This entire week we have been focusing on not buying more organizational products for storage and looking at what is already in the home. Frugal Living is a challenge in today’s economy so learning to see a treasure in a piece of trash is something you must learn.
Here are a few tips on recognizing items for what they can be, rather than what they are.
What else can be used for organizing?
– Baby Food Jars
– Containers used for other items (ie. Plastic Lego containers and buckets that no longer host the item, etc)
– Paint Buckets, and Regular Cleaning Pails
– Trash Cans – they can be decorated or painted on to make them “blend” into the decor!
– Medicine Pill Bottles (be sure to clean these thoroughly and I recommend covering them with something so the prescription or title of item is no longer showing)
– Potato Chip Cans – these can store rulers, pens, skewers for kabobs, even cooking utensils. If you are storing cooking utensils, be sure to weight the bottom of the can with some beans or something to be sure it doesn’t tip! (just paint or decorate the can and you can blend it with your decor nicely!)
– Pizza Boxes – These can be hard to use, and hard to find. First, often the pizza is stuck TO the box. However, if you do happen to come across a pizza box that is not completely covered in grease, cheese or sauce (it does happen!) line the bottom with something (I use wax paper) and you can store large craft projects, art projects and school work for each child. Just label the outside of the box with their name and the year and you can stack these on a shelf somewhere! You can also request these from pizza parlors, some are more than willing to share, but usually charge a small fee. If you are a scrapbooker and get a monthly kit, save the pizza sized boxes the kits come in to use for storage.
– Cardboard – cut shapes to fit the “project” and you can use these to wrap ribbons, wrapping paper scraps, Christmas tree lights, extension cords, etc.
You just have to see past the original purpose and you can turn anything into an organizational treasure.
See the frugal living blog for many articles dealing with frugal organizing, using what you have and seeing a treasure in nothing but a piece of trash!
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Tips for Not Confusing Organizing With Buying More Stuff
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Don’t Confuse Organizing With Buying More Stuff (2)
Don’t Confuse Organizing With Buying More Stuff (1)