Organizing Your Home on a Budget

It is finally spring and time for spring cleaning.  Not only is this a great time to throw out items that are broken, it is a great time to get rid of things you no longer want.  You can make some extra cash selling items online on Craigslist or by selling them at a yard sale.  If you are feeling charitable, you can donate unwanted items in good condition.

Of course, once you are done throwing out items, it is time to organize what you are keeping.  It can be difficult, especially if you do not have much money.  However, it is possible. 

If you are selling unwanted items, take some of the money you made to buy low-budget items to help you get organized.  Some products you can purchase for a low-cost are:

Shelves
Shoe holders
Fabric organizers
Metal carts
Plastic crates
Under the bed organizers

If you are not able to afford to buy anything to organize your home, don't forget to look for some free items.  You may be able to find them from work or from friends and family members.  Free items you can use to get organized are:

Boxes (old printer paper boxes are the best!)
Paper bags
Milk carton crates

If you prop up the boxes or crates just the right way on their sides, they are practically like shelves.  Of course, the boxes and bags are great for storage.  Don't let being on a tight budget ruin your ability to organize your home.  You can do it!

Low-Budget Hairspray is Not Always a Good Idea

I am a fan of hairspray.  I have thick, uncontrollable hair, so I have to use it.  I sort of believe I can't live without it.  I am kind of a hairspray addict.  I typically buy very cheap hairspray, such as White Rain or Suave.  However, due to desperation and a thriftiness, I decided to go even cheaper and buy hairspray at a dollar store.  Mistake!

I decided to glance at the back of the hairspray and much to my surprise, it contains propane.  Ummm... propane on my hair?  I am not too excited.  Furthermore, it says something about only being "55%" hairspray according to regulations.  What the hell does that mean?  Is my hair going to fall out?  Now I am concerned.

So tomorrow, I will be going to Target to get my normal low-budget hairspray.  I have learned my lesson the hard way.  Don't buy hairspray from the dollar store!

Low-Budget Mother's Day Ideas

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and believe it or not, there are some low-budget gift ideas out there.  You don't have to spend a small fortune on jewelry for your Mom.  You can find some great items for a low-cost.

For instance, many dollar stores are loaded with spring items right now.  I am not saying your only gift should be from the dollar store or that you should just give one gift that costs a dollar, but you can make a nice gift basket with items from the dollar store.  Right now, the Dollar Tree has a solar-operated flower that dances, wind chimes, colorful bowls, and pink flamingo glasses.  If your mother likes tacky stuff, well, she is going to love seeing many of those items in her basket.  As a matter of fact, you can even get a basket there!

If you are not willing to go that route, there are plenty of other options.  You can buy a nice potted plant at just about any store.  You can also buy flowers for fairly cheap if you know where to get them.  Farmer's markets, discount stores, and Trader Joe's are great places to purchase flowers and house plants.  You can even order flowers and plants online at Amazon if you live far away and need them shipped to your mother.

You also do have the option of getting an expensive item if you'd like.  This is especially the case if the gift is from more than one family member.  Some mothers actually appreciate electronics like Kindles, iPods, tablets, or a Nook.  The standard Kindle is about 70 dollars right now, but a Kindle Fire is a little under $200.  It might sound pricy, but if several people are chipping it in, it can be a bargain.

So don't worry too much about gifts for Mom this Mother's Day.  There are some really nice deals out there.  And if all else fails, cooking her a nice dinner is always appreciated.

The Dollar Store is the Best Place for Easter Supplies

If you are interested in decorating your home for Easter at a low cost, I recommend checking out dollar stores, such as the Dollar Tree.  Dollar stores offer a number of low-budget Easter and spring decoration items.  Aside from decorating your home for Easter, you can find perfect toys, candy, and items for Easter baskets.  Of course, the best part is... everything is just $1!

Some of the great items you can purchase for Easter at the dollar store are:

Easter garland
Small Easter baskets
Easter buckets
Pinwheels
Plastic eggs
Small stuffed animals
Plastic grass for baskets
Toys
Snowglobes
Egg dye
Candy
Chocolate bunnies
Easter welcome signs for doors
And much, much more!

Many of the Easter items available at the dollar store are pretty decent.  Some of the stuffed animals look slightly mutant-like, but other than that, a lot of the products are super cute.  You can find Easter items you never even knew existed, like camouflage plastic eggs.  I highly recommend taking a trip the dollar store this year for Easter supplies.

For more Easter fun, check out:

How to Add Excitement to Your Easter Egg Hunt

How to Dye Easter Eggs

St. Patrick's Day Shopping at Target

If you want to buy some St. Patrick's Day items, I would recommend visiting Target in the very near future.  Currently, Target has an interesting assortment of St. Patrick's Day products in the dollar bins.  Why bother paying $5 - $10 for fun St. Patrick's Day stuff when you can pay only $1 for items like necklaces, socks, and headbands?  You can even get a St. Patrick's Day hat for a relatively low price in the same section.

Don't worry if you are not Irish.  Not all the items in the St. Patrick's Day dollar bins are for Irish folks.  Some products specifically state things like "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" and others are for anyone that just wants to celebrate the holiday.

If you really want to party this St. Patrick's Day, don't wait the last minute for tacky green party items.  Make sure to visit Target this month to get tacky stuff for just one dollar a piece!

Other related articles you might like:

Valentine's Day Bargains at Target

5 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Without Drinking

January 26 - 27 Weekend - The Baltimore Sun Coupons

Some weekends I wonder if a coupon gremlin has come along and stolen all my coupons before I get my Baltimore Sun newspaper.  Other weekends, I am quite happy to discover many coupons.  This weekend would be just tha type of situation.  There were four packets of coupons included.  Also, there were a Walmart and Target sales paper.  Hooray!

Some of the many coupons included in this weekend's Baltimore Sun are:

• Frozen pizzas (various brands)
• Tums (you might need that after all that pizza)
• Tidy Cat litter
• Puppy Chow
• Ragu spaghetti sauce
• Suave shampoo and other products
• Vaseline products
• Fiber One
• Cheerios
• Tyson Chicken
• Nature Valley Granola Bars
• Tide
• Energizer
• Charmin
• Bounty Puffs
• And much more!

Happy shopping this weekend!  Don't forget, many groceries stores will double your coupons if the amount is under $1.

Happy New Year!

2012 has come and gone and it is time to celebrate the new year.  I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve.  Let's all celebrate the coming of 2013.  I am hoping (despite the 13 and the bad luck that it indicates) that this year will be a great one.

Now is the time to sit down and consider your finances.  It is great to plan your taxes, budget, and finance plans for the new year.  Also, if you are looking for a new job, now is the best time.  Many companies put job searches on hold during the holidays, but now they will be looking for new employees.  Maybe we will all have a little luck getting that better paying job this year!

Don't forget... this is also the perfect time to stock up on holiday items.  You can get wrapping paper, decorations, ugly Christmas sweaters, and an assortment of other holiday products right now.  Most stores are selling items for 50% to 75% off.  Also, it is the perfect time to buy Christmas candles for dirt cheap.  Who cares if there is a Christmas tree on the front of it?  If you need candles for practical reasons, such as your electricity going out, I assure you, you won't care about the holiday theme.

Best wishes to everyone and happy new year!