I’m Kathryn! Otherwise known as Doitonadime on YouTube. I have been creating content online since 2011 to share my best organizing and frugal living tips with you. Our Do It On A Dime family has grown to over two million strong and continues to welcome more people ready to organize on a dime.
I’m a wife and mom of two little boys. I embrace the fact that life isn’t Pinterest-perfect. I share with you what living on a budget is for a REAL person. I love sharing the systems that work for me and help me be my best. When I incorporate positive changes in my home and life, I am not only saving money but also saving time.
Join me on this journey as we find creative ways to use what we have, discover systems that work WITH us instead of against us, and have a whole lot more FUN living a REALISTIC version of organized. If I can do it, you can too!
I’ve always been frugal and organized by nature. I grew up in a coupon-clippin’, penny-pinchin’ family in Southeast Michigan. I was one of the odd birds that knew where all of my Barbie’s shoes were and categorized my Beanie Baby collection by generation.
When I graduated from college, I moved to North Carolina. Professionally, I spent 10 years teaching middle school in the south, so if there was a way to make a dollar stretch, I did it. If there wasn’t a way before, I invented one. Every year, I taught 3-4 different preps (meaning separate lesson plans and curriculum), so I got really good at organizing my time, resources, and life in general. In 2011, I began to share my organizing passion and budget tips on YouTube. I’ve uploaded every week since, and have no plans to stop!
Finding ways of stretching a dollar means I have more chances to have fun getting there. It makes me shop more thoughtfully, buy secondhand, turn to more natural DIYs, and eat healthier. I find systems that work and toss the ones that don’t. I live this way by choice and do it intentionally. Dollar Tree? Yes please. Goodwill? You betcha. FREE? I’ll find it (and make it beautiful).
Follow me, imperfections and all, as I live life on a dime.
How did you get into YouTube and blogging?
I was working as a teacher and my husband Charlie and I purchased our first home in early 2011. I immediately put systems in place to keep it organized. I loved watching YouTube vloggers at the time, and I remember searching “budget organization” because I wanted to find a like-minded community. I found organizing videos that were fun to watch, but everything seemed so expensive- definitely not for someone with a teacher’s wallet. I couldn’t find a single video with someone that loved the Dollar Tree as enthusiastically as me.
One day in 2011 while my husband Charlie was at work, I picked up a Flip Camera (remember those?) and filmed my very first video about how to organize your home on a tight budget. I uploaded it to my new channel I called Do It On A Dime, because if I was going to share something, it was going to be how to live life CHEAP. I figured no one would watch the video, and I didn’t even know what “subscribing” was at that time.
A few months later, I came back to find the video had hundreds of views, comments, and people asking for more. The 2011 recession affected many families, but no one on YouTube was talking about budget and frugal ways to live organized. So I started making more videos. I discovered I was really passionate about inspiring others to live more simply, organize their spaces, and teach them ways to save money that are easy and fun. I kept uploading over the years, and I’m still sharing what I love today.
It blows me away that our community has grown as big as it has and how much I have not only been able to share with you but learn from you. I’m so grateful for each one of my viewers because you give me a platform to have this voice. Thank you for supporting me and my channel. I make videos because of YOU.
What kind of camera and equipment do you use?
If that price point is a little too steep, I previously used a Canon PowerShot ELPH 340 HS which is a more affordable alternative.
My Canon EOS Rebel T3i was my go-to camera for sit-down filming and details shots for years. I settled on it after a LOT of research. The video quality rivals what the pros use, but it is accessible to the novice user. Its still-shot capabilities are also excellent for personal use. The price-point is the best out there and really sold me. However, because it films in HD, you can only record in segments of less than 8 minutes, and it does not have auto focus capabilities while recording.
This year, I upgraded to a Canon EOS 80D Digital SLR. The smooth auto focus and the extended record time have been lifesavers for me!
I’m not a techy person so most of what I have learned has been through trial and error. Natural light is always best to film in, but when that’s not available, I use these LED lights on stands to brighten the room.
The Vista Explorer Tripod is so useful for hands free filming to give me a stable shot. I have multiple Transcend Memory Cards 
For editing videos, I started by using free iMovie. There is so much you can do with the program. If you can’t figure it out, there is a tutorial online to help.
Now, I use Final Cut Pro X which is a few hundred dollars but offers more customization. The interface is similar to iMovie making it easy to start using.
How do you make money as a YouTuber?
I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to make YouTube my full-time job. Having a large fanbase that responds well to the content I provide makes it possible for me to make an income that helps support my family. When you give a thumbs up, watch a video on my channel, leave a comment, follow me on Instagram or Facebook, and interact with my content, you are helping my business thrive and grow. For me, income comes from a variety of streams including sponsored posts and brand deals, YouTube ad revenue, DIOAD merch sales, affiliate sales, and printable sales. If you are just starting out with a YouTube channel, please remember that we all have to start somewhere! Every overnight success is years in the making.
What advice do you have for new YouTubers?
GO FOR IT! Pick a theme or niche that you are passionate about that you can share with others. Great content is the niche of the niche of the niche. Really specific content gets you discovered. When I started my channel in 2011, I started making organizing videos. More specifically, I focused on organizing on a budget using items from the Dollar Tree. This is a niche subject that no one was filming or talking about at that time. Find something you love and be the expert at that subject. Hence why I’m known as the organizing Dollar Tree girl. That’s probably how you found me, right? Of course, I have lots of content to share, but those Dollar Tree videos are what helped my channel grow faster. Find something no one is talking about and be that voice.
Choose a meaningful channel name that reflects you and your content that will stand out. Get a quality camera, have an editing program, and be yourself. People want to get to know YOU. Don’t focus on the number of subscribers. I did videos for a long time without many subscribers in number, but it was still tons of fun. I loved them all just the same! Upload content regularly, respond to comments, and be a part of the community. And yes, we all sound funny on camera when we listen to ourselves 🙂
How can I access a printable I purchased?
If you purchased anything from my shop, THANK YOU! I appreciate your support and hope these digital resources help you achieve your goals. Purchases are automatically delivered to your email address, but sometimes mistakes happen! If you do not receive your purchase in your inbox after 24 hours, please fill out this form and the Do It On A Dime team will be in touch in 24-48 hours to provide support.
How can I find the best Dollar Tree in my area?
Why can't I find the Dollar Tree items you show?
I hear this ALL THE TIME! Here’s the deal…I frequently visit several Dollar Tree stores in my area to get the items you see in videos. Each store is unique, and not all stores stock the same inventory. Because I’m showing you the best that Dollar Tree has to offer, these items are quick to fly off the shelf- especially seasonal items. Sometimes, you can buy Dollar Tree products in bulk online and have them ship to store for FREE!
Can I hire you to come organize my house?
Will you have more kids?
I know most people have the very best intentions when asking about family plans, but the truth is that this is always a private matter. Although you get to see glimpses of my family and real life situations, that does not mean I choose to share everything with my followers (and that’s healthy!)
We love our two boys and are very content with the way our family is right now. We have no plans to grow our family in number, but we are enjoying watching our family develop deeper relationships with one another. Parenting is such a gift!
Why do you speak Spanish?
I know it’s sort of unexpected. I lived and studied in Spain in 2006. Then, I went back to get my Master’s degree. I taught middle school Spanish for 10 years.
Do you have any pets?
Many of my longtime followers ask about our dog, Luna. Luna was a chihuahua-terrier mix (maybe even a bit of beagle). We adopted her from our local Humane Society. Sadly, she passed away in 2019.
In the summer of 2020, Copper joined our family. Copper is a Retriever, Chow, and German Shepherd Mix. We adopted him through Fur Babies Animal Rescue in Charlotte and found out his breed through Embark dog genetic testing. We love him so much, and he has been a wonderful addition to our family.
Please consider adopting an animal before going to a breeder! The best dogs I have ever had were the ones that were given a second chance.
How can I reach you?
Facebook is the best way to keep in touch. If you leave me a comment on an older video, I might not see it. I’m usually responding to comments on my most recent videos only. I love seeing your comments on YouTube, on the blog, and on Instagram. I may not always be able to respond, but it means so much to me that you take the time to interact in the comments.
Letters make me smile. 🙂 You can write me at:
Kathryn “Doitonadime”
P.O. Box 1436
Matthews, NC USA
28106-1436
