Think you’re out of space? Even if you live in a tiny apartment or house, you can take advantage of these spaces and maximize your storage capabilities.

Under: Don’t neglect the space under your bed!It’s great for off-season clothing storage or hand-me-down kids’ clothes, extra blankets, and memory-box/sentimental items. If your bed is low, purchase some inexpensive bed risers (about $10 per set) at your bed and bath store. This will raise the bed about six inches, allowing under-bed plastic or cardboard storage boxes to slide in easily.

Inside: When shopping for end tables, coffee tables, or benches, be sure to look for those that have storage inside. That way, you utilize not only the space on top, but also the space inside or underneath. In your closets, maximize space by installing a double-hang closet rod. Inside cupboard doors, hang a cork board to post phone numbers and shopping lists. Or hang hooks (3M Command Hooks work well) to hold just about anything! Finally, use the height of your cabinets wisely by adjusting shelves to suit the items they hold.

Up: There are all sorts of great organizing products available to help you maximize wall space. Pegs and hooks can be used in the entry way to hold jackets and backpacks; in the bathroom they hold robes or hair dryers; or add to a closet to store the next day’s outfit. Hang a net hammock in a kid’s room to store stuffed animals up and out of the way. You can even use the ceiling to hang pots and pans from a ceiling-mounted rack. Install floor-to-ceiling shelves or cubbies, and you won’t waste an inch of wall space. Keep frequently used items at eye level or below, saving the top space for seldom-used things or decorative items.

© 2011 Articles on Demand™

• Thankful for the sunshine today as we begin a busy, productive day……..some dirty windows are on tap today… http://t.co/VgNrPDoy #
• Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there……..where would we be without you? Thankful for all those who… http://t.co/Gy4X5OTs #
• Hall Storage Closet Organized and room for more….a great afternoon spent organizing today! http://t.co/Wj3l6wqD #
• Off to Kandiyohi County today….back to McLeod this afternoon to get everybody organized! Are you on my list? Should you be on my list? #
• I posted 8 photos on Facebook in the album "Store Room Organizing" http://t.co/ALUhp2G9 #
• It's time to Spring houseclean… http://t.co/8klKHC59 #
• I posted 4 photos on Facebook in the album "Storage Room Organizing" http://t.co/uMG6thrp #
• I posted 10 photos on Facebook in the album "Ktichen Organizing" http://t.co/o0vTXf4H #
• What tips or helpful hints would make your projects easier? Let us know as we prep upcoming blog posts. #
• Off to Meeker County today to do some storage area organizing……. #

• While my own house is being cleaned and windows washed, I am meeting with 2 new clients and tacking a "kitchen… http://t.co/hdfms7uF #
• I now know what it feels like……I'm having the Tidy Tightwads team come and clean my house and do windows… http://t.co/ekBLYUFY #
• Meeting with a new client this afternoon…….there is always a new opportunity ahead! #
• "I know I have not used this in years, but I will….some day." Have you heard these words? #
• Welcome to Judy Heimlich. Thanks for being a Tidy Tightwads fan! #
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• Welcome to Holly Steffensen Stilwell…thanks for being a Tidy Tightwads fan. #
• What is a good gift for the graduate? Something practical…that isn't clutter…..what will you give? #
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• Welcome to Kari Krattenmacher Sharp….thanks for being a Tidy Tightwads fan! #
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• A cleaning job this morning, and an organizing job this afternoon. If the sun shines, we'll be cleaning windows too. Need yours done? #
• Welcome to Genise Rose Werth……thanks for being a Tidy Tightwads fan. #
• Welcome to Janet Hall….thanks for being a Tidy Tightwads fan. #
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The kitchen is the hub of most homes. It’s where people congregate to eat, do projects, share experiences, and relax. Because we spend so much time there, it’s important that the kitchen is organized and functional. Likewise, the often-neglected bathroom needs upkeep to make mornings flow smoothly, from shower to shave. Follow these tips to keep the most-used rooms in the home in tip-top shape.

• Determine what purpose your kitchen serves. Do you use it for activities other than food preparation, such as completing homework or paying bills? Set up a specific area in the kitchen for those tasks and gather supplies. For example, to set up a bill-paying center, you’ll need: checkbook, envelopes, stamps, return address labels, pens, and a place to store bills to be paid.

• Clear the clutter! Get rid of the gadgets, small appliances, and mismatched containers you never use. For remaining items, store those frequently used (more than once a week) on the countertop or easy-to-reach upper cupboards. Store seldom-used items (once a month or less) in the lower (harder to reach) cupboards.

• Make the most of every inch. Install hooks under cabinets for mugs, pans, and small colanders. Mount can openers, paper-towel holders, and radios there, too. Place a cutting board over one side of the sink. Utilize space inside cabinet doors to hang a corkboard to post phone numbers and to-do lists.

• Avoid confusion and foster accountability in the bathroom. Assign each person a color for toothbrushes and towels. Give each person a drawer or plastic storage bin for his/her personal items. Utilize the space under the sink by using stackable storage containers. Toss expired medicines and cosmetics, tattered towels, and duplicate hair styling appliances. Maintain order by scheduling time to organize on a regular basis.

© 2011 Articles on Demand™

• From an e-mail I received today…ACCOUNTABILITY means living gratefully and generously with what we have been… http://t.co/tEDlLUHg #
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• Welcome to Betty Kuechle Carlo……thanks for being a Tidy Tightwads fan! #
• My last client of the day yesterday made the whole week worth it! As my team and I were leaving she hollered to… http://t.co/FTZ6gcNm #
• What is on your "to do" list today? #
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• The best part of Friday is ______________! #
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• Welcome to Deb Schaefer and Shari Brunes Johnson….thanks for being Tidy Tightwads fans. #
• A fun morning spent with the students from Ridgewater…thanks for the invite……..I hope you enjoyed it! #
• Welcome to Julie Warren Erickson and Jessica Yurczyk. Thanks for being Tidy Tightwads fans! #
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• I posted 4 photos on Facebook in the album "Spare Bedroom Organizing" http://t.co/tsyVbH6G #
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• Always good to remember. http://t.co/90RUYVjO #
• Need help getting or staying organized but not spending a fortune? Check out my blog: http://t.co/YSnzFllS #
• Not yet, @AlternativeHeat but our school has #earthday events planned for next weekend! in reply to AlternativeHeat #
• @afullcup Yes, we do cook dinner at home most nights! #cooking #frugal in reply to afullcup #

Whew, taxes are done for another year, right? Yes, but it’s smart to think ahead.

Cut down on your stress and time next year with these helpful tips:

Make next year’s taxes easier by getting organized NOW!  Use file folders, large 9×12 envelopes, or an accordion file to create months or categories. Throughout the year, add receipts and tax-related documents to the right “home”.  When tax time rolls around, you’ll be able to refer to this collection as you prepare your taxes.

Don’t be afraid to make yourself a little note. You think you’ll remember, but chances are it’s money lost if you forget. Sticky notes work great on receipts and other documents so you remember to discuss with your accountant.

What’s your biggest headache around tax time?

Take these small and easy steps to make your home look good. You’ll love how it feels! Then, let the momentum carry you to try larger organizing projects.

• Make your bed — first thing — every day. Start your day on the right foot, and you’re sure to continue putting things in their proper spots all day.

• Clean your kitchen sink. Sprinkle baking soda and lemon juice, and scrub with a damp sponge or cloth. Rinse and dry. Polish the faucet to a shine. Now, throughout the day, immediately put dirty dishes in the dishwasher or wash them by hand so you can continue to admire your sparkly sink!

• Assess your cups and bowls. How many mugs and cups do you really need? Pull them all out of the cupboard, pick your top 20, and donate the rest. You’ll never miss them. Do the same with your Tupperware. Match the lids with bottoms and toss anything missing its mate.

• Create an errand box. Put a crate or basket by the front door. Deposit into it anything needing to go out. You can add items that need to be returned to stores, library books and movies ready for return, and borrowed items that need to find their rightful owners. Take the box with you each morning and see what you can get rid of that day.

• Give your purse or bag a makeover. Dump everything out, and toss expired coupons, old receipts, scraps of paper, and used tissues. Then, use a small see-through pouch or zip-top bag to hold personal items (lip balm, comb, bandages, dental floss, etc.) Keep an envelope for current coupons and receipts. And keep your wallet, check- book, and keys in a handy, easy-to-reach spot.

© 2011 Articles on Demand™

• It's Friday! Ready for lake weekends soon, you? #

One of the great benefits to living an organized life is the positive impact you can have on our environment. When you’re organized, you can buy less stuff (reduce), you can think of creative ways to reinvent old items (reuse), and you can thoughtfully dispose of your discards (recycle). Follow these tips to tackle the first “R.” You’ll earn key benefits like saving money, time, and natural resources, as well as feeling less cluttered and stressed at home and work.

Earth Day is Sunday, April 22, 2012.

Think before you buy. Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes from 20 percent of what we own. That means that 80 percent of the things in our homes are rarely or never used. Next time, before you buy, think about the time you’ll spend in cleaning, storing, and maintaining that item after you bring it home. If you must buy, establish a “new item in, old item out” system where some purging takes place before shopping, meaning less clutter in your home.

Reduce waste at the office. Try to generate less paper by printing less and saving more to electronic storage, such as your computer or a CD-ROM. Send an e-mail rather than a printed memo or letter. Think before you hit “print” and you’ll have less paper to deal with on your desk.

Purchase items that have less packaging. Buy concentrates, such as orange juice and laundry detergent. Avoid single-serving products and buy in bulk instead. Reuse paper or plastic shopping bags or bring your own sturdy cloth tote, thus reducing a messy pile of bags littering your home.

Reduce travel toxins. Opt for walking, biking, or taking the bus or subway over driving a car. Try to combine trips when running errands to save time, money, and natural resources.

© 2011 Articles on Demand™

Are you into Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling? Share your best tip with the rest of us!

Make some colorful cupcakes and fool your family on April Fool’s Day!

Meat Loaf:

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs

1 c. grated cheese

3 T. ketchup

1 egg

1/2 tsp. celery salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Potato Frosting:

3 c. mashed potatoes

food coloring

There’s no sugar in these cupcakes!  Heat the oven to 375.  Line 12 muffin cups.  In a large bowl mix together all the meatloaf ingredients.  Divide the mixture evenly among the lined cups.  Place the muffin tins on cookie sheets and bake the cupcakes for about 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.

Divide the mashed potatoes among 3 small bowls and stir in a few drops of food coloring into each batch to create yellow, blue, green or whatever color you wish.  Spread a generous dollop on each cupcake.