i can use at that store. and then another for the grocery store like for coupon events at harris teeter. I got comments on how organized i was and i just had all my super double coupons in a binder not organized at all. Little did they know i hada 14lb binder in my car divided and neatly organized! Once at harris teeter this guy and his wife asked me if i had a febreeze coupon i had my binder they had theirs. They wanted to do a trade. Made me feel like grade school with the pokemon cards trading lol. But I wasnt in need or search of any coupons but we had a nice little chat. he commented to customers that the freezer section was now duped coupon trading central. In harris teeter though during good sales and coupon events there are ALOT of people toting binders around! Right now i have most of my good coupons in my purse. I felt odd at rite aid though. I saw the price of sinex at 4.99 and producing UPR so i was trying to dig in my purse to get the coupons out down a back aisle. they prob thought iwas trying to shoplift lol but i was just searching for my coupons because i had them all mixed in an envelope together. I spent the past 2 weeks watching my friends 2 mth old son and getting up at like 4am so i havent had the want to organize my coupons! But prob this coming week ill be doing that! Hubby leaves tomorow so nights will be pretty boring for me! I still prefer a smaller binder to carry with me then my huge purple one with 2 sets of rings in it! Ill prob wait to organize when i gotta pull out all my expireds for november! I seem to just try to keep my high value or good coupons or possible good ones in my wallet when i venture out. Sometimes i put a single coupon in my binder and then i know i have it yet a the store im over in the dairy section lookin through my binder 5 and 6 times juts for one coupon! Eventually i find it though! I think i need like some sorta small thing with dividers to label for my trade coupons like baby stuff i wont use. But im thinking about if a possible good deal comes along on diapers etc that i might incorporate them into deals to donate to our local hospital or wic office etc. or the WTU for the wounded soldiers families. Theres plenty of places. I have a disorganized organization system! I can say ive never brought any binder into cvs. I did once at family dollar in my huge purse but i got weird looks so never did that again! I like using the small photo albums to put coupons in to take in stores with me. alot smaller and easier to carry and not so many weird looks. Im shy person by nature so it makes me uncomfortable when people look at me.

[oldmaillady]

I take mine everywhere. I was at Target yesterday and I saw the girl from CVS and she wanted to know where my Barbie Binder(coupon binder) was. I thought that was funny. She remember my binder. I guess a 40 year old woman walking around with a Barbie Binder is a little memorable. Hey the binder was new and I got it at a yard sale for $.50 and it zipped. What can I say I am a deal getter.