47 January Challenge: Project Paper {step 6}

This is the one I know many of you have been waiting for.... are you ready for this?!  COUPONS!

So far we have done some Research, Kept and Recycled, Created a Filing System, Organized Receipts,  Created a Daily Routine to Maintain and Gone Paperless.

These days, everyone is doing what they can to save a penny.  And what's the most popular way to do so?  Why those dreaded paper stacks of coupons.  Love and hate 'em at the same time.  Love that they save me oodles on groceries and home goods.  Hate that they are mostly in paper form, tedious to round up, print, clip, and store.  Some days I wonder if all the trouble is really worth it, but when I see those savings of $30 plus dollars on the bottom of the receipt when I walk out of the store, I know I am doing the right thing for our family.

Here is the all important disclaimer.  How and why you use coupons, will have a major impact on the most successful way to store/file/organize your coupons.  What I show you today, goes with my weekly system well, however, it may not mesh into your system.

I have seen boatloads of storage options for coupons, from photo albums {dividing out the page protectors by category and sliding the coupons into the page protectors themselves}, to using baskets with card dividers to sticking with the simple receipt/coupon envelopes like the one I shared here.

I actually tried a coupon envelope once upon a time....

Too much work for me.  Really.  I was honestly confused at the best way to utilize the filing part, do I file coupons by product name?  Or by type of product?  I was doing both and inconsistently.  On top of that, I began stuffing all my coupons for the current shopping trip into the front of the envelope, and then at the store, was left digging through all of the other slots trying to find something because I knew I had a coupon for something I just found on sale.  And then, I decided the envelope just wasn't working for me so I started using a regular legal sized envelope.  Which didn't hold up past two shopping trips before it looked like it had been run over by a shopping cart twenty six times.  Then I started tossing them into a large ziploc bag.  Really?  Another totally awful solution.

It was time to really analyze how I use my coupons, and come up with a practical way for me to store them.

I shared here my morning process of searching for coupons, clipping them, meal planning accordingly and stacking up all my coupons for my weekly shopping trip.

Knowing this process... here is how I analyzed the situation:

• I wanted one place to house all coupons that correlated with our weekly meals/shopping trip
• I wanted to have a back-up location to store the remainder of my coupons, for future trips
• I wanted to have a place to store all coupons that are store specific {30% off at Kohls, 20% off at Bed Bath & Beyond} or restaurant specific
• Using a filing system is too time consuming for me
• I don't want to lug around a large binder, basket or envelope everywhere

Again, these are all personal preferences, however, based on this information, here is what I had come up with.

I found simple stationary envelopes, which seemed to be the perfect size for toting around with me, inside my planner or attached to my grocery list.

I knew right away from previous experience, left as is, the envelope would hold not up to my weekly shopping excursions.  It needed to be beefed up a bit.  So that's what I did...

I cut down strips of heavy duty cardstock paper.

And I wrapped the paper around the envelope and secured with some double sided tape.

I whipped up some additional labels to match my receipt envelope, one envelope would be used for my "Current Trip" to the store, the other would be for all remaining "Coupons" and the last would be for my "Store Specific" coupons.

Then, for a final step of durability and longevity, I popped the envelopes through my laminating machine...

I paper-clipped together my stacks of receipts and popped them into their respective envelopes.

Each week I fill out my shopping list, {you can purchase your own personalized version here in my Etsy shop}, and keep it clipped to my clipboard as I am shopping.  Yes, I am that girl.

And now I can also attach the envelope with all of my coupons for that specific trip, right to the clipboard with the shopping list.  The coupons will always be right at my fingertips.  No more bulky envelope....

The other two envelopes?  Well, they are tucked in my planner in a pocket in the back {on the opposite side of where my bills to pay are tucked}

Of course, my planner is always with me, so I still have access to my other coupons if I need them throughout my trip for an unexpected sale or purchase.

So there you have it.  That's what has been working for this gal.  However, as I mentioned it all really depends on your current system and how many receipts you clip and need to store.  It helps to make a list of what you want/don't want first, when creating your system.  Brainstorm and then Google around for solutions, because there are all sorts of them out there.

While I have you all here, many of you were extremely interested in the label I had used for my receipt folder.  I will plan on adding another label tutorial to my blog list, however, until then, I will share my template with you to play around with and use!

Click here to download and edit Label template

I print these on Avery 18163 labels and just stick them accordingly.  Enjoy!

And that wraps up Project Paper for January!  Six easy peasy steps.  A couple of days left until I will host our link party and you can all share all of your Project Paper work in all it's glory!  I am super giddy excited to see all the organized eye candy, it sounds like many of you have been hard at work!

Let's keep talking coupons for a moment shall we?  Where do you find all of money saving deals?  Any couponing tips and tricks for us soft core couponers?  What storage methods work best for you?


UPDATE:  After a couple of weeks, I decided the stationary envelopes were just TOO SMALL!  So, I switched to creating larger envelopes!  Much better!!

Seriously, how cute is that paper?  Little fruit dots?  Are you kidding me!  Had to do it!

I decided a little challenge would be fun! This month we are getting all those papers in order!  Wanna join?  Take pictures and blog about your awesomeness as you go!  I am hoping to do a giant, "We did it!" celebratory post where we can all link up our paper filing success stories at the end of the month!

Previous steps in this project: Step 1: Research, Keep, Toss, Step 2: Setup a Filing System, Step 3: Setup of a Receipt Saving System, Step 4: Maintaining Your System and Step 5: Go Paperless.

6 IHeart Feature: Re-Nest!

Our son's closet desk was featured over at Re-Nest!!

Imagine my excitement when I found out, you may have been able to hear my jaw drop and hit the floor...

Stop on over and check out all the fantastically awesome organized spaces that were featured!  They all make my heart flutter, and I am honored to be featured with such talent!

289 IHeart Giveaway: Scentsy Style

**  Attention:  This Giveaway has since ended.  Thanks everyone for participating!!  **  

By now, I am sure many of you have heard of Scentsy products.  They are an amazing wickless alternative to scented candles, using a lightbulb to melt scented wax.

Scentsy warmers are smokeless, leadless, and sootless, which takes away almost all of the allergy concerns of traditional candles and do not leave a thin layer of soot on your belongings like traditional candles do.  Plus, every clean and organized home should smell wonderful!!

And although I can share a picture of mine working it's magic in our home....

I can not magically make the incredibly amazing aroma come pouring through your computer pores... I wish I had those powers, because you would be in a magical happy place.

There is nothing I don't love about how my house smells and that it's an attractive addition to our decor!  And now one of you lucky readers can have your very own Scentsy Warmer also!  It's ok to be screaming and jumping up and down right now, you aren't alone, everyone's doing it!

Yep, one of my very awesome and generous monthly blog sponsors, Katie, is a Scentsy representative and has offered up a free full size Blynken Scentsy Warmer and one Scentsy bar of Sunkissed Citrus {which is one of my personal favorite smells for making my home smell uber clean!} 

Totally awesome right?  Want to enter?

1} Anyone in the contiguous states eligible to enter.  Only one entry per person, duplicate entries will be disqualified.

2} Leave your email or blog address so I have a way to contact you if you win.

3} Leave a comment on the giveaway post stating "IHeart Scents." and for fun, tell me your favorite aroma and why!

Giveaway is open from Thursday, 1/20 through 9 p.m. central time Sunday, 1/23.  One winner will be selected using random.org.


And Katie's generosity doesn't stop there!  Make sure you check out her website and if you see something you fancy, all IHeart Organizing readers will receive 10% off when you email your orders to Katie herself {thescentchick@gmail.com}!

Thanks everyone and good luck!!

21 Reader Space: Big Function in Small Spaces

Many of you have mentioned to me that you are in the same boat as me.  Hi friends.  If I really was floating around in boat with someone, I would absolutely want it to be with you peeps.  You all rock!

So what is it that we all have in common in this fictional boat we are floating in?  Why, we live in little spaces!

I currently live in a home that has 1198 square feet on the main floor, which consists of a Living Room, Kitchen and Dining Room, two Bathrooms and three Bedrooms.  For a family of five plus large dog, it can definitely get crowded!  The basement was once finished, however, now that the space is gone, we realize how spoiled we were to have it.  And it also required us to get really creative by stretching every inch of living space that we are left with, to making it functional and simplified!

Where am I going with all this?  I get emails by the dozens talking about making the most of small spaces.  And although I have shared some of the things we have done to make our home functional for us, it's always fun and inspiring to see what creative things others have going on as well!!

Which is why I am off the walls excited about today's Reader Space!  Lisa has been determined to make every inch of her home count, and that she has done!  With beauty!

Lisa wrote:

I wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate your blog.  It's like reading about me!  My husband thinks I am nuts but after reading your blog I am reassured I am not alone in by organizing obsessions.  So I relate to your blog and love reading it and I thought you'd like to know that.

I live in a very small house 1300 square feet and have 3 children, so organizing is a MUST.  I am also lucky to have a very handy hubby who builds things and humors me with all my latest projects I want so we can be more organized.
I am attached some pictures for a little eye candy.  One is of our entryway.  The front door opens right into our living room {our main living space}.  My husband built a bench area from a drawing I sketched for him and built a half wall so create some distinction between the two areas.  The other pic is of what used to be out old laundry area.  The laundry has been moved to an oversized closet and is now concealed by doors and I used the room for a small office/craft room. 

Anyway, I love your blog and I love that someone else is as crazy as I am when it comes with organizing!

Ready to be floored?  Check out this awesome entry transformation!  When you are blessed with a space that opens right into a living room with no coat closet... getting your build on is a fantastic solution.  W O W!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

First, I have to say that adding the half wall to break up the space was the most incredible idea.  It really does create the entry she never had!  Now, individuals can come in, have a great place to hang their items, and feel welcomed by the home!  GENIUS!  And who else is drooling over that built in bench and hooks?  Purchasing something like this would cost hundreds times nine.  I love they were able to create a beautiful look, with their own hands. 

But she isn't done impressing me.  Her laundry nook turned office really gets my heart racing.  Like I just drank eleven cups of espresso racing.  We are talking about creating an office nook after all...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Let's chat some more about why I love this shall we?  Lisa is obviously a crafty person.  And crafts can be incredibly challenging to store effectively, while ensuring they get used all the time!  She created a dream zone.  She was able to move her washer and dryer to a closet to be able to make new use of the room.  No more lugging all the crafts to the kitchen table {which I would just guess she had to do previously}.  Now she has a sanctuary to call her own.  A "mom cave" if you will.  With so much STORAGE!

What I find to be so smart is all of the open shelving added.  This allowed her to pop in smaller containers for all those small craft items, that are right within arms reach.  Plus, many of the storage options are clear, allowing her to know exactly what she is going for!  If she would have left those cabinets in place, sure, she could have stored a ton of items, but it wouldn't have made her time in the space as effective.

And labels galore!  Enough said!  The picture speaks a gazillion fascinating words....

Anything about this project put a little fire in you to analyze your space a little differently?  I know I want to walk to my garage and grab hammer and start pounding out walls... but that is just me....

P.S.  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be un-editted and a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your routine for the better is so helpful!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

50 An Oil Decanter, Can't?

I feel it is my duty to share when things don't work.  They always say, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again!"  Well, that's exactly what I did.

I tried to use an oil decanter for my dishwashing soap once here:

And that didn't work so great.  I used it for awhile, but it started to drive me insane... so I switched to just leaving an actual bottle of dishwashing soap out on the counter on a white tray:

And then I stumbled across another decanter in a three pack of glass bottles I purchased from Ikea.  It looked like it had a bigger spout and more potential as a pretty dishwashing soap dispenser....

This is the try try again part.  It didn't work.  Again.  Clogs.  Build up.  Sooooooo slow!  I have always heard of individuals loving this decorative way to store dishsoap close at hand {vs. leaving those bulky bottles out on the counter-top}, however, after Strike 2, I have decided to toss in the towel.  I give up.  Calling it a day.  No more oil decanter dishwashing soap dispensers for me.  Nada.  I am officially back to this.

And that is OK with me!  In fact, I adore so much how the soap dispenses out of this bottle, that I don't know why I ever needed to change it in the first place.  And if I ever switch up my dishwashing soaps in the future, I can always reuse this smaller bottle on my counter-top and tuck the bigger bottle away under the sink.

So bottom line, I learned, it's ok to try and try again, but you have to be able to let go and admit defeat sometimes.  I also learned, sometimes, it's better not to mess with a good thing.... Just thought I would pass on the tip to everyone else trying to use a decanter based on my previous posts... or anyone thinking of going that direction in the future....

Anyone else been learning any lessons lately?  How about success stories when something didn't work out so great the first time, yet was a soaring success because you didn't give up right away?

P.S.  I have heard these decanters may work better if you dilute your dishwashing soap first.  I personally decided not to take that extra step...

32 January Challenge: Project Paper {step 5}

So how did "Project Paper" go this weekend?  Many of you had planned on using some time to start sifting and sorting and filing!  I thought of you and cheered you on from here!  Many of you emailed me to share with me how incredible and freeing it felt to shred those documents and create loads of new space and clutterless counters.  Say it together, "WAHOO!"

So far we have done some Research, Kept and Recycled, Created a Filing System, Organized Receipts and Created a Daily Routine to Maintain. 

Still, I had a few skeptics asking me how in the world I am able to keep all my files in one itty bitty bin.  Well, that is step 5 in this "Project Paper" challenge.

The answer is really easy.  I have begun to go paperless.

1.  Eliminate Paper Bank Statements.  I called my two banks in which I hold my checking and savings accounts, and asked about their policies when it comes to pulling old statements.  Both banks assured me they could pull my statements up to a couple years back, at no charge to me!  Plus, I can access my banking information online, which I have been utilizing for years.  That means to me, no more need to receive those bulky bank statements each month.  All banks are different, but you can find out how to opt out of paper statements by giving them a quick call or browsing their websites.

2.  Pay Bills Online.  I choose to pay all my bills online.  Again, there are a lot of systems out there to help you do this.  I choose to log into each one of my accounts through their website to pay, I know some banks offer an easier solution to this as well.  Since I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to these things, I like to log into the physical account to view my statements, see any account activity and schedule my payments.  While logged into my accounts {utilities, credit cards, cell phone, etc...}, I opted in for paperless statements.  For every single one that offers it.  I have a checklist of accounts that I need to check and pay each month, and I also receive email notifications when statements are available for viewing.  And I can easily go back and pull any statement online faster than I ever have been able to by digging through paper files.  Some billing companies offer perks for going paperless, or may even charge you if you choose not too.... something to consider.

3.  Store electronically.  I haven't quite gone this far yet, but it is an option to know about.  Here is a great article with step by step links for getting electronic and cutter more paper clutter around the house.  With the use of scanners, computer software and external hard-drives, you may never need to keep another piece of paper again!  You just have to decide if it's worth the time investment, this is what has held me back from doing it at this point.

It's amazing the power and storage that one little machine can pack right?  That's why technology can be our bff... only not as hug-able.

That's it!  That's all I got.  The concept is pretty easy really, but it's such a vital part in how I can easily keep paper under control.  Less paper coming in means less piles on the counter or papers to stick in a file, and paying bills online means less check writing and stamp usage and envelope licking.... ew.  Plus, it saves a tree right?  That's reason enough!

Many of you have dropped hints that going paperless was also your success story in maintaining your filing systems.  So what other tips do you have for individuals who haven't gotten around to going paperless yet?

I decided a little challenge would be fun! This month we are getting all those papers in order!  Wanna join?  Take pictures and blog about your awesomeness as you go!  I am hoping to do a giant, "We did it!" celebratory post where we can all link up our paper filing success stories at the end of the month!

Previous steps in this project: Step 1: Research, Keep, Toss, Step 2: Setup a Filing System, Step 3: Setup of a Receipt Saving System and Step 4: Maintaining Your System