Virtually Organized Giveaway: Mrs. A's Coupon Organizer

                            

It’s giveaway time again!  This week the nice folks from Mrs. A’s are providing a free Coupon Organizer for the winner of the Virtually Organized Giveaway.  I LOVE this little organizer, and I NEVER go grocery shopping without it in hand (visit here for my recent post about this “Favorite Thing”).  Each comment you make to the Virtually Organized blog between now and May 23rd will get you an entry into the Mrs. A’s Coupon Organizer Giveaway.  You can also earn entries by subscribing to this blog through Feedblitz, or subscribing to my free client monthly ezine, Simply Organized.  I will randomly choose the winner on May 24.

So, in keeping with the “saving money” theme, how do YOU save money when it comes to your organizing projects?

Whether I am organizing my clients or myself, I like the challenge of reusing or repurposing items.  I recently chatted with Leah Ingram at the “The Lean Green Family” about ways to organize inexpensively and “green.” You can read her post with my ideas and suggestions here.

In addition to some of the ideas I mentioned to Leah, here are some other ways to organize with frugality in mind:

1. When collecting items to donate, always record your giveaways in an itemized list.  Attach this list to your donation receipt so you will be ready with your documentation come tax time.
2. Consider sending your newer and higher quality items to consignment stores for some quick cash.
3. When organizing your children, consider how the items your purchase today can be used in the future.  The types of items your children have now will change as they grow and mature, but if you can reuse or repurpose their storage containers and furniture, you will save yourself both money AND time.
4. Always plan your project BEFORE you go shopping for supplies and containers, to avoid unnecessary or impulse buys (Those organizing stores can be both overwhelming and exciting.  If you go without a specific shopping list in hand, you might just return home with LOTS of items that are neat and pretty, but do not really function properly for your project.)
5. Do not confuse “good organization” with “complex organization.”  Simple solutions to your organizing challenges are not only more cost effective, but easier to maintain, too.

So what have YOU done to organize “on the cheap”?  What mistakes have you made that cost more cash than they should have? Let me know your thoughts and comments!

REMEMBER:  Each comment you make to this blog between now and May 23rd will get you an entry into the Mrs. A’s Coupon Organizer Giveaway.  Good luck and now go get commenting!

Simply yours,
Debbie

This contest is now over.  Check out who won here.  And visit the newest giveaway here.

Comments

[Ginny]

I think the biggest mistake I've made is just buying products because they were on sale without making sure they would actually work in my space first. For the cheap, I have used bags/totes that I wasn't using to store stuff. Also have decorated cereal boxes & even mailing boxes to use as storage. Great topic, can't wait to see the responses.

[Debbie]

I've been guilty of the "It's-on-sale-and-I'm-sure-I-can-use-it-SOMEWHERE" Syndrme, too! But it really can cost you more in the end if it's not a good fit for your situation. I like your idea, Ginny, of redecorating mailing boxes. That's especially good for organizing kids, who tend to mangle the "pretty" boxes faster than you can say "we have too many art supplies!!!"

[thecoolmom]

Great article and cool giveaway. I like to organize with found items in my house that are being underutilized. In the past, I've bought cute boxes and tins to organize the kids' rooms and then been aggravated when they are mangled in a short time. Now I stick to inexpensive, but sturdy storage for them.

[Debbie]

Little ones certainly do not appreciate cute containers! Oh, well! I guess what's most important with the younger set is to teach them the philosophy and idea behind organization so when they are older, it becomes a natural habit. And THEN we can introduce the pretty stuff!

[Amy Writer]

Wow, I would love to win that coupon organizer!! Here's a cheap idea for storage. You know the bags that the newspaper comes in? They are great for storing food items in to put in the freezer. When I get a fresh piece of meat I use one of these instead of expensive ziploc freezer bags.

[Stephanie]

At my work, we go through a lot of cardboard boxes that are tiny enough to fit in deep drawers. I cut a few of them up to fit into my desk drawers to organize my index cards, post-it notes, etc. They are perfect size! Not only were they free, but reusing cardboard is helping the environment as well. Great giveaway too! I just recently found this blog and I love the ideas you have written about. Keep up the good work!

[Debbie]

Thanks so much, Stephanie! Desk drawers are the PERFECT place to reuse items for storage-but sometimes finding the right little size can be tricky.I've been trying to live "greener,"too, and model good-for-the-environment habits for my 2 daughters.It's a great feeling when you can accomplish that AND get organized all at the same time.

[Michelle]

The easiest way I have found to organize items is to be really decisive about the things I truly use and enjoy and get rid of the rest. I often find myself planning to organize a bunch of stuff in a closet, drawer, etc,, but by the time I declutter the space, I find out that I don't need any extra containers or new organizational systems. The decluttered space has taken care of itself.

I also find that if I set aside a certain amount of space like a bin or shelf for things like craft items, puzzles, pens, or whatever, that when things start to overflow their area, it is time to go through them and cull the excess to make the amount reasonable to deal with again.

[Sara]

My biggest mistake is the buy 2 for $5, when all i really needed was one, but i wanted that sale!

[Debbie Jordan Kravitz]

Ah, the 2-for-1 trap! Some stores will actually give you the sale price even if you just by 1. But it is tempting when you see a good sale sign!

[Laurie]

I have twin 22 month old boys and I have found that the vinyl over the door shoe holder is great for organizing their clothes for the week. It makes it so much easier to grab rather than sit and decide what to put on them. Lord knows my life is already busy as it is!

[Debbie Jordan Kravitz]

I LOVE using over-the-door shoe holders-on the back of kids' doors to hold small toys,the inside of the linen closet to hold medicine cabinet items. (Everything BUT shoes!!)

[Fran]

My husband will clip any coupon that we might possibly, even remotely, use. They end up in stacks everywhere, sometimes stuffed into an old envelope. I recently cleaned out one of my many junk drawers and found a wad of coupons from 2003! Sad, huh?

[Debbie Jordan Kravitz]

The "one in, one out" rule might help with this,Fran. As would having one designated spot/organizer to store your coupons that is large enough to store what you need, but not so big that you're able to keep more than you should. That's why I like Mrs. A's-the clear pockets make it easy to see what you have in each category. So as you clip new coupons, have this organizer right with you. If you already have a coupon for Orange Juice, DON'T spend unnecessary time adding another one (they'll ALWAYS be another one to clip AFTER you've used the one you already have.

And having ALL your clipped coupons in one spot means you only have to grab one book on your way out (instead of spending time checking multiple spots).