I currently use the binder system – catagories for my coupons. I first read about your system over at Crystal's blog and I'm considering going that route. Flipping through pages is so cumbersome! I've also done the insert thing – HUGE FAIL.

I am also thinking I'm not taking full advantage a AFC and HCW. I've visited both sites, but never really camped out. I think I should. (I've done GG, but I didn't feel I was 'hard core' enough to keep spending the money).

Katy, if you come back and read this, even a few stockpiled items will save you money. Can you keep a box under the bed or make room on half a closet shelf?

Your situation is completely different — and probably needs a different approach. (My experience recently has been rural/suburban. And while I am attracted to the hubbub of the city and an urban lifeatyle, that's not where God has placed us in this season.)

That said, I don't think that renting storage space is your answer. We once lived in 250 sq ft – me, FishPapa, and the 1st FishBaby. My husband became very adept at building shelving EVERYWHERE. A lot of it was unused overhead space. We still were able to stockpile at Costco, going every 4-6 weeks, but we lived w/ our stockpile in plain view. That didn't bother us. But, it might for other people. For us, that was one of the costs of living in a studio in Santa Barbara. (I have wonderful memories of that season, though! Wouldn't trade it for anything.)

I encourage you to bloom where you're planted. And it sounds like that's what you're doing. Trying to find the best ways to use your resources.

Do you read http://smallnotebook.org/? She talks a lot about apartment living and frugality and has some great tricks for small space living.

I live in NYC and do have a car and access to a variety of stores but am always wondering if it's the best use of my resources. Also, living in an apartment I don't have a lot of room to stockpile.

I guess I could rent a storage space. Hmmmm….

(P.S. I grew up in La Jolla)

Great questions and all of them are ones that my husband and I have seriously addressed over the last 15 months since I started doing this. I've used this method in two major cities now, Kansas City and San Diego, and we've come to the same conclusions both times.

All the stores that I go to are within 1-4 miles of my house and actually make a circuit. One is even across the street from my husband's work, so he usually makes that stop for me. I do all the stops usually in one 2 hr period – if I'm doing ALL the stores. I often choose 1-2 of the best ones and don't go to all of them. But, I often do.

Since couponing we've been able to reduce our grocery bill by $200/month. Previously, I did all my shopping at SuperWalmart – and that still took 1-2 hours every week. I figure that the time spent researching and clipping saves me about $25/hr in the average week. Often, the savings is greater.

Gas hasn't been an issue since we live so close to these stores and since I work it into other errands.

I also don't shop every week. By getting things on sale, I stockpile and we can go 2-3 weeks if we need to, if I'm too tired, if the sales are good, etc.

For me $200 is a little more than a few dollars, esp with 8 mouths to feed. This works for us. But, it may not work for everyone. So, please don't read this as "this is how you should do it." This is just how I do it.