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Frugal Organizing Ideas-Kitchen

My pantry is driving me CRAZY!! We have a tiny tiny kitchen, it could be much smaller I suppose but compared to our last kitchen its about 1/4 of the size. There has been a lot of adjustments regarding our belongings in this home, that is for sure!

I have been trying to find one of these wire shelves at the thrift store for about 6 months. I have found a couple, but none that were under $1, which is my budget.
Brand new ones run from $3 to 20. This one from the container store is $7.99


While these are gorgeous, that is just not possible. So I turned to what I had lying around my home. I had a few of these.
Drawer organizers. The larger one came in a package of 2 for $1. The smaller one came in a package of 3 for a $1. Why couldn't these work?


I just turned them upside down and stacked them.

When I stacked the cans the top container slid backwards but it works better this way!

Now after this I was on a roll! I walked back through the house looking for something else to stack my spiceson. I only had the 2 I used for the cans extra. I came across a candle I had filled but is mostly gone. Why couldn't I use that? It would have ended up in the garbage otherwise.


I put it against the back wall of the cupboard. Flipped it upside down and stacked up my spices.

If you look closely right in front of the upside down candle is a lip in the cupboard. Another reason why this solution was so challenging.

One more tip I really live by is grouping like items. The 2 green baskets on the bottom left of my cabinet are my most used spices. The one on the far left is my "Baking Basket".

It includes:
  • Baking soda
  • Baking powder
  • Sprinkles
  • Vanilla extract
  • etc.
The one on the right is my spices.

It includes:
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Sage
  • Thyme
  • Etc.
That way when I'm baking I can bring all my supplies right to my work area. It works very well!

Frugal Farmhouse

Comments

  1. Haha! I did that exact thing! I'm not joking. I was laid off, stressing about money and cleaning like crazy to pass the time. I'm really not kidding when I say I went through that same process, came up with those same white trays laying around and flipped them over. I promise! I posted about it, but not in quite enough detail to completely prove it...I guess I just need you to trust me and laugh with me! Way to find a frugal solution! http://myhappycasa.blogspot.com/2009/02/organizing-food-cupboards.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness! How funny! Unemployed minds must think a like!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am lovin' your frugal tips and ideas ... Mrs.B

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you Mrs. B, I'm glad you like them!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such great tips here, & I love the way you made your 'substitute' shelves - very clever !

    ReplyDelete

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