This question comes from one of my readers who is just getting started…
Two years ago my ankles went out and I haven’t been able to walk since. I was starting to coupon then but I have since found that it is much harder in a wheelchair. Do you have any ideas for how I can do this easier? The binder is very hard to hold on my lap and look through.
Hi there. I wanted to comment on this one because I have 2 artificial legs and use a motorized scooter in the stores. I don’t take binders with me, because they are too bulky. I do ALL of my planning before I get to the store and put the coupons I plan on using in a little (about 5×5) binder that fits in my purse and hangs on the steering part of my scooter. If there are other coupons I want to take with me I put them in a different compartment. The main part is making a list of everything I’m getting and making a list of coupons that I have. It becomes a big hassle if I have to keep taking out my binder, even if it is small. I find it MUCH easier to hold a piece of paper with all the information. Plus, it keeps me on task and I don’t spend all day in the store. Regardless of your physical condition you can coupon. It really is all about the planning. I hope this was helpful. :-) Good luck!!!
I use a small recipe box. The coupons fit perfectly and it’s easy to carry. The box came with tabs, so I labelled them according to category. My categories include toiletries, dairy, meat, frozen items, pasta & cans, baby, candy, cleaning, laundry, etc. Works for me. :)
I would suggest pulling your needed coupons before you leave your house and setting them aside in a separate envelope.
I recently switched from my big, bulky binder to two, separate expandable coupon holders like this one by Carolina Pad http://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Pad-13-Pocket-Organizer-12585/dp/B004F67EJK/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1328105464&sr=8-12
One contains my cosmetics, cleaning, paper, and laundry coupons. The other contains my coupons for groceries. I alphabetize each section, as well, to make it easier to find the coupon I need. I’ve found they’re much easier to tote around. Hope this helps!!
I always take only the coupons I need for my shopping trip. I would never get out of the store otherwise! :) I make my list ahead of time, pull my coupons and leave the rest home! Best wishes to you. I hope you find a method that works well for you!
I suggest printing out a list of sale items from this or other websites that have the items with sizes listed and marking down on the list how many of each you need. Match up the coupons at home. I use a large paperclip (or envelope) to attach them to list in the same order, as I find each item, I move the coupon to the back. No need for a binder. I try not to buy extra items because I’ve already picked everything that is at it’s best price but sometimes I do carry a few coupons for toothpaste,soap or whatever just in case there happens to be an unadvertised closeout deal. I am saving over $75/wk now that I am couponing and hope this can help you too! :)
Hello,
I take my binder with me and leave it closed and in the basket, and pull out all the coupons I need at the end, before I go to the checkout line. That way I dont have to keep it open and balancing in the cart the whole time (which can be challenging, especially with the smaller carts at CVS & Walgreens. Also I still have all the coupons with me in case a clearence deal or unadvertised deal comes along. Good luck!
I went to Hobby Lobby (with one of those 40% off one item coupons!) and bought a box that is used for photos. It has some dividers in it and I made some additional dividers. It sits inside the “seat” of a grocery cart and should fit in one side of the grocery basket that is attached to most of the wheelchair baskets in stores now. I made the front dividers into categories (paper goods, dairy, personal care, breakfast, etc) and the back dividers are stores. Before I go to the store, I take the coupons from the front to the individual stores. It’s a lot easier to use than the binders and may help you here.
I agree plan and have out what you need for your trip. What if you had a binder in a case and you could sling it over the back of your chair?? Then if you needed something else you could just grab it.
I would make a list ahead of time and clip just the coupons you need and put them in an envelope too.
That is what I do because I would never carry a binder that seems like way too much work and way too much of a temptation to over spend.
I am also a wheelchair user that coupons. I do the same with the envelope system. I have one of those small accordian files. I pull all of the coupons I plan to use from the binder and put them in my file. I have a pocket for each store in it. I do keep the binder in the car that way if there is something I wasnt planning on getting I can always run out and see if I have a coupon.
First and foremost , the associates of any store are available to help people who need assistance. Using the envelope idea is a good one, but don’t forget some items are on a higher shelf and you will need assistance anyway. Never hurts to let management know you will need some assistance. But I do understand that some people want to be as independant as possible and that is great. My husband is in a wheelchair so I understand how things can become difficult.
And if you prefer using a binder what if you purchase a smaller , more manageable binder… anyway just some thoughts… :-)
Maybe you can pull out the coupons you’ll need while you’re still at home and put them into a smaller file. I bought a little file from the dollar bin at Target and I put all my coupons that I need into that before I go to the store. Do you have a place on your chair to store the binder while you’re shopping? That way you’ll still have the binder with you to look for coupons if you find something else at the store that you weren’t planning on buying.
I’m in a wheelchair and I coupon. What I do is go through my binder before I go shopping and put all the coupon I’m going to use in an envelope. I then put the envelope in my purse.
The secret to couponing, whether in a wheel chair or not, is to plan your trip before you leave home and only take the coupons for the items on your list – I put mine in an envelope. I make out my list and put a qty beside each item corresponding to the number of coupons I have for that product. Then I know exactly what to put in my cart and should they be out of an item the only shuffling through coupons I have to do is pulling that particular items coupon out of my envelope.