You see the picture above... yes, that's a picture of the mess I've created in one of my many cupboards! I'm a clean person (I promise), but I have been doing some serious "let me just shove that here and I'll move it later" procrastination! I need some major accountability to get my butt in gear and get organized, so what a better way to do that then on my blog.The picture above will be clutter free and neatly organized by the time the evening rolls around and yes, you all will hold me accountable. If you're wanting to clean or organize a certain area in your home, then I challenge you to get your butt in gear too!:)
I also am going to challenge myself in another way too! I've been telling my hubby that we need to purchase some storage organization pieces for my overflowing stockpile and he keeps saying that we have so much "stuff" here, so why can't I just use something we actually have! You know what--he is so right!
Creativity is a big part of being frugal, so not only am I going to organize and clean up my kitchen today, but I am also going to think out of the box! Which means improvising and coming up with storage solutions by not spending a dime out of pocket and using items I have on hand!
Wish me luck!
40 comments:
Check with your local grocery store - they may be willing to give you 1 or 2 dairy crates. Good luck!!
You are so ambitious. I hope that it wears off on me. I keep saying I am going to sell half of everything in my house. No family of 4 needs this much "stuff" Good luck and I can't wait to hear about your creative storage solutions. By the way, I use diaper boxes with the top off and half of a side cut down to store my rags that need to be washed in my laundry room. I do the same for dishtowels. I too had wanted to buy storage, but duh this is free and does the job.
Collin,
I have a great suggestion for free storage...at least it was free for me. Go to your liquor store and ask for the wooden crates that real expensive wine comes in...I got them free at our liquor store...you could always call ahead first and maybe they will put some aside for you. You can stack them (horizontally), one on top of the other...if you have a large wall, you can stack them 5 or 6 high, and then make rows of them, like 3 or 4 rows. I have 3 rows...total 15 crates...it looks like a grocery store. Just be sure to put heavy stuff, like cleaning items on the bottom shelves. You can designate a shelf for like items. Check around at different liquor stores too.
If you can't get the crates and you know someone that works in an office, ask them for the business boxes that they get rid of...the brown boxes with lids and handles in the sides...you can stack these pretty high...put like stuff in each one, and then tape a piece of paper to the side with the contents written on it. The boxes with the handles are easier to grab and move around.
Now that you know my secrets, I'm going to go organize too...thanks for the inspiration...it really can get out of hand.
I SO need to do this. Since I started couponing (and now I realize I'm stockpiling too) I have been just putting my stuff wherever I can find some room. I HAVE to get it organized.
I too need to get rid of stuff. I'm going to start getting very familiar with Craigslist.
I've also had to give myself a "ten-item" limit. Once I've stockpiled 10 of something, I can't buy any more of it.
I use the empty boxes of oatmeal that I buy from Costco to organize things.
I also challenged myself to eat everything in our freezer and pantry for a time.
Other than our family meals, I was not buying anything.
I just cleaned my pantry last week! It's better organized now. I need to do what Fran said, but I don't have a liquor store near me:(
My husband may be able to get a few pallets and bring them home to build a 5 shelf storage for us in the second room.
I say 5 shelves, but I'll take 3. lol
Good Luck!
Can't wait to see how it comes out!
Okay...so if this is not organized for you, then I can't wait to see what organized looks like.
Ah-your cup runneth over with salad dressing, marinades, BBq sauce etc-just like all of us! I just took 10 bottles of bbq sauce out of the cupboard and put it in a bag for the food bank this AM. NOBODY needs as much bbq sauce as I had!
The local food banks will take anything that any of you need to get rid of and you will feel great about helping others with all the free and cheap stuff that you cannot use yourself.
If you drink soda, and have the left over soda boxes (the ones that are for the fridge) you can use those for your canned goods:)
My husband is on me saying the same stuff. I know he's right, but I just have so much. I finally have all the junk/scrapbook stuff/ decor items confined to one room in the house. So now my 3 girls are all bunking in one room so that I can have this junk room. Isn't that horrible?
First, get a box to give away, fill it up, and drop off.
Second, organize into categories.
Third, give yourself an eating from the pantry challenge and eat it up=)
Before I even read your post I was already gathering up product. This goes here, this goes there and now I'm thinking there is a great wind across America as all of are cleaning. But how did we all get the message at once. Hmmmmm!
What I do is that when I buy new shoes (which is quite often) I keep the shoe boxes and use them as storage. They are great if you have a lot of something and want to keep it in one box like crafts items so all the ribbon in one box and all the scrap fabric in another. I also use them to store all the trial size items we get for free like all shampoo and conditioner in one box and toothpaste in another. If you care about aesthetics then you get some leftover wrapping paper or even pages from old magazines, for a funkier feel, and wrap the paper and glue it to the outside of the box in it so they are all pretty and can be displayed around the room instead of in a closet so you have more storage space. You can take it one step further and wrap the boxes in different paper according to what's in it i.e. all the craft items are in red paper and all the hair accessories are in blue paper. To make it easier, you can put labels in the front so you know exactly whats in each box without looking inside. The shoe boxes are also great if you have a lot of knick knacks that don't really have a place to go. They come in many different sizes and are stackable which saves a lot of space unlike a basket where you can't stack things on top of it. And the best part of it is that they are also free! You can also call around to shoe stores and ask if they can put aside some unused shoe boxes.
My husband had a co-worker whose house burnt down. When they came around for a collection he said I would love to give cash but I will bring in something even better tomorrow. I packed a box with 1 mens, 1 womens of each: deodorant, razors, shave cream, shampoo, tampoons, pads, liners, body wash, body spray, toothpaste, toothbrushes (for the whole family) mini first aid kit, mouthwash, floss picks, and probably 10 other things that I don't remember. There had to have been $75 worth of product that I might have spent $10. I felt great being able to help that family and trust me it didn't even make a dent in my inventory. I have lots and lots but I feel like if something happens (job loss) then I have insured the future with all of these items. Run out of shampoo, kids run down to the basement and pick one out. They love to shop at home. But I too have a husband who just does not comprehend the thrill of a great deal. My girlfriend and I LOVE to go out on a couponing adventure. Keeps us out of trouble...The husbands know we are aren't out drinking, etc we are at Kmart for the doublers!! Although the other day they were baffled about the 4 hours if took us...our best haul ever!!
Another tip I got recently for the bathroom is you can take those over-the-door shoe organizers with the big pockets for shoes and put them on the inside of your bathroom door. They are great for organizing and storing bathroom things so that your counter space is free. You can use the different pockets for different things like hair bands in one and hair clips in another. Hairspray in one pocket and hair brush in another and put heavier items in the bottom pockets like a hair straightener.It is also great if many people are sharing one bathroom then each person can get one row of pockets for their things and everything is easy accessible and like I mentioned before, frees up a lot of your counter especially if you have a small bathroom.Make sure to get the organizers with see through pockets so you can easily see whats inside each pocket.
Hip2Save- check out flylady.net That is how I stay organized- she's awesome! One day/week for house cleaning, focus on one room/week, how to declutter, organize meals, etc. love it!
i thought it looked organized to me....i wish my cabients were that clean.
I know what you mean!!! Exactly how many sauces and dressings does a person need??? I acually stop my self at 3 on everything. I know, I know ladies- "But you're a couponer!" There will ALWAYS be great deals on something. I just don't have the space to stockpile so much stuff!
I skip over the coupons that are low-value (if I have 3) and stick to the ones that are waaaay to good to pass up or where you get stuff for free. Just keep the ones that are good through the end of the year or 2010, too...
:)That kind of looks like my pantry. All the salad dressing and bbq sauce is shoved in with the other food. Makes it hard to see what I have, so I'm ready to get organized too. It's the price I pay for all the good deals I get I guess.
Uuummm... this looks organized to me!?
DONATE DONATE DONATE!! Remember that foodbanks won't take expired food, so if it has recently exp'd keep it for yourself. If it will exp. in 30-60 days and you have several on hand, DONATE it. We're taking a load to the foodbank on Monday and my kids are so excited. There will always be free salad dressing and $0.50 boxes of cereal; but someone else out there is hungry tonight.
We have a big walk in pantry that has full length shelves (two sets- 10 shelves total) and it has been a HUGE un-organized mess! I'm almost a neat freak (if I didn't have kids and wasn't a realist to the fact that they can make large messes very quickly) so two days ago I decided to clean it out and organize everything and now it feels so much better. GOOD LUCK ON IT!!
Good God woman! Do I see A1 sauce on two different shelves? Get it together.
Just joking. My pantry is like the only thing in my whole house that is organized. If that's the worst of your problems, then I'm impressed!
The same thing is on my to do list! But it was breakfast with the "moms" to celebrate school starting this week. I plan on checking all my dates and donating some to the food pantry. I have lots of bottles of A-1 too! It's all those $2 off coupons you hooked us up with.
Love the ideas. Here's some more:
-put a tall thin bookshelf in the coat closet for more food storage room (measure it to make sure it fits)
-use gamma lids on 5 gallon food buckets which stack and store easily
-over the door hanging shelves (mine is for vhs movies) add more food space in your pantry or coat closet too! Good luck with all the organizing =o)
I just saw this giveaway...something here may help.
http://agiveawayeveryday.blogspot.com/2009/08/shelfreliance-giveaway.html
Here's another opportunity to donate. Claire over at Choyster Cash has a great charitable cause they travel a lot and share items that we tend to "stockpile", such as cereal, peanut butter, etc. and hygiene items as well. I know I have a ton of shampoo and body wash. They even have a truck that will pick your stuff up. I don't know her specific areas but it sounds like a worthy cause and the things we won't end up using are going to someone who actually needs them.
The only reason you are running out of space is that you are bringing in more food than you can use. Those salad dressings will probably expire before you use them all and how many A1 steak sauce bottles does one family need? I think you should donate the excess to the food pantry and go easier on the couponing!
Ooh, dairy crates... good idea. I've been using regular ol' boxes on their sides for years.
Ooh, dairy crates... good idea. I've been using regular ol' boxes on their sides for years.
That's it, you've motivated me! I also need more storage because I've filled up every cupboard and closet in the house! Good luck on the organizing & let us know how it all works out!
-Lindsey
I know the feeling, as my condo is a mess. However, I'm working on a new system that will include the software Filemaker Pro and a barcode scanner to gain control over all the process of searching, shopping, accounting, and storing. I need to become more efficient on the entire couponing process. The intention is to save time, but as you all know, this couponing thing is soooo freaking addictive! hehe
Some of my friends have a yard sale with all their extras! Food items are the first to go @ the sale!Save money and make money!Your so called "MESS" is cleaner than my entire house! I wish I had a "MESS" like yours! LOL!
A look at your pantry is a trip down couponing's memory lane: the Skippy and Ragu deals, the tuna, the Del Monte deals..so nostalgic.:)
I've gotten some free and super-super cheap personal items that are not things my family would use. I still get these and put them all in a special box that I will take the the Ronald McDonald house and Ronald McDonald room at the hospital. I can't think of a better use for them then these families away from home for the sake of their little ones. They need everything from toothpaste to laundry detergent to pens and games. Just an idea for those of you whose cups over floweth.
Doesn't look that bad to me! :) I've sold some stuff on ebay too recently, if you are looking to get rid of things...not food of course but books, cds, clothes with tags that never got worn, posters, etc. You might be surprised what people will buy and you can make a few bucks! Plus it makes me feel better than throwing something away or if you don't know a place to donate.
I've been purposely picking up "great deals" for donation to the Food Bank. They are currently in great need of food. You can go to their website for a list of most needed items. Remember, they don't take glass containers. If I think I may donate the item, I choose plastic.
You have also inspired me to organize - my pantries are a mess! fyi - I donate extra items but I also have a basket that I keep stocked with extras. I let family/guests take what they want when they come over - I call them "party favors!"
Post a Comment