THIS is the best place to find home organizing tools!

You'd be surprised but it's not the big box store, the closet organizing superstore or Amazon! The best place to buy home organizing tools for every room in your house-from the kitchen to the office-is thrift stores! That's right! You'll be doing your pocketbook and the planet a big favor by shopping thrift stores for these items. The best part? They're  dirt cheap and no one but me is usually there looking for them so the supply is excellent! 

Home organizing tools are not displayed or stocked in one specific section of the big thrift stores, they're often sorted by type of material (or even by color!) so you'll need to do some digging. Sections to check? Plastics, metals, baskets, kitchen, office and bathroom should yield some good finds. On any given trip to the thrift store I can usually find shelf risers, lazy Susans, brand name closet and shelf organizers, utensil and pantry organizers, bins, under cabinet organizers, over-the-door hooks, peg rails, office trays, magazine holders and baskets.

Many of the larger thrift stores offer discounts for shoppers on different days of the week: seniors, member of the military, students, first responders-so check before shopping to save even more money and have your ID handy.

When shopping, think about using items in unexpected ways. Use an over the door shoe pocket organizer to store winters gloves, scarves, hats and socks; or wrapping supplies like bows, tags, tapes and small boxes (you can even store the wrapping paper if you cut through the bottom of some of the pockets-just measure first); or charging and extension cords. Use a lazy Susan in the bathroom closet to store toiletries or makeup. Use a kitchen utensil organizer in your bathroom drawer. Use cupcake pans to store small items like buttons, small stationery supplies or jewelry.