Coupon Organization - Trade Box

You should have separate files for your personal coupons and the coupons you trade.  Setting up similar formats will make your life easier.  But these should always remain separate.  Remember, keeping organized gives you better access.  And when trading, allows you to complete better trades!

Click on each image below to see the pictures full size.

This is my trade box of coupons.  Yes, I know VERY organized!  The categories listed here correspond with the trade list I post on my website.  This allows me to easily find coupons requested by other trades.  Since I can find everything so easily, I can get my trades out quickly.  This allows me to do ongoing trades with my favorite traders!

This is the full size image of my trade box.  Click the image to the left and it will display the full size image so you can get a closer look.  This type of organization may take a little time in setting up.  But once it is set up, all your coupons are at your fingertips, so you can get the most of every trade!  Each category here corresponds to the categories on my web page.

Okay, as of 10/2005, I now have 2 (yes TWO) trade boxes;  Half the categories in one, and the other half in the other!!!

I would suggest creating a website for posting your available coupons.  To the left is a screen shot of my available coupons web page.  This is definitely the best way to list what you have for many reasons.

1. You can EASILY update this list as you add and remove coupons (make sure you have an "updated" date listed at the top.

2. You can add the link to your email signatures so everyone can access it

3. Your link will be saved by many of your regular traders to see what you have and get you more trades

Create a master list of the coupons you have available to trade.  We have all seen many emails and websites that are hard to read in order to find the coupons you want.  I would suggest creating something In Microsoft Excel or use the worksheet I created.  The reason I suggest Excel is a few reasons:

• Excel allows your to sort keeping all your similar items together, alphabetize, etc...

• Excel has a FIND feature, which can allow you to locate an item.  this has happened when I could not find a coupon in a category I thought it would be in.  As it turns out, there were either blinkies or internet coupons being requested, which were their own categories.

• Once you complete your list, it can be saved, and simply copied and pasted to your website for updates.

Free Web Space

You can get FREE web space, just do a Google search and find something.  Free web space normally displays ads.  Try to avoid those that have pop-ups, these are just plain annoying, and many people will avoid your site as a result.  Or you can check out my coupon links page, as I have recently added some sites that offer free web space,