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organizing | diy | frugal living

Do It On A Dime

Craigslist Tips & Free Activity Ideas

by Filed Under: Money Saving, Teaching

IMG_0773It’s a great time of year for Crisglist scores and FREE activities with your kids.  Garages are opening up as summer starts, and people want to get rid of those big ticket items for kids.  Because seriously, who wants a giant power wheel taking up all that room?

My best Craigslist tips are:

  • Shop weekends.  They are the best for finding deals and posts happen very frequently.  Also, pickup times have much greater flexibility.
  • Look for 75% off large kids’ toys.  That’s my price-point gauge.
  • Be prompt and short in your responses, and ask as few questions as possible.
  • Make reference to the quality of the posting in your message to state that’s what you expect to find when you go for pick-up (this always really works for me)
  • Be fair, be honest, and never visit someone’s house alone (always meet in a public area or go with someone).

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Also in this video, I’ll share with fun weekday activities to do that are new, different and free.  Triple-threat!  We visited our local fire station for a free tour and spent hours in a playscape showroom (free and cool!).

Hope you enjoy the video!  xo!

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

New Dollar Tree Products!

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree

Here are a few items I picked up at the Dollar Tree, and some others that I think are fantastic and worth a mention!

You’ll notice that many of my videos take you in the store after showing a small haul.  That’s because I’m not buying all of the products that I’m showing.  Why?  I don’t need them, but I want to share them with you in case YOU do.  I don’t advocate going into DT and spending $40.  Buy what you truly need, and know that the option is out there when that item is NECESSARY FOR YOUR HOME.

Keep killing it, Dollar Tree!  Woot! 🙂

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Space-Saving Dollar Tree DIYS

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization

The majority of the messages and comments that I receive are those of you asking how to organize small spaces.  You don’t have a walk-in closet and you lack storage options.  I want to keep providing you ideas and inspiration for making the most of what you have.  Small spaces are NOT a curse, they really can be a blessing.

Here are two quick ideas that we use around our home:  The first is turning Dollar Tree bins into drawers and the second is a tank top organizer.

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Inexpensive and easy.  Watch the video below to see how to make them!

Tools needed for Pull Out Drawers:

  • Dollar Tree bin with a lip or ledge
  • 1/4″ Aluminum Trim Channel (comes in 4 ft lengths), cut to size
  • #6 1/2 inch screws
  • Power Drill (with a drill bit slightly wider than screw, and a bit about 1/3 the circumference)

Tools needed for Tank Top / Scarf Organizer:

  • Wooden hanger
  • Dollar Tree shower rings
  • Scarves and tank tops!

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How to Print on Post-It Notes

by Filed Under: Advice & Vlogs, Organization

Welcome!  If this is your first time visiting my blog, take some time to look around and take advantage of the free printables and resources offered here.  My goal is to always keep these ideas, tips, and printables completely free of charge so you can get organized without spending anything. 🙂

Printing on Post-It Notes couldn’t be easier!

1) Print this document: Printable Post-it Note Document with lines

2) Stick six Post-It Notes on to each of the squares

3) Download this document: Printable Post-it Note Document NO lines

4)  It looks empty, but it’s not!  Customize each of the cells with text, lists, or photos with what you want to print.

5)  Feed your printed sheet with Post-It Notes into your printer.  (NOTE:  Make sure the sheet will go through the printer sticky-side first so you don’t cause a jam!)

6)  Print your customized document and there you have it!  Post-It Notes designed by YOU! 🙂

This is a collaboration video with a some wonderful friends (and some new ones, too!)  Visit my YouTube video to see more.

Watch the video for specific instructions for this easy How-To!

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

Simple (and cheap!) Purse Organization

by Filed Under: Organization

Life is crazy, but your purse doesn’t have to be.  I feel like as a mom, there are so many things that I need to keep on the go.  To keep the clutter (especially paper clutter–can I get an amen?!) out of my purse, I have a few systems that I employ that really help.

1)  Get a purse organizer.  This is a game changer.  I got mine from Etsy (you can click the images below), or you can get them for less than $10 on Amazon.

2)  Get yourself a purse trash can.  I use an old pill bottle.  You can leave the lid on or off (sometimes off is easier, and things don’t fall out!)

3) Gift card organizers are great for those gift cards or even credit cards, too.  You can get them at the Dollar Tree!

4) $1 file folder for paper clutter.  You can find these at the Dollar Spot at Target (and they have the cutest patterns).  I label mine with:

  • Store Coupons– So I have them in hand when I head out on a shopping trip
  • Grocery Coupons– I grocery shop with coupons, and after I cut them, I stick them in my organizer before I go to the store.
  • Receipts– After I buy anything, I stick it in here for safe keeping, and I can file when I get home…or more realistically at the end of the week/month
  • Other– Random papers I need to hold on to
  • Extra– Extra coupons of items that were out of stock (this happens a lot–you know what I mean if you coupon)
  • Business Cards– Cards I get out and about, and my Doitonadime cards
  • Child– Coupons for kid goodies and free stuff!

See all of these tips and MORE in my video (plus how to get deodorant stains out of your shirt!)

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

Kitchen Drawer Organizing Made EASY!

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree, Organization

In this video I share my no-fail kitchen drawer organization system.  I say “perfect” in the video, not because we have perfect drawers 100% of the time, but because this system is as close to it as I think we are gonna get!  Ha!  There are lots of amazing drawer organizing systems out there that are awesome (but also pretty pricey), and I wanted to keep this on a budget.

My keys are:

1) PURGING EVERYTHING.  JUST DO IT!

2) Dollar Tree Coated Wire Baskets

3) Gripper Shelf Liner

4) Dollar Tree Mounting Squares

See more in my video:

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

Dollar Tree Must-See Products

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree

Here are some favorite products that I found recently at the Dollar Tree.  Since Christmas of last year, I have seen so many incredibly cute products released that rival what you find at expensive stores.  Here are some of my most favorite recent scores!

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

Dollar Tree Gardening

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree

Since you asked, here it is!  Take a tour around Dollar Tree with me and see my favorite products for gardening (and what I would stay away from).  I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the options this year.

A personal favorite for me are the hanging baskets.  $2 for a gorgeous look that is easily $15 somewhere else!

Enjoy!

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Secret to Diaper Bag Organization! | What’s in my diaper bag?

by Filed Under: Advice & Vlogs

As a mom of an almost 2-year-old, I finally feel like I know what I’m doing.  Yup.  I’m unashamed to say that it took me two years to understand balance.  I know what I need, and I know how to keep it (mostly) organized.  I say “mostly”, and if you have kids, I need not explain further. 😉

My diaper bag and organizers are right around $60.  Which, as far as diaper bags go, is actually really inexpensive.  If you buy a regular old cheap diaper bag from Babies R Us (no internal organization), it will run you $80-$100.  No joke.

I LOVE my diaper bag from Thirty One.  It’s sort of like Mary Kay (there are consultants all over that sell them, so find a friend to support if you can!  I am not a rep).  But you can also find them on Amazon.  This is my diaper bag on sale because it is the older model.  The also LOVE my mesh file system and our suction place-mat.  Those are two keys that we definitely couldn’t live without.  Here’s what I do  Would love to hear what you do!

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

Dollar Tree Decor | Pottery Barn Dupes

by Filed Under: Decor & Furniture, DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving

Is anyone else as obsessed with Pottery Barn as I am?  They have such classic, timeless decor and such exquisite presentation.  My catalogs have drool on them.  But overpriced stuff just isn’t my jam.  I just “shop” inspiration.  It’s free after all 😉  Besides, getting the high-end look for less gives me a high.  Charlie laughs at me, because I’m easily over-excited by super glue and jute twine.  It’s sort of a problem.

Here is one of the looks I was wanting to recreate.  My favorite of all is this Egan Paneled Mirror that retails for $300.

The re-creation of this look has been floating around Pinterest for a while, and many versions involve particle board.  But that’s a lot of work (and requires tools I don’t know how to use), so I knew that with some creative thinking I could make it happen completely from Dollar Tree.  As in, no product from any other store…and I succeeded.  You can literally create a $300 mirror for just $12!

 

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Check out how to make this beautiful mirror and 3 other simple DIYS!

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