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organizing | diy | frugal living

Do It On A Dime

KITCHEN CUPBOARD ORGANIZATION | Cheap and Free

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

Organizing the kitchen can seem like a daunting and expensive task.  Here’s how, using less than $10, I organized our baking cabinet above the stove.

My biggest secrets when organizing are to…

  1. Re-purpose old containers.  I love the pretzel pillows from my grocery store, and when they go on sale, I buy a few, and I know I can re-use the container after we eat them.  TIP: To remove labels, use rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or vinegar.  Let soak using a paper towel.
  2. Stick with one color scheme.  When working with a tiny budget, things have a tendency to get a little Hodge-podgy.  In this project I suck with black and white, so it really created a dramatic effect for little money
  3. Shop the Dollar Tree!  The chalkboard labels, chalk pen, and containers we from the Dollar Store
  4. Use double-duty organizers.  My “risers” in the cabinets are also helpful storage.
  5. Shop Garage Sales (now’s the season!).  Storage containers can always be found at these.  I see them at so many sales!

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

DIY Baby Wipes | How to make your own baby wipes

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Recipes

Baby wipes are expensive. And loaded with tons of ingredients you can’t pronounce. Carson gets diaper rash very, very easily (it’s insane), and even though he is potty trained, he still wears diapers for naps and bed-time, and we still used wipes after going potty!

I wish I would have found a recipe I loved sooner. There are lots of options out there (many use baby shampoo and oil), but the proportions are all wrong and they leave a residue on your skin.

After some research and experimenting, we found wipes we LOVE and won’t be switching to store-bought any time soon. Besides, you won’t believe the money you save. Just one container of these wipes uses around $1 of ingredients, and considering you pay $4 at the store for the same amount, I’d say that’s a pretty killer savings.

P R O D U C T S U S E D:

Storage Containers (also BPA free)
Fiora Paper Towels
Burt’s Bees Shampoo (natural ingredients, tear free and safe for babies)
Burt’s Bees Body Oil (all natural and safe for babies)
Coconut Oil
Distilled Water

M E A S U R E M E N T S:
1/2 paper towel roll in a 64oz container
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 squirt baby shampoo
1 squirt baby oil
2 cups distilled water

Combine coconut oil and liquid ingredients (make sure water is warm). Pour over 1/2 a paper towel roll (cut with a non-serrated knife). Remove center roll and pull out wipes from the center. Squish roll down using the lid. Keep sealed for up to 2 weeks.

Let me know if you give this easy recipe a try!

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

How to make Almond Butter!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Recipes

Can you believe this jar is $11 from Vitacost? Crazy!

For the price the grocery store charges for almond butter, you should be cracking open a can of liquid gold. Or at the very least prime rib. The cost is outrageous. Almond butter can run you $8-$9 PER SMALL JAR. I can’t think of another explanation other than it’s the health-food industry capitalizing on a “trendy” food with a lot of added health benefits. And considering how fast we go through it in our house, I was really excited to discover how easy it was to make your own.

Almond butter is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is great for your health. Peanutbutter is good for you, too (has lots of protein), but isn’t good to be consumed in mass quantities…especially if you have the 24-7-PB&J-requesting-kid. It’s so easy to switch it up with some almond butter with ZERO preservatives and keep your family eating healthful, varied foods on a budget!

You’ll need a food processor and a large bag of raw almonds. The cheapest place to purchases them is Costco where you can get a large bag for about $17. That makes the cost per jar right around $3…about 1/3 of the price in the store!

Process the almonds for 10-15 minutes (stirring occasionally with a spatula) until smooth and creamy like peanut-butter. Store in mason jars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. We love to label ours with dissolveable labels.

I hope you give this easy recipe a try. Carson and I will show you how simple it really is!

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

From Diaper Box to Organizer!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Organization

I know we all have diaper boxes or Amazon boxes sitting in the recycle bin.  Why not take some jute twine and a little hot glue and make them over to create a classic organizer.  It’s so easy and is pennies on the dollar compared to expensive rope organizing boxes.  Hope you give this simple craft a try!

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

Pottery Barn Inspired Topiaries…from Dollar Tree!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree

Topiaries are so pricey.  Pottery Barn sells them for at least $60 a piece, and other stores still gouge you!  I’ve seen them at Home Goods for around $20-30 a piece (on the low end), and much higher for the larger ones.

But, you can make elegant, Pottery Barn inspired topiaries for LESS THAN $10 A TOPIARY!  Here’s what you need and how to do it:

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

Dollar Tree Organizing Makeover!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization

IMG_1586Having multi-use spaces in your home poses a challenge for effective organizing.  But, just because you have a small home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice spaces feeling open and organized.  A friend of mine has a pantry/laundry room combination in her kitchen.  Trying to combine two very different areas, she felt overwhelmed.  She was trying to hide food in the cupboards, in the laundry room, wherever she could squeeze in space!  But, she never felt like things were easy to access, and she wanted a system in place.

Here was the space before:

Screen Shot 2015-06-11 at 9.36.39 AM Really, she just needed a way to contain everything she was using and to think outside the box when organizing.  Sometimes we are so used to having things one particular way that we don’t take time to think if that zone is really the most effective use of space.

In a trip to the Dollar Tree and the Dollar Spot at Target, everything was completed for right around $30.  No kidding.  Here is the after:

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Check out the video to see the secrets behind some of these systems!


 

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

Easy Salad in a Jar | Organized Lunches!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization, Recipes

Making lunches can be a pain (I mean really…we have to do it EVERY DAY??), and making healthy choices is even more time consuming.  Washing, cutting, peeling, prepping.  That’s why I’m loving my salad in a jar.  They are so easy to prep at the beginning of the week, so you can eat healthfully all week long but not have to worry about the time commitment.

Here is how I prepare and serve them along with my favorite home-made Italian Dressing.

 Italian Dressing

  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • (Red pepper flakes for a little kick…my favorite part!)

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

Dollar Store Furniture and Decor

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

There are a couple main player in my eyes in the Dollar Store game: Dollar Tree (where everything is $1), Family Dollar (where things are more than a Dollar, but still very inexpensive).

Here are some of my favorite organizational and decor products in recent weeks from these two stores.  Easy, inexpensive, functional, AND beautiful!  What more could you ask for?

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

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