Do It On A Dime

BUDGET ORGANIZING | Small Girls’ Room & Closet

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

I helped my dear friend organize her daughters’ shared bedroom.  She didn’t have a lot of space to work with, so we maximized what she did have in the closet.  She has some beautiful decor and some great ideas she came up with, too.  I knew I had to share.  Hope you enjoy!

If you are struggling with decorating and organizing small spaces, here are some tips that will really help you!

  1. Re-purpose old items.  You can create beautiful decor this way!  Check out the video to see a beautiful window DIY.
  2. Stencils make a big impact and give a custom look to a room on a dime.  We use them in our home, too and get so many compliments.
  3. Paint Light Fixtures that you don’t like.  Hello, pink!  This is a great way to save money and create a custom look in the room.
  4. Find furniture that has room for storage underneath, especially in small spaces this is key.
  5. Re-think storage spaces.  Who says you have to keep something where it is just because it has always been there.  Re-thinking systems can help you find space you didn’t know you had.
  6. Use cube shelves in the closet.  I can’t say enough good things about this!  It maximizes floor space in standard double-door closets.
  7. Use dollar bins and labels (from Dollar Tree and Target respectively!).  You know I love these, and they are just as good as the expensive guys.
  8. Have a no-fold system using bins.  Dollar Tree plastic bins are a great way to achieve this.  Throw in blankets, burp cloths, socks, etc.  They are contained, easy to find, and it saves you a lot of time when doing laundry.
  9. Make your own baskets using old boxes and jute twine.  You can see more on that here.
  10. Use Dollar Tree plastic shoe bins in drawers for dividers.  These make excellent dividers and they are so inexpensive.
  11. Use Dollar Tree trash cans to store hair bows.  I loved this idea Meredith had!  Girls’ stuff can get everywhere!

I hope you enjoyed these tips and I would love to hear yours below!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

3 Easy Bathroom Refreshes!

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects

Here are three easy ways to refresh your bathroom on a budget and combat annoying things like stinky toilets, musty towels, and matted down rugs. You’ll be glad you gave these a try!

  1. Toilet Fizzies! For this recipe you will need:

Mix together the dry ingredients. Slowly pour the wet ingredients over top (for as little fizz as possible). Form into balls and let dry overnight. Or just place powder directly into container and use a scoop to get it out. Toss into your toilet mid-week for a mini-refresh

2. Combat musty towels! For this recipe you will need:

  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup baking soda

Add vinegar to your detergent well. Run a cycle of JUST hot water. Sprinkle baking soda onto clothes immediately after cycle and run another of JUST hot water. Presto. Your towels will be SO fresh and clean. We don’t use laundry detergent, you can find out more about Crystal Wash here if you are interested.

3. Refresh your rugs! Wash your rugs and let dry. Spray with a 50/50 vinegar water solution and use a wire brush to bring back to life. Your feet will thank you. Alternatively, you could have a look at some high quality designer rugs and find yourself a new decor item for you bathroom.

Hope you give these a try!

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links contain affiliates.*

$20 Small Pantry Organization | DOLLAR TREE

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

Organizing a tiny pantry can be challenging.  My brother recently moved into his first apartment on his own, and he has one of the smallest pantries I have ever seen.  The door is literally a half door.  If that.  Probably the right size for a hobbit?

In one trip to the Dollar Tree and spending only $17, here’s what we came up with.  I also share my favorite tips for organizing small spaces like a pantry in general and helping keep it that way.

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

How to Re-Organize…anything!

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization, Teaching

Here’s a quick organizing refresh we did in our built-ins.  Keeping an organized home isn’t a one and done.  It’s an evolution of crafting and re-working an environment that functions best for your family as your needs change.

Here’s how we organize our DVDS, toys, and games in a new system that is now beneficial for our family!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.*

How to save money at Costco!

by Filed Under: Money Saving

I’m not affiliated with Costco, I just LOVE shopping there.  We’ve been members of lots of wholesale stores, and it’s by far my favorite.  (Anyone else as obsessed with the Kirkland brand as me?)  You have to be careful, though.  Shopping wholesale can lead to over-buying and under-using.  Statistically, the average family of four wastes about $1,500 a year in UN-used food. (Today.com)  So, to actually save at Costco, here’s what we do to maximize our dollar and making sure we always come out ahead.

*COSTCO POWER-SAVER TIPS*

  1.  Shop 1x a month— I find weekly trips lead to over-buying.  I shop primarily at our grocery store, and I do a stock-up of the items below when we are running low, because they are rock bottom prices.
  2. Split big purchases!  Find a friend that needs toilet paper or paper towels, too and split up your purchase.  You both win in then end.
  3. Have a deep freezer for extra storage.  You can freeze ANYTHING!  No lie.
  4. Use a freezer inventory.  Forget not knowing what is in your freezer.  This leads to food waste.
    • Print my FREEZER INVENTORY FREE PRINTABLE, laminate (or just put in a sheet protector) and attach to your freezer.  Know what is coming in and out, what you should be eating first, and never let food go to waste again.
  5. Shop with a plan.  Use the mailer.  Create a list.  Don’t be distracted by things you don’t need!  Like those giant teddy bears?  Yeah.  Steer clear of JUNK!
  6. BEST PRICES:
    • Meats (VERY well-priced, lots of gourmet selection, too!)
    • Dried fruit
    • Nuts
    • Olive oil
    • Milk
    • Sheet Cake
    • Organic Foods (frozen and fresh)
    • Vitamins
    • Bread
    • Ready-made appetizers
    • Spices
  7. USE IBOTTA to save additionally on top of what you are already buying when you find a good deal (cash out with PayPal and gift cards)
  8. Price Match everything!  Especially housewares and big ticket items.  Seriously.  There are a million and one apps you can download to do this!
  9. HOW TO READ THE SIGNS AT COSTCO:
    • .99 REGULAR PRICE
    • .97 REDUCED
    • .88 OR .00 STORE MARKDOWN
    • AN * MEANS THIS ITEM IS BEING DISCONTINUED
  10. Printer ink is the best DEAL EVER!  You can fill up a cartridge for under $8.  This is awesome!
  11. Big home purchases.  We have had great luck with…
    • sheets
    • storage/organizing solutions
    • outdoor toys and playsets
    • clothes
  12. THINGS TO SKIP:
    • Canned goods
    • Sauces / pasta
    • Boxed goods (in general, unless there is a rebate on select items)
    • Feminine Products
    • Personal Hygiene
      • razors, body wash, etc.

 

FREE PRINTABLES AND RESOURCES IN THIS VIDEO:

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*YouTube has been such a blessing, and I am fortunate to get to work with many brands that I love and use daily!  I have been using Ibotta since 2013 and have saved hundreds using this app.  Thanks to Ibotta for sponsoring this video.  I am not affiliated with Costco.  As always, all opinions are 100% my own.*

Amazon Prime on Sale for $67 TODAY ONLY!

by Filed Under: Online Deals

Just a quick public service announcement that Amazon Prime, which is normally $99 is now on sale (today only) for just $67! It’s is the LOWEST price of the year. In fact, this is the lowest I have ever seen it, so I wanted to pass along to you!

Especially with Black Friday and Christmas coming up, it’s super nice. We purchase most of our main needs online.

If you shop Amazon a lot, her are some of the reasons we decided to go Prime:

  • Free, 2-day Shipping
    • We use this for diapers, household needs, vitamins, underwear (I’m not even kidding), vitamins, electronics…pretty much everything.
  • Amazon Lightning Deals
    • you get 30 minutes early access to these (great for the Holidays)
  • Prime Video
    • Unlimited movies and TV shows. You really don’t need cable.
  • Prime Music
    • Unlimited music streaming
  • Prime Photos
    • Free, unlimited photo storage. This is GREAT, so you don’t have to pay for extra space in the cloud, kill two birds with one stone with all of those family pictures.

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own. Links contain affiliates.*

Chickpea Popcorn Recipe

by Filed Under: Recipes

In this segment of cooking with Carson (apparently this is a thing now!), we’ll share a great recipe for Chickpea Popcorn!  (Thanks, Dr. Oz for the inspiration!)

 

Easy Chickpea Popcorn

  • 1 can garbanzo beans
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tsp olive oil

Drains and rinse garbanzo beans.  Place on a rimmed sheet with parchment paper.  Sprinkle dry ingredients over chickpeas, drizzle olive oil, mix to coat.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (or until crunchy).  Serve immediately and enjoy!

If you like a little more “kick to your popcorn…you can try the recipe below, too!

 

SPICY Chickpea Popcorn

  • 1 can garbanzo beans
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tsp olive oil

Drains and rinse garbanzo beans.  Place on a rimmed sheet with parchment paper.  Sprinkle dry ingredients over chickpeas, drizzle olive oil, mix to coat.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (or until crunchy).  Serve immediately and enjoy!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

 

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