One of the best ways to maximize your coupon savings is to have multiple "like" coupons. That way, when an item is a great deal, you can buy several to stockpile until the next coupon and sale comes around.

A good question is how do you cut all of those coupons? Doesn't it take a lot of time? Really, it doesn't if you have a good system.

I normally buy 4 Sunday papers at Walgreens for $0.88 each. I save WAY more than the $3.52 I spend each week. I find that 4 is plenty for my family of 6 but you may choose to get more. Sometimes, like this past week, I'll buy extra if there is a super coupon that I KNOW I can use. (This week there were $2.50 coupons for Finish dishwasher detergent and I purchased 6 papers)

The first thing I do is go through all my papers and take out the coupon inserts. I group all the same type of insert together and set them on the table or floor like this...

Then I'll start tearing off the top pages and stack the like pages together. I'll do this until all the pages have been torn apart and stacked together like this....

Now I'm ready to cut. I'll make sure those same 4 like pages are stacked together with the like coupons matching up and I'll cut through all 4 pages at the same time. That way I cut once but have actually cut out 4 coupons...


See how nicely they cut that way?
I will continue to stack and cut my coupon pages until I have all of them cut. As I clip them, I place them in a pile like this...



Now, I'm ready to sort them and get them ready to go into my binder. I sort them in stacks based on how I put them in my binder. All paper products, all personal products, all frozen items, etc....Then I get my coupon binder and starting at the front I add the coupons to the correct section.


Here is my Sparkle coupon, safely tucked away in its own space in my binder waiting for a great sale to come along!

It may look like a lot of steps and that it takes a lot of time, but it really doesn't. I usually clip my coupons in the evening while I'm watching something on T.V. In less than 30 minutes my coupons are all clipped, sorted and safely tucked away for when I need them.

Would you like to see how I organize my coupons into my binder? Click HERE

Also, there is one very important piece of information EVERY coupon binder needs...

I have been neglecting my living room for too long. Oh, this much used room gets tidied up every night, but cleaned? Um…well we won’t tell exactly how long it’s been ;-)

With my oldest sons birthday party coming on Sunday, it’s the perfect time to get this room spic and span.

My mission today was to get the entertainment center de-cluttered and dusted.

As you can see in my before picture, it was a mess:

Now it’s all nice and neat.

I’d love to do a decorating overhaul here, but you frugal folks know that it’s got to be done in the right time with the least amount of money. So, using what few do-dads that I have, I did the best I could.

I really need to update the kids pictures. I mean, those pics in the middle were taken at Easter 2004! My now nearly 6 year old was 9 months in her picture.

And see that pitiful short frame on the end? Well, that is baby #4’s 18 month picture (he’s almost 3 now). I wanted his picture with the others, but I couldn’t find a matching frame so his picture just got stuck in one and put on the shelf.

I would also like to eliminate several of the pictures on the shelves. Oh, I love them, don’t get me wrong. BUT….there needs to be a few more “pretty-pretties” and a few less kids pictures, ya know?

For the most part, the living room /dining room / study area is de-cluttered. One good part about not having much furniture or many shelves is not having a place to clutter up.

Later in the week I’ll be wiping, dusting, vacuuming and putting things in their place.

For now, I’m happy with what I have accomplished.

Tomorrow I have a meeting at school, then I need to shop for the birthday boy. We’re having a small, family party at home on Sunday . This year he asked for a “cookie cake” which is cool with me. Those are much easier to make than the decorated cakes I usually make. That also means there is no “theme” so the party supplies will be kept to a bare minimum. Simple and sweet…gotta love it!

Well, the kitchen is calling….”Time to get dinner started”…..

I’ve not been deep cleaning lately but I have been trying to keep on top of the day to day stuff and laundry.

Today I’ve got laundry going and I’ve done my daily routine. You know the drill…making beds, washing dishes, wiping the bathroom, taking care of the little boy…

I also decided to try baking bread again. *Sigh* I want to learn how to make those yummy, fluffy loaves of bread but mine always turn out heavy. I tried a new recipe and I think I’m coming close to what I want. This bread turned out fluffier but it was still a bit dense. I think a bit more kneading is required. At least this loaf is okay to eat LOL.

The recipe I used makes 3 loaves, but I didn’t want 3 loaves. I turned part of the loaf into bread sticks for dinner tonight and boy are they GOOD! I used the rest of the dough for cinnamon danish. They look yummy and smell great. I just need to add a powder sugar frosting and we’ll have these for our after school snack.

One other project I worked on today was cleaning out the book case. We have a small book shelf in the living room with some of the kids books. Mostly the little boys books and the older kids keep their books in their rooms.

This book case has just gotten WAY out of hand. Lots of books that are no longer useful to us have been piled in.

Here, take a look…

I got busy and emptied that shelf and sorted through those books.

Here are the results…

SOOO much better! I’ve got lots of great books that will go to a yard sale when ever we have one. Hopefully they will find a good home :-)

Tonight we’re having homemade pizzas and I trying my hand at making pizza dough. The kids have AWANAS tonight and dinner will be early. I’ll get the kitchen cleaned up while they are gone then I’ll be free to enjoy the rest of the night!

For now, it’s the little boys nap time and I may just join him ;-)

Well, here it is. The “After” picture of the boys closet.

Pretty nifty, huh?

It took a while because not only did I clean out their closet, I also cleaned out 9 drawers in the room.

Also, as you can see HERE my littlest is sill not feeling well.

I’m so proud of my clean closets!!

Let’s review…

MY CLOSET: BEFORE & AFTER

THE GIRLS CLOSET: BEFORE & AFTER

and of course THE BOYS CLOSET: BEFORE

Now, the laundry room and the corner of my living room are filled with all the “stuff” that came out of these closets. LOL! I promise it won’t stay there long. Next week we’ll be in the Living Room / Dining Room and that mess will be taken care of.

Eventually I’ll get everything into the laundry room then it will be out the door with all the “stuff”. Where’s it gonna go? Well now, that’s a GREAT question and when I have an answer I’ll let you know.

For now, I’m gonna sit back and enjoy those beautiful closets ;o)

Much better, wouldn’t you say? A place for everything and everything in it’s place :-)

(Click HERE for the “Before” picture)

I think I might label each box so the girls can’t say “I can’t pick it up, I don’t know where it goes.” LOL

Here is the final closet that needs to be de-cluttered…The Boys Room!

There is one of those stinky, clutter-makin’ boys, right there! Doesn’t he look proud of the mess he’s made? LOL! But, ya gotta luv him ;-)

What this picture doesn’t show are all the drawers that are full of stuff all around his room. Those will be de-junked,too.

Now, all of this work I have planned depends on this sick little boy HERE. If he is still stuck to me like glue, the above plan might get thrown out the window.

Wish me luck!

My mission….should I choose to accept it….is to join the “Clean Closet Challenge”. Now, this isn’t just ANY closet. No….this is a closet that is shared by 2 little girls who think cleaning up means dumping everything in the closet.

Don’t believe me? Well, take a look for yourself.

I’ve got to tell ya, I’m a little sacred of this mission. I’m very afraid that once I venture in I’ll get lost and never find my way back out.

However, it must be done and I am just the woman to do it. I’m going to be RUTHLESS. Toys MUST go!!!

If you can’t clean it up you don’t need it in your closet to pull out, right?

I’ll be sure to post after pictures so you will know I made it back from the Great Abyss ;-)

It’s been a busy week, hasn’t it? Have you accomplished what you set out to do? I think I’ve done a pretty good job. Here’s my latest project.

Let’s revisit my closet. Are you up to it? I know it’s a bit scary but it will be over quickly.

That is one cluttered closet! Now this is how it looks when your closet vomits all over you newly cleaned bedroom… *sigh* it’s such a vicious cycle!

Oh, but after that hard work the reward is SO worth it!

Now it will be easier to put away my clean clothes instead of just laying them down on my desk.

I also cleaned out from under my bed. It wasn’t bad, but I did have the kids blocks stashed under there and they needed to go.

I have a couple of drawers I want to go through on Saturday and then my room will be de-cluttered. Well, except for my husbands closet, but I don’t do his closet. I’d never know what to keep and what to get rid of.*smile*

I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished this week. The next time I’m in the master bedroom I will be cleaning it instead of de-cluttering it. I intend for it to be a haven for my beloved and me. Hopefully by the summer I can do some painting and sprucing up in there.

Now it’s your turn. Brag on yourself and leave me a comment.

Be sure to take some time for fun this weekend!

Do you remember this shameful mess from yesterday?.....



And this embarrassed desk?....


Well, take a look at THIS....And THIS....

And one more....Yes, I've been very busy in my bedroom. I got all the Christmas bargains taken to my building and put away in plastic totes. I got all the clothes put away. I cleaned out the desk and only put back what needed to be there. I even polished the desk and cleaned the window.

Oh, there is much more to do but it feels so nice to have this part done.

I won't be home Thursday, so I'll be doing a little bit more in my room Wednesday evening than I had originally planned. The goal is to de-clutter this....



I won't get to the items in the drawers this time. The top two small drawers are FILLED with pictures I need to sort out. This is the type of thing I want to have time to do and once I get things de-cluttered, clean and on a routine, I WILL have time to do it.

Once I clean off that piece of furniture, polish it and wipe down the items that actually belong on the shelves, the room will (for the most part) be de-cluttered.

That will leave the CLOSET! and one drawer in my room that has a few shorts that I need to clean out. I hope to have that taken care of by Friday.

We'll just see how it goes.

How are you doing? Are you de-cluttering anywhere? Deep cleaning? Share how you are doing...I'd love to know.

For Friday we have a few fun and important tasks to do.

First:

Get rid of all the junk that has collected there this week... junk mail, drink cups, kids papers...pick it up and get it out.

This is also a good time to vacuum your car.

You might even want to Windex your windows on the inside.

You may even choose to drive through a car wash to get the outside nice and clean, too.

If you do this every Friday it will get clean and stay clean.

Wow! I love being in a clean car. I know when mine is full of junk (like it is right now) it really gets on my nerves and I believe it affects the kids attitude, too.

Let's get those cars de-cluttered, clean and ready for the weekend!!!!

Second:

Take 5 minutes to dump your purse and clean it out.

Throw out any paper you don't need.

Toss those used tissues, the candy papers, odds and ends you just stuffed in there.

Now, only put back what you need.

How nice and light a cleaned out purse feels.

And Third....

Date Night!!!

Yep, it's time for some fun!! You and your beloved need some time together ALONE. Plan a date night.

Now, for us, it's not usually a Friday. In fact, we haven't been having a "Date Night" but that's going to change. Our children go to AWANAS every Wednesday night from 6:30 - 8:00.

PREFECT for some time together! We don't even have to get a baby sitter!!!

We may go out for a simple dinner...maybe dessert and coffee...maybe we'll stay at home and talk without interruption (is that even possible??)...maybe we'll stay home and NOT talk *wink wink* The idea is to plan some time to reconnect with each other without the pressures of being a parent.

I thought I’d show you how I organize my coupons and how I’ve prepared for triples at Bloom.

First, here is my binder. It zips up to keep all my coupons safe from falling out. There is a small zippered compartment on the front where I keep pens, highlighters and scissors.

This is how I store the coupons. I bought the baseball card holders at Walmart and put one type of coupon per slot. If I have 4 of the same coupon they are in the same slot.

I LOVE using my binder. I find it much easier to flip pages and be able to see all my coupons at a glance than to have to dig through inserts each time I want a coupon.

I have dividers in it to separate the different types of coupons I have, like personal care, grocery, frozen, baby. pet, medicine, etc.

Here are some more of my “tools”. You must have a calculator and I really LOVE this one. It’s SOOO big. Easy to push the buttons and see the numbers. This time I have a notebook with my coupons listed for “possible” deals at Bloom on Friday. I also have a small organizer that I converted to a coupon holder.

Here is my list of “possible” deals for my trip to Bloom. I don’t always do this. The ad wasn’t great for matching up deals this time so I decided to make a list of coupons I would like to use if the deal was good enough. I put the value of the coupon and what it was for (example: $0.50 Success Rice) I also figured the tripled amount and wrote it out to the side ($1.50). My brain needs all the help it can get at 8:00 in the morning :-)

My Dad bought me this small organizer. It came with this nifty calculator in it. This is great because I always have it with me. You never know when you need a calculator.

I punched holes in envelopes and labeled one for each store I shop at. If I’m going to multiple stores I pull the coupons I need from my large binder and put them in the proper envelope a head of time. When I go to the store, I only need to pull out the coupons I’m going to use at that particular store and I won’t have to dig though all of them.

If I’m doing triples and I’m not sure which coupons I’ll use, I leave the coupons in the larger binder. Once I match up a coupon to a deal I want to buy, I place that coupon in my envelope. That keeps me from getting my coupons scattered or lost.

The organizer came with these neat little clear pages in the back and I keep many of my savings cards here, especially the ones I don’t use all the time.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I organize my coupons. Hopefully I shared some ideas with you that were helpful.

How do you organize your coupons? How to you get ready for a triples event? Leave me a comment and tell me or post about it on your blog and leave me the link.

This will be my last full day in the kitchen. Friday Bloom is having triple coupons so I’m making plans to get done in the kitchen today so I can be gone Friday morning. One great thing about Flylady is that you can customize the program to fit your needs.

My goals for today are to:

• wash the outside of the fridge
• wipe off the ceiling fan (do you have a ceiling fan in your kitchen? have you ever looked at the blades? boy can they get GROSS!!)
• clean any decorative items
• Windex the windows and blinds
• clean out the inside of the hutch and dust well

I’m not sure if I’ll get anything else done or if there will be anything left to do. I feel like I’ve had a very productive week in the kitchen. It looks nice and feels nice. Oh, how wonderful to wake up every morning to a sparkling clean kitchen. It just starts my day off right.

So did I accomplish my goals for Wednesday? Yes.

Did I do anything extra? No.

I got up thinking , “Well, I really DON’T have to make the bed up before the kids go to school. There is no reason I can’t do it after they leave.” But as I was getting them up I looked at the empty bed I was already standing at and thought, “Really, how long will it take? Just do it.” So I went a head and made up those beds.

The same thing happened at breakfast. I really didn’t want to clean up those dishes. All I had to clean up were 3 small plates, 3 forks and 3 cups. I quickly filled up the sink and washed the dishes. They drip-dried in the few minutes I was helping the kids and then I put the dishes away. My kitchen was nice and shinny again.

Dad took the kiddos to school and I thought, “If I just swish and swipe this bathroom, I’ll be done with my morning routine until the youngest gets out of bed and my hubby is done in the master bath.” Swish….Swipe and I was finished.

Want to know what I did next? I plopped my tired self on the couch and went back to sleep ;-) Yep…I sure enough did and it was wonderful. My house was back in order, clean and tidy and I took a much needed rest. How nice to feel like I could do that without feeling like I was neglecting something.

Later, little man got up and had his “cheese grits” for breakfast and dear hubby was off to work. I quick made up the bed and wiped that master bath. Beautiful! (if you look past the clutter in the master bedroom that will be cleaned up once I get to that Zone)

I did wipe over the kitchen cabinets and drawers. It only took a few minutes since I had cleaned them a few weeks back. I then took all the appliances off the counter tops so I could bleach the counter. My counter tops are white-white and stain easily so occasionally I’ll use bleach and hot water to get them nice and clean again. That done, I wiped down the appliances as I put the back in place. “D” and I took a time out for lunch, then I pulled the stove out and cleaned it well, cleaned the sides of the cabinets beside the stove, then swept and mopped under the stove.

I then got ready to pick up the kids from school and guess what?

That’s all I did Wednesday!!! Yep, I just lazed about the whole afternoon.

And it was good…..

• Kids up, dressed, fed and off to school
• All beds made up
• Bathrooms swished and swiped
• Kitchen cleaned up from breakfast
• Over all house is neat and tidy
  

1. Make all beds ~ DONE ~

2. Empty dishwasher ~DONE~

3. Toss in a load of laundry ~DONE~

4. Wipe down both bathrooms ~DONE ~

5. Sweep and mop kitchen, laundry room and bathroom floors

(I've DONE the bathrooms; still need to do the kitchen and laundry room)

6. Clean bathtubs and showers ~DONE~

7. Feather dust ~DONE~

8. Vacuum ~DONE~

My break is now over. I'm gonna grab a small bite to eat then head into the kitchen.

I'm going to get all the clutter picked up, make sure all the dirty dishes are in the dishwasher, sweep and mop the floor then work on that fridge.