When my Yellowbook phone directory was recently delivered, I was delighted to see it’s a more compact version than in previous years (almost like a portable “companion” or take-along “mini” directory). The shrinking size of phone books is due, in part, to the loss in ad revenue (but they fit much better in my cupboard now); however, I was surprised to see the coupon section missing this year.

As someone who loves a deal, I automatically flip to the coupon pages and clip the worthy coupons (mainly for restaurants I plan to visit in the future) every time I receive a phone book. Unlike most coupons that expire within a few weeks, phone book coupons are free and valid for an entire year, and I don’t have to purchase an Entertainment coupon book.

This autumn, I canceled our eight-year subscription to the daily newspaper to save a few bucks each month. In one of the worst economic downturns in history, more consumers are following suit by becoming more frugal. In fact, more consumers report using online coupons than a year ago. Adjusting to a coupon-free phone directory, I’m clipping less coupons but wasting more toner by printing online coupons at home. I love digital coupons and almost never buy anything online without a promo code: free shipping, $15 off a $100 purchase, etc. But using an entire sheet of paper to print one online coupon can be seen as wasteful, and folding the paper and storing it in my coupon organizer for an in-store visit is a pain.

I am by no means an early adapter, as I haven’t seen a great enough need to invest in a smartphone yet. However, if 2010 is the year of mobile, I may consider buying a smartphone for the convenience of no longer having to print coupons. I can simply visit a coupon landing page via my mobile device, then show the retailer my smartphone’s screen at the point of purchase to redeem an offer. Plus, with all the free smartphone offers this week heading into the peak of holiday promotions, the opportunity cost of not having a mobile-Internet device is beginning to outweigh the higher monthly bill of paying for a data package.