Mission Organization on a Budget

Happy Friday, everyone!  I don't know about you, but after my whirlwind week, I am ready for the weekend (not that it will be any slower, it's just good to get to the weekend).  

So what are we dishing about today? Prolly this whole moving thing as I'm elbow deep in packing, purging, lifting, unpacking, shopping (each place is different so you invariably have to buy something different to accommodate the new space, no matter what great system you had in place at the old one) and organizing.  That has been the bulk of the week - making the best use of space.  That being said, I'll share some of my organization finds of the week and a few pics (don't want to show too many before I'm finished though, then we'll go room by room). 

Let me start by saying that if I never, EVER step foot in another Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General or Menards for the next six months, I'll be alright!  Those places have been my home this week - blinds, ready shades, baskets, bins, cabinet organizers, candles, lamps (why did they ever make rooms without overhead lights anyway????), food, forgotten school uniforms (the Tween of course), shower rods, towels (what do kids do to towels anyway????), spider spray, wasp spray - the list goes on and on!  Everyday this week has found me in one of these places getting SOMETHING!  And that has zapped the actual packing and moving process (still haven't touched the craft room/office - y'all know that's going to be an interesting process) and just started moving my clothes yesterday.  So think about me as you go about your weekend- I'll still be elbow deep in this moving process.

About the new place - it's coming along.  I haven't taken a picture of the outside yet (I will).  The Tween called it "cozy."  I agree; especially after we get fully unpacked and settled in, and something on the walls- the blank walls are driving me crazy!  I remember back in college, the first thing I would do is get my posters and photos up on the walls, then do everything else; it makes your space feel more like home quickly.  That's my first tip of the day - get something up on the walls!

Moving on, my favorite and best organization finds of the week.  So everyone who knows me knows that Dollar Tree is my favorite cheapy store on the entire earth!  Everything is a dollar... Now, of course you can't buy everything for a dollar, but some things I just don't believe should cost more than a dollar.  Like storage bins/baskets.  Over the years, I have gotten a plethora of storage items from Dollar Tree.  Here's the cutesy baskets that I bought a few years ago for the top shelf of the tall bookcase in the craft room/office (my color scheme is teal-turquoise and lime green):

Cute, right?  Three of them are long and then there are four small baskets (two behind the smaller ones).  I used my tag maker to make tags and added tiny clothespins to label the contents.  They hold office supplies, by the way (envelopes, tape, post-its, staples, etc.).  Effective, efficient and just a dollar each.  You can take $20 to the dollar store and lose your mind!!!  

Fast forward to the new space.  There isn't a lot of cabinet space in the kitchen (and I just found out yesterday that the bottom cabinets only have half shelves.  Half shelves?  Where do they do THAT at????), so I am turning the hall closet into a pantry (adding shelves).  After packing up the pantry at the old house the other day I knew that my system needed a revamp (plus reading all of the inspiration blogs from Pinterest), so I decided to use baskets and bins to organize.  From where?  You guessed it, Dollar Tree.  They always have a regular stock of bins/baskets in their basic colors:  green, blue, red, white and sometimes you can find pink or purple.  For the fall though, they have special colors:  orange and harvest red.  I fell in love with the harvest red, so that's my go to color for the pantry and inside the kitchen cabinets.  The shelves haven't been added yet, but I'm getting prepared for it.  Second tip of the day - moving or remodeling is a good time to take stock of your storage needs and make any changes that you are thinking about.

So here is a sampling of the different types of containers I purchased.  Now, let me tell you, that it was trial and error because I didn't know what would work for which food items.  So I bought 2 of everything and then I've just returned things or bought new ones as I figured it out (good thing they're only a dollar...). 

Again - cute, right???  I think I may have forgotten one, but you get the idea.  So here are three sample photos of how I used some of the containers (the big reveal later) just so you can get a visual:

This small basket is the perfect size to hold coffee pods.
Bonus - it fits into the cabinet perfectly, so I'll make it a coffee center!

This bin was the perfect solution for light bulbs!

This large basket is perfect for my tea (well, some of it anyway).
We drink a lot of tea in our house.

So hopefully you can get a idea of where I'm going with this whole thing, and perhaps it will inspire you to think about some new organization strategies in your own home.  Don't have a Dollar Tree nearby?  You can order online (I've done that before also for bulk items).  You can do that here.

One more thing, this was an impulse purchase (sort of).  As a mom, I am always purchasing things for the kids (when I'm able) but rarely myself. That being said, I was due up for some new bedding and I fell in love with this comforter set at Wal-Mart this week.  It's a Better Homes and Gardens set, which is normally out of my price range, but it was on clearance for $35 (y'all know I love me some clearance!).  And bonus?  You get a free year subscription to BHG with purchase (that was a surprise, but it's worth $20, so I technically only paid $15- WINNING!!!).  Take a look:

Third tip of the day:  don't be afraid to be an aisle walker - find those clearance items and misplaced items (I found this set in the wrong spot two days after I originally saw the king set on clearance)!

That's it, that's all.  The Teen is giving me the side eye because I'm typing and not packing...

What are your favorite budget organization tips to share?  Holla @ Darvi!  Be blessed and have a great weekend everyone!!!