Money Savers: Use What You Have

There was a time when I had boxes of stuff, but I didn't have them very organized. I knew what was in them, but more often than not it was easier to go buy a new thing than to dig around and find the one I had.

That's when I decided 2 things: clear bins are great, and labels are essential. With clear bins I can see what I have, and if I'm not sure, the labels tell me what I have. It has been very handy in saving money, since it is the little things that tend to add up. For example, I haven't had to buy Valentine's cards for my kids in years because I have a holiday box full of stuff that I bought one time at the after-holiday sales. This year I finally used up the last of the Valentine cards. Another example: I have a nice stock of office supplies on hand in one of my bins. If I ever need anything, I just have to go to my labeled bin. And I keep stocked up by watching sales, particularly at back-to-school time. This also helps when a teacher asks for supplies. Or what about tools? Having them organized and labeled is a great way to avoid having to buy another one. This goes for craft supplies, kitchen accessories, seasonal items, holiday decorations, gifting supplies, hair accessories, sporting goods, electronics, photos, hardware items (like extension cords), and just about anything you can think of.

Once your things are easily accessible and labeled, you'll find yourself using the things you have. You may even find things you didn't remember having. And as a result, you won't feel like you have to run to the store every time you need something.