10 Ways to Get Organized for Less

Most of us need to get organized, but who wants to spend a fortune doing so? Between what you find at the dollar store and in your junk drawer, there are numerous easy ways to get organized for next to nothing.

For as little as $5, you can use a tension rod to hang spray bottles underneath your kitchen or bathroom sink. This is a simple way to keep all of your cleaning supplies accessible while doubling storage space by getting the spray bottles off the cabinet floor.

The 2-packs of ice cube trays found at the dollar store are a perfect solution for storing and organizing small pieces of jewelry, such as earrings, rings, and delicate necklaces. Place the trays inside a bathroom or closet drawer, and no more worries about tangled chains or a single misplaced earring.

The inside walls of a closet are so underutilized. With a simple piece of wire strung along the side and held up by hooks on each end, the space can be used to keep your trove of wrapping paper organized in a row across the bottom of the closet.

Before you throw out that old shoebox, fill it with all those unruly rolls of ribbon lying around. Cut holes in one of the long sides of the box and feed the end of each roll of ribbon through one hole at a time. Put the lid on the ribbon organizer and you have a simple, cheap way to store and use the trimmings without having to fight through a mess of half unraveled rolls.

Towels and sheets never seem to stay in the neat piles that they start in after laundry day. Instead of living with an untidy mess, pick up a few baskets with handles at the dollar store and designate each for one particular use: towels (rolled up); sheets and pillowcases; stacks of washcloths. The baskets also can be home to boxes of tissues and back-up supplies of shampoo, soap, and toothpaste.

You can free up an entire kitchen drawer by using a few push pins that you may have stashed in your supplies cupboard. Pin the lid of a plastic sandwich or snack bag box to the inside wall of the pantry. You'll be able to reach and grab a baggie as needed without wasting space on the boxes.

Use the pockets for cleaning products, hair products, small dolls and trucks, gloves and hats, and so on. You may be taking things in and out frequently, which requires something sturdy, so it's probably penny-wise to spring for the $10 version rather than the $5 option.

There's no need to purchase expensive baskets or other organizers when a fresh coat of fabric can turn a diaper or shoebox into a stylish organizer for playroom or closet. Pick up a yard of fabric for as little as $1 or $2, add a ribbon or bow, and nobody will ever know you're repurposing.

All you need is a water-resistant tote, pieces of cardboard, and a sleeve of plastic beverage cups to organize and keep Christmas ornaments safe. Glue the cups to the cardboard and place each ornament in the bottom of the cup. Stack up the sheets, place inside the tote and rest easy -- no more broken or lost ornaments next year.

Baby food and jelly jars are the perfect sizes for nails and screws, bobby pins, safety pins, or any other little item that rarely has a home of its own. Give the lid a quick coat of spray paint to liven up the jar and you've got free organizers for every room.