Cardboard Box for Trunk ItemsA really sturdy cardboard box kept in the trunk of your car makes a great catch-all and keeps stuff from rolling around. Make sure you choose a heavy corrugated box
Organize Loose WiresUse plastic shower rod hangers to organize loose wires through out the house.
Creative Storage IdeasHow about brainstorming on how to find more storage room? To start off, I hide stacks of magazines, books, or baskets of knitting, underneath floor-length tablecloths.
Scan Your Important PapersIf you have access to a scanner, scan and file on disk all your important papers, such as birth certificates and medical documents that you would be hard pressed to reproduce in a short time.
Utensils on the CounterTo maximize kitchen drawer space, put flat wear in matching or eclectic decorative mugs on the countertops, leaving an extra drawer free, and keeping your flatware handy for constant use. A cut down Gatorade bottle makes a nice holder as well.
Use a "Magic Can" for Odds n' EndsI have a 3 lb coffee can that I add all screws, pieces of blinds, wing nuts, lamp parts and "what have you" that are left over. For over 30 years now if I have needed something to hang a picture, anchor or screw I just look in the "MAGIC CAN" and there it is.
Egg Cartons for Storing EarringsI use the bottom of empty egg cartons to store my earrings. They each have 12 separate compartments and you can store them one on top of each other if you just use the bottoms and throw away the tops.
Make A Clean Sweep Of Your HouseIf you have not yet seen the show on TLC called "Clean Sweep", you should! I came from a long line of relatives that hung on to everything for whatever reasons. This show has really opened my eyes to what you should or should not keep and when.
Make a Rag Holder out of an Old T-ShirtYou can make a wonderful rag holder out of an old t-shirt. Find a large or x-large t-shirt that you are no longer using. Put the t-shirt on a sturdy hanger, then tie off or sew the bottom of the t-shirt.
My Organization Plan: Office, Kitchen and GarageThe annoying thing about clutter is it becomes really tough to find things you need when you need them. That said, you don't need every surface to be barren of objects to be truly organized.
Use Junk Mail for Shopping ListsI save envelopes junk mail comes in and use it to stash my coupons and shopping list when heading to the grocery store.
Put Toothpicks in a Spice JarTo keep tooth picks clean and organized place them in an empty spice jar. One that has the sprinkle top spices and big enough holes for a toothpick to fit through. Just shake out toothpicks one at a time.
It's Garage Sale Season!A garage sale is a great way to get organized. The less stuff you have the less you have to organize. Clean out the garage and determine everything you are ready to get rid of.
Organizing Cooking Sheets and PlatesHere's an economical way to organize cookie sheets, plates, or anything that can stand on its side. Go to your local builders supply and get some unfinished corner molding.
Mark Names on UnderwearWhen my kids were little, I had four within 5 years, the last three were girls. As the girls started wearing panties, I put their initial in the back right under the elastic.
Easy to Remember PasswordNot necessarily a "thrifty" tip, but a time/trouble saving. If you're need a security code word or password you can use a phone number of a friend or family member that's ingrained in your long-term memory, along with their initials.
Wire Baskets for Organizing FreezerWire baskets for desktop In and Out baskets, the ones sold at stores like Staples, are great organizers in your cross-top freezer. Also, using mason jars that are vacuumed with a Food Saver attachment for a one meal snack, are easy to access by storing in the wire baskets.
Organizing My Make-Up with ContainersI found a way to organize my make-up that really works for me. Use a straight sided container the size you need, like a baby wipe box, and hot glue or duct tape small bottles and/or jars inside it.
Use a Toilet Paper Roll to Organize Messy WiresI recently rearranged my office, leaving a mess of exposed wires of all kinds. I covered a toilet tissue roll with wrapping paper, then wrapped all the wires into a hank and tucked them inside the roll.
Organizing SocksI use the dividers in glass bottle beer cases as sock dividers in my drawers. These dividers work just as well as the commercially sold ones in the organizational stores, but they are free.
By MaryME
Give the Kids a BriefcaseGive each child a cheap briefcase; you can often find these for next to nothing at Goodwill and consignment shops. A briefcase is better than a duffel bag or grocery bag because it limits the amount of stuff and makes a great personal desk.
Coupon StorageI get tons of coupons. The place I like to store them is a baby wipes container. There's lots of room and I never have to worry about losing the lid.
Basket for CouponsUse a basket on or near the door to collect coupons, outgoing mail, and items needed for errands. Then just grab the basket and go - you won't forget anything again!
Coupon Tackle BoxI use a small tackle box for my coupons. It has a sturdy latch and handle.
Individual Sock BasketsThis is a great tip that I have found works very well. Place a small basket on the top of the dryer, one for each family member. When the clothes are dry, you can throw each member's socks in the basket.
Keep Sticky Notes in the BathroomKeep sticky notes inside cabinet doors in your bathroom. When you run out or are low on an item, write it down. When it's time to shop, pick up your mini lists and you'll have everything written down.
Store Breakables in Liquor BoxesMy family used to run a restaurant/bar and we got TONS of beer boxes. By using the boxes with the dividers inside (used to keep the glass bottles from breaking) to store Christmas ornaments we had a thrifty yet extremely practical way to protect glass ornaments and other breakables!
Organized Packing for CampWhen my son goes to camp in the summer I pack a set of clothes for each day, shorts, shirts, underwear, etc., in a large ziploc bag. He has everything in one place and can grab a bag on the way to the shower. It also saves on packing space.
Quick Clutter ControlWhen company is coming, take your clutter items and box them up for sorting at a later time. This saves me time when I am rushed for cleaning, as I can sort through the box while watching TV or a good rainy day project.
Prepare for Company the Night BeforeMy tip is something my Mom did when she had company staying over. Before she went to bed each evening, she would set the table and prepare everything possible. Then the cereals and jams were set on the table.
Store Recipes in ScrapbookWhen I clip recipes from catalogs, I slip them inside a scrapbook page, instead of re-writing them on a traditional recipe card. It protects the recipes and because there's so much space, I can often include a photo of the dish, if it's provided.
Make a Newspaper DispenserAs we know, newspapers can be used for a whole lot of things around the house. But they're so unruly and hard to grab. Here's an idea - open a few days' papers out on your kitchen table, use scissors to cut them into fourths.
Organizing Under the SinkAn ordinary sink has what I call a "hell hole" under it. Sure, you can buy expensive organizers, but when money is tight, consider these means of organizing things.
Grocery Shopping List TipsEveryone probably knows that it is helpful to put a shopping list on fridge so that you can make note of what you have run out of. Another good idea is to put a list on the inside of your cupboard or panty where you store dry goods.
Trash Cans for Sorting ClothingTo make laundry sorting easier and faster I have a blue 10 gallon trash can for blue jeans, a white one for whites, and a green one for everything else.
Making Your To-Do List FunThe "Flash List". This is a game I made up to get five things done really quick. Start by cutting up small pieces of any kind of scrap paper, keep them in a small box on the edge of your desk.
Velveeta Box Drawer OrganizersDon't throw away the bottom of your velveeta box when the cheese is gone, they make great drawer organizers! They hold any little bits.
Keep Extra School Supplies on HandI am the grandmother of 6 of which 3 stay with us most of the time and are school age. Last year, a much learned lesson was learned by Grandmother.
Hang Dresses and Suits Quickly for Less WrinklesDon't toss that suit jacket on a chair when you get home! Hang it quickly and it will help reduce wrinkles. The heat from your body helps ease the wrinkles out of the garment as it hangs. The same goes for dresses.
Untangling Leftover YarnDo you have piles of leftover yarn that is in knots instead of balls? Try this, take an empty toilet paper holder, put a little split on one end, cut the yarn anywhere, and attach to the holder.
Keep the Clutter Down, Don't Let it OverflowOne way to keep clutter down is to provide dedicated space/containers, baskets, shelf space, plastic tubs, hangers, and hooks, for items which tend to accumulate.
Organizing Kids Socks and UnderwearI organize kids socks and underwear so they don't get bunched up together. I use the bottom half of plastic coke bottles or liter bottles of other soda to do this. You can see through them, and they keep the drawer neat.
Keep an Errand Tote By the DoorKeep a tote bag somewhere near your door. Put anything in it that needs to be taken out of the house. I keep a file folder in mine for lists and other paper items I don't want to get messed up.
Organizing GlovesEver have trouble finding that elusive other glove? Well, I take pinchey clothes pins, thread a string through the hole and nail them to the inside of my closet door. Then I simply hang the gloves together on these clothes pins.
Keeping Important Items HandyIf you find you lose things perpetually, you can buy a simple CD holder, hang it up, and store all your small but necessary items in it. It works great!
Plastic Boxes for Organizing ShoesI keep mine in the plastic "shoebox size" Rubbermaid totes. That way I can stack them and easily grab the ones I want. For shoes I don't wear a lot, I keep them stuffed with tissue paper.
Store Shoes in Their BoxesIf you can get hold of the cardboard boxes shoes are sold in (or you may have kept them anyway), I have heard a tip for taking a photo of each pair and sticking it to the front of the box, then stack the boxes up in an unobtrusive corner.
Hang Jeans On Wire HangersA great use for wire hangers is to bend each end up toward the top so that you can insert belt loops of jeans and hang them.
Free Cubby Storage for YarnFor people who knit, crochet, or just need a lot of smaller storage spaces, go to a store that sells liquor and ask if you can have their empty liquor boxes.
Bedside Beverage IdeaMy DH is handicapped and he has a terrible time turning over his drink by the bedside. He loves to drink flavored drinks made with Splenda as he is a diabetic. I have come up with a great way to keep his drink safe and handy for him.
Carrying Case for SnacksParents, are you tired of those smashed up snacks in your diaper bag or kid's backpack? I have found that if I store my daughter's Nutrigrain bars in an old hard-sided glasses case inside my diaper bag, they don't get all crumbly anymore.
Storing FunnelsIf you use funnels in your garage or workshop for filling oil, gas, herbicides, pesticides, etc., you waste a lot of time and money if you clean them after each use.
Cup Rack Necklace HolderDo your chains and beads get all tangled up? Mount an adjustable wooden cup rack on the back of your closet door. Now you can hang your necklaces tangle free.
By Debra in Colorado
No Cooking Oil MessTo prevent cooking oil from messing up your shelves, simply cut the tops off of old socks and slip them on the oil bottles.
Separate Bins for Each Family MemberOverhead, above our washer and dryer, I had my husband install a shelf that runs the entire length of the washer and dryer. On this shelf I placed five mini laundry baskets the ones that are usually 10" x 12". I labeled each basket with a name each person in our family.
Dry Storage on a BoatIf you have items in a boat that must be kept dry (registration, etc.), vacuum seal them.
By Nancy Wall
New Use for a Baby Changing TableHere is a way to recycle and reuse your old baby dressing table. They make perfect storage for your laundry room. On the shelves you can put your laundry supplies and a plastic bin for mis-matched socks.
Put Ads at the Bottom of the Garbage CanEver wonder what to do with all the paper advertisements and leftover grocery ads that you always end up throwing away? Fold them up and fit them into the bottom of your garbage cans throughout the house. Then use your leftover grocery bags for trash can bags.
Storing Tupperware LidsI have a file cabinet in my pantry. I got it from a pal for planning her yard sale and I use it to store my Tupperware lids. No more lids falling out of my kitchen cabinets when opening the doors or unsightly, unorderly cabinets for someone to look in while visiting.
Cupboard Organizing TipUpon cleaning out my cupboard this last time, I found that placing everything into plastic ziplock bags or container made everything easier to get to and to organize.
Recycling School PapersI recycle my children's school papers. I don't have room for them all. However, if I find a recipe or project idea on the Internet that I want to print out, I use those school papers. I get to keep them and not have them take up unnecessary space.
Uses for VelcroI love sticky back velcro. I have velcro'd a large clip on top of my rolltop desk to put outgoing correspondence into, velcro'd a scratch pad to the visor of my car, and my personal favorite...
Donating to GoodwillRather then making a pile of stuff to go to Goodwill that gets bigger and bigger on top of the dryer, I hang a heavy duty trash bag on a hook in the garage which is two steps farther than the laundry room.
Use Jar Lids To Keep Your Cupboards CleanUse old peanut butter lids to set in the cabinet under containers of sticky stuff, like honey or molasses jars, to catch the little drips that always seem to drip down the sides and make a mess.
Department Store HangersUsually department stores give you the hanger that comes with shorts, especially children's. The ends have the plastic with the metal slider. The entire part can be snapped off easily and reused for snack bags and such.
By ceil
Towel Bar at Changing TableNot only does it hold a change of clothes, so I don't have to lift him half changed off the pad and search through his dresser with a naked baby in my arms, but it also keep the clothes out of his reach and holds musical toys that delight him when he isn't in the mood for changing.
Dry Erase Board for AppointmentsWe were always forgetting appointments, so we got a dry erase board and put it up right where we all could see it. We haven't missed an appointment since. It's also good for quick notes to each other.
Keep Glue Sticks HandyI keep a glue stick in my desk drawer for sealing envelopes that have lost their stickiness, stamps that have been taken off something I decided not to send, etc. They are so cheap I can keep one everywhere I might need one.
By Linda
Barrette/Hairbow HolderDoes you daughter have lots of hairbows and barrettes and no where to put them? Here's a great idea for making a barrette/hairbow holder.
Keeping Track of EarringsDo you have a hard time keeping up with earrings? Here's a thought. I bought 4 plastic ice cube trays. In each of the cube spaces I put a single pair of earrings. They stack easily and you can see 12 at once and find the pair you are looking for in a jiffy.
Quick Touch Ups Before Going OutKeep a lint brush by the door for quick touch-ups before going out. Works great on pet hair. To clean quickly, rub the lint brush in the "wrong" direction with a damp washcloth.
Saving Money vs. Saving TimeTo me, thriftiness is not just about saving money. It's about making the best use of the resources you have. For me, one of my most precious resources is TIME.
Saving Steps in the KitchenI always hang an empty plastic grocery bag on the top cabinet drawer handle below the sink, which is next to the stove. That way, as I empty packages or cans of food, I put the empty containers into it.
Keep Spices at Eye LevelI saved an old tin foil or a plastic wrap box and put it in the back of my spice cabinet. That way I can put some of the spices at a higher level and they don't get pushed into the back of the cabinet.
Storing Toiletries in a Small SpaceDon't have enough space to store all your toiletries in the bathroom? Hang a see-through shoe bag on the back of the door. Everything slips right in and you can see what you need.
Keep a Jar for Extra Screws and NailsI keep a jar handy to place all those extra screws, nails, etc. that came with the put-it-together yourself items that you buy. When my husband has only a nail, screw, nut, washer, or wall anchor or two left in what he is doing, I take them to place in my jar.
Storing Placemats Under Seat CushionsA neat and easy way to store placemats is to lift up your chair and sofa cushions and put them under the cushions. This will keep them flat and out of the way thus freeing up valuable storage space.
By Carole
Labeling Small Appliance CordsIf you have several small appliances sharing an outlet in the kitchen like I do, just use a permanent marker to label which cord prong goes to what for example: can opener, blender, toaster etc. then no more guessing which one to plug in.
Circle Numbers in the Phone BookWhen for the first time you look up the phone number of a person and/or a business take a pen and circle the name of the person and/or business. Then the next time you have to look the number up again, it will stick out like a sore thumb.
Keeping Funnels HandyI keep a funnel under the bathroom sink and in the laundry room for filling small bottles from large ones. Funnels can be found for 3 for a $1. Having them handy saves the time of looking for a funnel and then putting it away.
Extra Storage Space for Out of Season ClothingUse one of those storage boxes that can fit under your bed. I store out of season clothing there. Right now summer pajamas, shorts, short sleeve jerseys, bathing suits are stored in it.
Sleep In Smaller RoomsIf you are short on living space in your home consider this: use one of your smaller bedrooms for sleeping, and use your largest bedroom as a family room, den, or craft room.
Organizing Small ObjectsIn your garage you have all these nuts, bolts, nails, washers, things of that nature. Get jars, baby food jars are great. Take the lids off and nail the lids to the ceiling beams of the garage over your work area.
Write Information On The Back Of PicturesWrite your child's age, weight, and height on the back of professional photos (school pics, baby pics from a studio, etc) or on good quality home pictures. If, heaven forbid, you're child were to come up missing, you'll have important identifying information in one place.
Safe Can (Jar) for Hidden KeysI painted the inside of a mayonaise jar with white craft paint. I keep it in the refrigerator in the garage to store our house keys in. Works great and no more fumbling.
Reorganizing the Closet by Renovating ItI have discovered that taking out the rods and shelf and any other parts of a normal closet and changing the inside will give you much more storage space. You might even be able to get rid of one dresser.
Keep Good Records And Save ReceiptsTo keep all your records and receipts buy a good 4 drawer filing cabinet at a yard sale or thrift shop. This saves me a lot of time. When the IRS audited me, for 2 years back, I pulled out my bank file from 2 years ago.
Birthday And Anniversary Reminder ListIn addition to having a reminder a few days prior to the birthday or anniversary of a family member or friend, I also have a list on my computer, wordpad program.
Grocery List ChalkboardI have a grocery list board on my kitchen cupboard. I don't always have a pen and paper handy when I think of something I need at the grocery store. So I decided to use chalkboard paint to create a surface that I will always have handy.
Parking the Toy CarsMy daughter just loves little cars. So instead of stepping on them each and everyday. I saved a bunch of the apple juice containers. Cleaned them out, cut a hole in the front of them and made her some "garages" to park her cars in when she is done playing with them.
Keeping Pan Lids OrganizedTo keep my lids to my pans organized, I purchased a wire dish drainer and placed it in the cupboard beside my pans. I slide the lids in the slots the same you would do for plates and I no longer waste time and cause a lot of racket looking for the right lid.
Maximising Food Storage SpaceConventional storage in many cupboards in the home leaves a lot of wasted space. To maximise this space I have added 'intermediate' shelving.
Sock Matching Made EasyTips for easy sock sorting...
Save Shoe BoxesWhen buying shoes, keep the boxes they come in. This way, they'll be protected from being knocked around in your closet, you won't have to worry about loosing one, and it's great at helping to keep your closet tidy.
Store Addresses On The ComputerFor a fast, easy access to addresses, I keep an address book file on my home computer. That way, when Christmas time comes around or for birthdays, announcements, and such, it is there with just a click of the mouse.
Write Reminders On MirrorsHang small dry erase makers beside all the mirrors in your house and when you think of something that needs to be done or something that you need to buy, grab a pen and write it on a mirror!
Managing The Spice CabinetMy spice cabinet was a mess. Cans, bottles, jars in every size and shape imaginable. I had no idea which spices I had, they were hard to find, and they really didn't "fit" anywhere I put them.
Baseball Card Sheet Protectors for RecipesTo organize recipes, buy baseball card sheet protectors, and retype shorter recipes to fit in slots. For larger recipes, put in regular full size sheet protectors.
Keep a Calendar in the KitchenI have a calendar in my kitchen and absolutely everything I need to remember has to be written on there! I check it every day just to make sure that I don't miss anything.
Put Reminder on the DashMy hubby keeps an empty soda bottle top in his truck. When I ask him to bring something home or he has an errand that day, he goes and sticks the cap up on the dash.
Using Rubberbands To Help RememberMy wife used rubberbands to jog her memory. Somedays she will come home from work with 4 rubberbands on her wrist. Each rubberband represents something she wanted to do when she got home.
Remember Shopping Items Without a ListIf I'm running into a store for just a few things I will think of the words for each item I need, then with the starting letter from each word make a new word.
