Handle the Paper Clutter
For the last 6 months I have spent a LOT of time helping people to handle their paper clutter. They feel stuck wondering if they should throw their paper away. But they get so excited about a 35% coupon that they feel they need to keep it (for something that they don’t really need).
So let’s talk about coupons since this is something that I see a ton of at almost every home.
Some people are saving a ton of money using coupons and if you are one of those people, Kudo’s to you! Some, not all, are very organized hoarders and their purpose in life is to walk out of the store with a cart full of things that they paid a minimal amount for. I’m not knocking what they are doing. I commend you…I don’t have the time or patience for that.
I believe that the paper clutter caused from coupons is a psychological game that retailers are very good at! People hold on to that paper because it will give them the satisfaction of some therapeutic retail shopping! We are all looking for ways to save money, why would (or should) we pay full price for something unless we have to. However, keeping all of the coupons that come in the mail with the hopes that you will remember where the coupon is when you go shopping is a struggle for most. Just this week I threw out a stack of coupons at a woman’s home. They were all expired for at least a week and some for several months.
Darn, that missed opportunity to save 35% on a blouse that you didn’t need!
My experience with paper clutter is that it is out of control and causing stress and anxiety. It is the main reason that families don’t sit at the table together for dinner anymore (in my personal opinion).
Here is some food for thought about coupons and the paper clutter that they create. What is an alternative?
More and more people shop online because they have received an email with some huge sale that is going on at the local Belk or Macy’s of the infamous BJ’s coupon book!
Statistically roughly 8 in 10 Americans are online shoppers and 15% buy online on a weekly basis. They order what they think they need, save $$$ on gas and can do some comparison shopping between stores without leaving their home. Now that is what I call being a smart shopper! And no paper clutter to deal with!
Let me be clear. I am not a shopper. I don’t like to shop and I don’t have a lot of extra anything in my office or home. Less is definitely more when it comes to our “stuff”.
Here is my simple solution to the coupon clutter issue:
1. Shred them immediately, don’t even look at them. Why?
2. Because if you need to shop for something you can find an online discount for the same thing. There is ebates, retailmenot.com and joinhoney.com and this is just a few of the online sites that offer coupons for just about everything you can imagine. (And I’m sure that you know of other sites as well).
3. Get over the need to physically feel and touch the coupon. There is a very high chance that you will forget the coupon at home when you go out shopping, not be able to find it when you need it, or it will be expired by the time you use it.
Let me make this disclaimer….I know that there are some people who enjoy the coupling and touching the paper and are super organized with the process. I say, Kudo’s to you!! And, you are not the person that needs help with their paper clutter!
Give yourself permission to eliminate your coupon paper clutter. I’m willing to bet that you won’t miss it at all – especially if you are able to begin enjoying a family meal at the dinner table.
If you need help, just pick up the phone and give us a call. We can talk about it for 15-20 minutes with no obligation and maybe change your though process.
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