6 Affordable or Free Organizing Hacks

You don’t need to buy a bunch of storage bins and systems to get organized! The best organizing tips and hacks are the ones that are free or cheap.

Staying organized makes life easier and less stressful. It’s worth the time and energy it takes to get started, but you shouldn’t need to spend a lot of money to make it happen.

Decluttering Is Free

It’s never a bad idea to declutter, and it doesn’t cost a thing. We have so many decluttering tips on this site to help you get started.

Cardboard Tube Scrunchie Organizer

Can you believe they actually sell scrunchie organizers? They’re acrylic tubes you that stand up on a base, and you squeeze the scrunchies down onto them.

You know what else works? A paper towel tube glued to any base that’s heavy enough to make it stand up. A small piece of wood or an old heavy coaster will work perfectly.

Hanging Jewelry Bag Organizer

These jewelry bags are great for organizing and separating earrings and fine chains. They can be pretty affordable at Amazon, but keep an eye out at bargain stores where they can be even cheaper.

I found the one in my picture above very cheap at a bargain store. Here’s a similar hanging jewelry organizer on Amazon.

Create a Command Center

The idea here is to designate a central area in your home as a command center. Hang a calendar, bulletin board, and key hooks to keep track of appointments, important documents, and keys. This simple setup will help you stay on top of your schedule and minimize last-minute scrambling.

Also get some magazine holders from Dollar Tree, one for each person’s mail, so you have an organized place to stash the mail when you come in.

Amazon has some affordable magazine holders too. And you can even make your own magazine holders out of old cereal boxes.

Repurpose Condiment Jars and Candle Holders

Instead of buying cannisters for the kitchen and bathroom, clean and repurpose old condiment jars or candle holders. A small jam jar or empty candle holder is perfect for storing cotton swabs.

Clear condiment jars can organize small office supplies or bathroom essentials. Old coffee canisters can be used to hold sugar, flour, rice, lentils, etc.

Mason jars are great for homemade soup mixes, too.

DIY Drawer Dividers

Don’t splurge on expensive drawer dividers when you can create your own using simple materials. Cut pieces of cardboard or foam board to fit your drawers and create compartments for socks, underwear, or office supplies. Customize them to suit your specific needs.

But you can make it even simpler than that! Trays from cookie packages may seem to flimsy to work, but you can absolutely use them as drawer organizers. They can store pens and pencils, jewelry, office supplies and more.