A place for everything and for everything a place.
Sound familiar? It’s a mantra for most organized people that I’ve tried to adapt for myself.
The problem for me is that I’m often baffled by what location I should put things. I tend to be more right brained than left, so there are always multiple options.
Store the party supplies that I use once or twice a year in my cupboard that I use daily? Why not?
Keep my receipts near my desk, or on top of the microwave, or in the filing cabinet? Sure.
It can be a problem. So while at the Dollar Tree the other day, I had some inspiration. Why not create spaces for items using Dollar Store containers and labels? Then I will always know where my receipts are and maybe I’ll find another location for those party supplies, so I can find Customize Balloons.
I returned from the Dollar Store with this:
Can you spot the super helpful adorable one year old?
I am also incredibly motivated by deadlines. It’s possible I get this from my Mom, along with a lot of other great qualities – I hope. (By the way, find out how my Mom solved her linen organization with just one trip to the Dollar Store.)
So, I decided to give myself ONE HOUR to see how many problem areas I could tackle in the time period. (This, of course, did not include the half an hour that it took for me to find those super cute chalkboard labels that I had put somewhere. True story. Turns out I should have purchased a Chalkboard Label Container while at the Dollar Store.)
Once, I finally found those super cute chalkboard labels, I made a list of problem areas that needed to be addressed:
In hind sight, it would have made more sense to make this list before my visit to the Dollar Tree. Oops.
Then – with the help of my 5 year old – the hour of Project Organization began.
And when the hour was up, this was the result:
Those infamous party supplies now have a place and a label. And I am giving them a new home in my basement.
Time: 5 minutes
My new Under-the-Sink organization. This also resulted in trashing a few cleaners that have been around much longer than their expiration dates recommends. Score!
Time: 10 minutes
Because this is much cuter than any old cardboard box.
This was my favorite solution. My Personal Care products/Free Samples closet had gotten ugly. (I spared you the before pictures.) Locating anything had gotten a little hairy. These containers solved the problem and also motivated me to throw out a few expired products and put together a new donation bag.
Time: 15 minutes
This was my 5 year old’s contribution to the project. He has a few more left brained tendencies than I do and was thrilled to help. And these containers are so much more awesome than the baggies and old wipes container that were previously responsible for storage.
Time: 10 minutes (in 5 year old time)
This random collection of things was taking residence in the bottom of afore-mentioned cupboard in a very haphazard manner. I also discovered a collection of plastic knives the size of China. Because really – who uses plastic knives???
I got rid of 90% of the knives along with a collection of old menu planning resources that are approximately 10 years old – and no longer necessary due to that beautiful thing called Pinterest.
Time: 10 minutes
About those receipts. I now have a location for them. Now to determine where this cute little thing should be kept? Any tips?
Time: 5 minutes
I have always given myself a little grace when it comes to drawers. I mean – the term junk drawer was created for a reason.
But I’m kind of in love with my new system for this drawer. Now I might actually be able to find a paper clip when I need one!
Time: 10 minutes
Time elapsed: 65 minutes
Problem areas solved: 7
Feeling of Accomplishment: Priceless
How about you? Do you like to organize with Dollar Store items? Share your tips in the comments!
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Zip lock bags are a favorite of mine for organizing EVERYTHING!
Oh yes! I use them a lot too! I actually took all our board games out of their bulky boxes and store the pieces in ziploc bags, then put all the bags into a decorative box. I taped the instructions to the backs of each game board. Everything fits into a much smaller space now and is still easy to find.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!! That can solve an ongoing problem I have had for some time now!!
I guess I have to admit I use those plastic knives for the little guys. 🙂
Love this post because it gives me the kick in the pants I need to get started on organizing school supplies. (I bought enough a couple years ago to last me through this year and into next!)
Love the dollar store for organization stuff! And, yep, who DOES use those plastic knives???
Love the crayon and Play-Doh storage. Mine stay mostly in their original containers, but this is much better! About the receipts – I keep mine kny purse in a similar envelope, organized by store.
Don’t throw away all the plastic knives! They cut warm brownies beautifully. I actually run out of them.
Now, tell me after, I get my teen daughter’s things organized into bins and tubs, how do I organize my daughter to put things back into the correct bins and tubs?
Haha! Good question, Janet. When I figure that one out, I’ll be sure to write a post about it. 😉
Let your daughter set up her own system w guidance from you. She will be more likely to use it.
Hey Janet!
I finally found out how to get teenage daughter to put things back!
I have her organize her things the way it makes sense to her.
She sorts everything out, then we go to pick out the baskets/boxes she needs in colors she wants.
Now, after she uses her things & needs to put them away, she knows exactly where everything goes & puts them there.
I don’t know the psychology behind this, I just know it works! 🙂
I need to buy one of those containers for my dishwasher tablets because every time I reach down into the little cardboard box I am afraid there is going to be a spider inside!! Thank God that it has never happened but this should definitely ease my mind. Lol. Thanks 🙂
I have a receipt app on my phone, snap a picture, put in the info, throw out the receipt, no messy papers.
I use a similar thing for receipts. I have twelve envelopes in it…January through December. I leave the current month out on the desk and the others in the little folder. When I come to a new month, I pull out the envelope and trash the receipts which now would be one year old and start to fill it again. This works perfectly. I have been doing it this way for 20 years. Obviously large purchases like appliances go in their separate places but everyday Target and such are easy to keep for one year like this.
Love this idea, Darilyn. Thanks!
Where did you get the chalkboard labels?
Joann fabrics has the chalkboard labels for $1.
Did u buy the black labels at the dollar store too? Thanks this tip! I do need one heck of organizing 😉
No – I bought those from an online sale a while back, Abie. You could likely find them fairly cheap at a craft store.
Plastic knives are the best thing to use to cut brownies! For some reason they don’t make the edges go crumbly!
Ooh…good to know, Lisa! That means I need to make A LOT more brownies. 🙂
How about you keep the receipt thingy in your car? Thats where I am going to keep mine. I just found it yesterday actually =) That way every time you go buy something you can store it as soon as you get back in the car.
That is a fantastic idea! I think I might give it a try – thanks!
Maybe not a great idea. If the receipts get hot, they can turn black and useless. Put the thingy near your key area or your purse area.
At the start of the year, my dollar store had super-sized versions of the containers with the round holes that saved my cabinet messes. Now to find a way to get my labels to stick to them- I guess yours have better adhesive. And the clear shoeboxes- just bought a dozen for the craft closet, stacked them, and LOVE it!
Go for it, Kate! You’ll be glad you did. 🙂
Ugh! This is making me really wanna dig into my linen closet!
Hmm I think I could fit 6 of your junk drawer in mine. This is the bane of my organizing existence. Hello from Thrifty Thursdays.
I’m with you, Melissa! I was surprised how just having a new system helped me get rid of old stuff. Just don’t peek into the drawer directly below this one. 😉
Love it! We’re going to shopping at the dollar store for our troop’s supplies for an upcoming camping trip.
Great idea, Barb! I’d love to see a post about that. 🙂
Great tips, and you made me chuckle as I read your post! And I totally want to tackle my cupboard… I wonder how many plastic knives I have? Love the receipt idea too. Stopping by from singinghoneybee.blogspot.com
Thanks, Melissa! Seriously…I think I may never buy another plastic knife again. 🙂