Inside: You don't need the expensive organizers. Check out these simple tips for organizing on a budget. You can organize on a budget that works for you.
I have been in a real organizing mood lately. I am not sure if it is the holidays and new year coming that has me in the mood to organize, or if it's the new Ikea just down the street from me. Either way, I have been slowly working my way through the house and getting organized.
Now I would love to go and buy some fancy organizational systems from The Container Store or Lowes, but they really don't fit into my budget. Instead, I have been working at organizing on a budget. Organizing doesn't have to mean spending a bunch of money. If you would like your home more organized and less cluttered, check out my simple tips for organizing on a budget.
Declutter First
Make sure you aren't buying organization stuff for things that you need to just let go of. The first step to organizing on a budget is making sure you really need to organize the space. I like to take everything out and make sure I still really use or need everything. It's easy to organize when you have fewer things to deal with. I am always amazed at what I find when I am decluttering. Recently I found the installation instructions for a dryer that we got rid of 2 years ago! If you need help with decluttering I recommend you start here with these quick ways to declutter. Once you have decluttered then you can really start organizing.
Check The Dollar Store
I love the dollar stores for organizational things. They have bins to store food, toiletries, and other products. They also have different organizers that you can buy for just a dollar. I bought a nail polish organizer and use it to store some of my essential oils in. I also love their space saving bags. They are just like the ziploc space bags only they are $1 each. I love using these for out of season blankets.
Target is another great place to check for organizing on a budget. I am always checking out their dollar spot to find inexpensive organizing ideas. Their $1-$2 bags work great to organize all the cords that we have around our house. I have a bag of cords for each car and one for a catch all of the phone cords in the house.
Use What You Already Have
If you are like me you are constantly throwing out containers that could easily be reused and made into storage containers. I used an old container that stored food to store our dog treats. It looks cuter than having a box of milk bones sitting around, plus it is more airtight than the box would be. I have also used glass candles to store things like pens, pencils, and nail products in. So many times we already have things at home that can be used for storage ideas.
Check Ikea
Ikea is my favorite organizing place! They have small bins starting at around $.79 that you can use for organizing. I am constantly blown away by the prices that they have. A few of my favorites are the variera bins. I love the $2.79 bins. They are perfect for organizing food or toiletries. Their sunnersta containers are perfect for the pantry door to hold small things. I also use them in the bathroom to hold small toiletries so they don't get lost. If you have an Ikea nearby check them out for some inexpensive storage ideas.
Use Old Boxes For Storage
You can really save some money organizing by using old boxes. I have found that both shoe boxes and banker boxes work great for storage ideas. I have used shoe boxes to organize old pictures. Pinterest has tons of ideas on how to transform shoe boxes and banker boxes into cute and clever storage ideas.
Make Sure It Will Work For You
There are so many really neat looking storage ideas out there in the stores, but don't spend your money on them unless you are sure they will work for you. I found the cutest little drawer organizer for my nightstand but when I brought it home I realized it didn't really work for me. I finally ended up using a much cheaper organizer that was meant for a kitchen but it works great for me! Take the time to find what will work perfectly for your situation.
Make Your Own
If you can't find what you need for storage ideas make your own. I had searched for the last couple of years for a great tupperware organizer. I couldn't find one that works for me so I finally decided to have my husband make me one. Sometimes the best organizers are the ones you come up with yourself to perfectly match what you need. Be creative and think outside the box.
You don't have to spend a bunch of money to have an organized home. You can be creative and find some easy ways to organize on a budget. What are your favorite tips for organizing on a budget?
