Newbie Questions

[mefiance]

Hi Everyone,

First, thanks so much for being so helpful. Everyone I've met here has been incredibly nice.

Two quick questions: Is there an easy way to get back to the TNT forum when I sign in? I haven't seemed to figure this one out yet.

Also, can you tell me how you use your have lists or if you use a have list? It doesn't seem like everyone has one. If you don't have one, do you mostly trade potlucks? If you do have one, do you update it every week? It seems overwhelming to update!

Thanks again for your help.

[rdot]

Let me see if I can help.....

For me the easiest way to get back to the TNT forum is to make it a favorite on my computer. Maybe there is a better way, but this works for me. Remember though after you reach full trader staus, you will not have access to the TNT forum so you would want to delete it from your favorites.

On the second question about have-lists, I personally don't have a havelist right now. I spend all my time riding trains and I can match up wishes with what I have in my binder. I will say trading is much more difficult without a havelist. Right now, if there is a q I am really ISO I will look at the other traders list wishlist before I make an offer to see what I have available to them. I also trade for stamps and sometimes wishlist potlucks.

When I first started trading on HCW, I did have a havelist. I would update every Sunday when I received my papers. I would also update whenever I finalized a trade. I personally did not update my havelist when I received a train envie or trade envie. Some people do but it would take much too long for me.

Hope that helps

[mefiance]

Thanks! That's very helpful. (Both answers.) Your methods sound like what I'm inclined to try with the havelist too. Thank you for replying. :)

[KmmCo]

I spend my time updating my wishlist. Since I only get 2 or 3 inserts a week, I just clip what I need for my binder and put the rest aside in a box.

(off topic a bit but related)
Last month, I cleaned out all coupons about to expire at approximately a week before the end of the month. I threw them on the breakroom table at work as a free for all. People bring in candy and old magazines all the time, so I figured why not coupons! (we have maybe 200+ people come and go out of that room on a daily basis and I know some are couponers too) I noticed some grateful takers and other people even bringing in some coupons after that to share, so I think I started something good there!

I just have not made much time to do up a good havelist! I have done a couple of trades by just looking at the other persons wishlist and going through the stuff I don't need. Unless it is kinda of a high value coupon - I don't see a lot of benefit taking the time of listing 2-3 coupons on my have list - I would think most people looking for trade would either want more quantity or just want a potluck anyway.

I plan on doing a lot of potluck coupon trains when I graduate from TNT because I think they are fun! I like getting a big variety myself and just being surpised! My "stockpile" is not a scientifically organized thing anyway, I just keep extras of a wide variety of stuff so we can always make meals. I buy what is on sale and be creative with using it up before it expires.There is always rice, noodles, frozen veggies, assorted canned goods, and a variety of sauces so I can make just about anything without having to make a special trip to the store. I feed teenagers and they will usually eat up just about anything that is not nailed down anyway, so I never have much waste. I just can't put the time into a system of "must have" this many spaghetti sauces and this many hamburger helpers on my shelf.
As long as we eat good and have enough to cover the "snowed in" days like yesterday, I am happy.

[atcwag]

I try really hard to update my havelist each week after I get my inserts on Sunday, and if I have time during the week, I will update with envies that I've gotten. I keep a separate coupon organizer for my "keeps" which do not go on my have list. I organize my have coupons right now by catagory in open-top envies, however am going to organize alphabetically in a binder soon. My have list helps me keep organized when I'm doing a pot-luck train or trade, as I often have multiple coupons with different expirations, so I can see which ones will meet the expiration deadline for the particular trade, but keep one that may expire in a few months for another day. Also, you can sort your have list by expiration, so I can pull coupons that have expired and either offer a RAOK or PM someone in the military who can still use them. I also often sort my have list by catagory so I can easily find something on someone's wish list.