Cutting the Cost of Cutting Clutter

• Use What You Have
• One/In One/Out Rule
• Corral Coin Clutter

There’s no need to spend a fortune on high-priced storage solutions – my bet is that you can repurpose much of what you have in your home already.

QUICK TIPS ON ORGANIZING YOUR HOME

Use What You Have

Organizing doesn’t have to be expensive; just get creative. Before rushing out to buy bins and baskets, look around your home for containers you can use. Here are some ideas:

• Egg cartons or ice cube trays can be used to organize earring sets, cufflinks, or hair accessories.
• Empty plastic baby wipes containers can be used to store crayons and markers, first aid supplies or sewing supplies and stack easily on a shelf.
• Empty baby food jars can be used to keep touch up paint, spare buttons or screws and nails.
• A mug holder can be repurposed into a scarf or baseball hat holder.
• Empty tissue boxes can hold plastic grocery bags or, with the top cut off, packets of gravy and instant soup.
• The large clear plastic container that you can buy pre-washed salad in is perfect for storing special occasion shoes, keeping them visible yet dust-free. They are also useful for storing yarn and other craft supplies by color; the clear boxes let you see your materials at a glace and they look attractive on a shelf.

Next to Christmas, August is the busiest month for clothing retailers.

Before you go shopping, eliminate the clothes you don’t wear to make room for new additions to your fall wardrobe. Use the one/in one/out rule: for every item you bring home, let go of one. This is a great way to encourage your kids to clear out their drawers and closets before going back-to-school shopping for new clothes. The advantages are:

• You will spend less because you know what you already have.
• You can buy clothes that co-ordinate with existing items. 
• You will be able to get dressed faster because there will be fewer decisions to make.

Corral Coin Clutter

Do you have loose change in every part of your home, from your junk drawer to the kitchen counter? Grab a clear jar and label it ‘fun funds’. Now you have a designated place to deposit those coins, both reducing clutter and creating a little nest egg. Once the jar is full, treat yourself to a small indulgence and then begin again. You might even want to create individual ‘fun fund’ jars for each family member to encourage saving while keeping coin clutter at bay.

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