An organized home is a beautiful sight. Nothing is as reassuring as the ability to find anything in your house within a few moments because everything has its own place. It’s just much easier to relax in a well-organized home.

Of course, the first step to getting organized is to get rid of any unnecessary clutter. But what do you do with the stuff you’re left with after you’ve purged your home of its extraneous contents? You can’t get rid of everything, so now you’ve got to deal with everything that’s left.

Getting organized is easy when you have plenty of containers and systems to hold your stuff. The problem is that all of those pretty containers can be expensive. You could easily spend way more than is reasonable to find ways to organize things like craft supplies, paperwork, or even toiletry items.

The good news, though, is that you don’t have to spend a ton to get organized. Instead, use items that you already have around the house to create your own storage devices. Look at the disposable storage containers you purchase every time you purchase your favorite groceries or toiletries. With a little creativity (and some time spent cleaning the containers up) you can have all the tools you need to keep your home tidy and enjoyable.

Try a few of these ideas:

Glass jars from grocery items – These make great containers to collect everything from bits of ribbons to hair ties. As an added bonus, the clarity of the jar makes it easy to know exactly what’s in each jar.

Shoeboxes – Shoe boxes are the perfect size to hold tons of things. I like to keep scrapbooking supplies in them because they are big enough to lie may paper goods flat. You can even turn shoeboxes into “pretty storage” by wrapping them in wrapping paper.

Tissue boxes – These are the perfect way to keep those empty plastic bags from floating all over your kitchen. Simply stuff the bags into a tissue box. You can, then, pull them out one at a time as you need them.

Plastic containers for cold cuts – If you scrub these out really well, they are perfect for holding your makeup and medications. They stack nicely under the sink and can even be packed in suitcases when you travel.

Diaper Boxes - You know those big boxes of diaper packs? Once you’ve used up all the diapers, they are perfect for storing winter clothing or children’s toys. Use self-adhesive contact paper to dress them up.

Learn to evaluate items for multi-purpose use. With a bit of creativity you can have the best of both worlds - an organized home without the high price.