Organize Your Pantry On A BUDGET!!

A few readers of ChicOnShabby asked that I do a post on Pantry organization..  So, since I just did this to my pantry a few months ago....  I thought I would share - and try to help...    

Does the thought of organizing - pain you??!!!  Who has time for that??!!  Well, I am here to help you do this!!   I will give you the tools to get this done as easily, painlessly and most importantly as cheaply as possible!!  

My pantry used to look like a bomb went off on it - before I decided to organize it.  (Sorry, I do not have a pic of it before)

I am always in a hurry!!  When I get home from the grocery store - I just throw things in there as quickly as I can!  And after dinner - I just want to get the dishes done and sit down with my glass of wine!!  

I knew I had to organize my pantry!!  

One day - while my mom was in town AND  my hubby was here to keep the munchkins busy...  I decided to go through the entire pantry and organize everything... 

 Ever since then, it has been so easy to KEEP my pantry organized! AND -  more importantly, I WANT TO!!

First, I made a list of categories that I wanted to group my items into....  

Snacks
rice/pasta
bread
potatoes/onions
canned goods
baking
spices
cereals
flour/sugar  

Then, I went to the Dollar Tree and just got a lot of different sizes and shapes of containers that I thought would work..  I wanted to mix and match to make it look good and functional.  I THOUGHT if I bought too many containers at the time of purchase...  I would use some of the leftover containers in the playroom for toys...   

**Note, I do not think that Dollar Tree does returns....  So keep that in mind that when buying..

Here are the items you I used:   HUGE BONUS -  almost everything is from the Dollar Tree!  So its super cheap!!  

Paint Tray

Dish Pan

Cereal Containers

Different Size Containers

The white container is labeled "dish pan' underneath.  The blue bins are a mix of different shapes of sizes of containers, and the black container holding the cans is a 'paint tray' that I picked up at the Dollar Tree.  I thought if I got different shapes and sizes it would make my pantry more "fun" and "functional" at the same time..  And I wanted to be able to hide certain items and be able to "see" others...  

After I grouped everything into their categories, I started placing items where they made sense...  

• How often do I 'Bake'?  Not Very much...  So baking and "cake/muffin" bin that can go on the top!  
• Rice, I use rice almost EVERYDAY..  so, eye level...  
• The SNACK BIN - I wanted the kids to be able to reach this...  But have to work a little to get there.  So that every time they walk in there - bored or what-not, they wouldn't just grab something - because they could See it.  So I put it ABOVE their eye-level.  
• Spices - eye level..  
• Flour, Breading, Adult Snacks - eye level.  I probably should put the adult snack above eye level for my waistline, but whatver!  
• Crock pots and HUGE crab boiling pots that I don't use very often - went on the bottom and tucked away..  

After I got everything organized and put them where I wanted them, I got labels!  Glorious labels.. An Organizers 'must have'.  I got these Chalk board labels at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 each!  I bought 2 packs and ALMOST bought the Chalk Marker - But didn't at first.  I thought I would just use my paint pen..  DO NOT use a paint pen!  It will not work!  I had to go BACK to Hobby Lobby and get the chalk pen..  So just buy the $3.99 pen!  It is worth it AND you can change the labels later if you want...  So just buy it!!! 

DIY TIP:  I recommend writing on your labels before you apply them...  However, be gentle and careful when applying, because the chalk will rub off on your fingers...  

And that's it!  Everyone that sees my pantry asks me to organize theirs! 

 These bins make it easy to keep your pantry organized and 'cute' at the same time!  I hope this helps you get your pantry organized!  

FEEL FREE TO POST ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BELOW....

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY....

Come back later this week to ChicOnShabby to see my RUSTIC LANTERN TRANSFORMATION