There are all sorts of ways to keep our frugal lifestyles in check - including in the area of organizing. Here are 5 organizational hacks I use at my house, that are not only great ideas, but also very affordable!
I use clothespins for more than hanging clothes! I don’t have any “chip clips” at my house - instead my family uses clothespins to keep items like chip bags, cereal bags, frozen veggie bags closed. I also use clothespins to keep winter accessories in order in the coat closet. To be sure my kids to keep from losing one mitten out of a pair, I keep the mittens and gloves together using a clothespin. I’ve also used a clothespin to hold a lit match when the wick was too deep inside a burned down jar candle.
When organizing coupons, get a plastic expandable coupon holder to keep them organized by store after you have clipped them. Be sure to get plastic and not a cardboard one like this one, The cardboard ones may be cheaper, but they don’t hold up well and will probably rip within 6 months of use. Put in a few more dollars now and get a durable coupon holder that will last a couple of years! I also prefer a coupon size holder rather than a coupon binder because it is easier to carry around. I only clip what I know I will use and keep my newspaper inserts on hand in a filing cabinet. If I find a deal later on with a coupon I didn’t initially cut out, I can go back and clip it as I need them rather than clip everything “just in case” I find a deal to use it on.
A friend of mine is a professional organizer and one great tip she recommended for me was to get rid of empty water bottle clutter and instead get a set of Reduce Water Bottles. It is cheaper in the long run to just keep filling these with tap water. They are dishwasher safe, and I don’t have to worry about storing bags full of empty water bottles to return to the store for recycling.
You may think that Command Hooks are just handy for hanging pictures or Christmas decorations. But you can use them in the shower to hold a basket that holds shampoo and face wash. I had a shower caddy that used suction cups to hold it up, but the suction cups lost their suction after awhile. Try using Command Hooks and a basket from a dollar store instead!
I installed this about 2 weeks ago and the toothpaste mess that was all over the sink has disappeared! My kids now know exactly where to keep their toothbrushes as they now neatly hang and dry on the wall. This was totally worth the $10 to neaten up the bathroom and give my kids some order when it came to brushing their teeth.
What about you? What are affordable gadgets that you use at your house to help with organization? I know this isn’t a complete list and would love some more ideas!
Maura White is a Frugal Lifestyle blogger over at Happy Deal - Happy Day!
