Storage Containers - It's ALL Good!

We all look to prep and provide for our families.  We all love to save money when we can.  We all want to be ready for anything.
I have found that I stock and store a lot of stuff.  I well imagine many of you do too.  Where do you keep it?
My main storage area is in the basement (I am lucky to have one), but I am not limited to any one spot or any one method.

NOTHING is off limits in my house to use as a storage container.
We commonly and most often think of baskets.  I love them and have many.  They are good for pantry items, books, crafts, towels, TP, etc.. 
I keep just about any box I get.  Cat food flats, canning jar boxes, pet food boxes, boxes I have received in the mail......................... there is no limit.

Boxes are great for anything.  If using a larger box, turn it on it's side (opening towards you) - tuck in the flaps for sturdiness - and store items in the box, and store lighter weight items on top of it.  Small packets of seasoning are great for smaller boxes.  I have a shoe box that is used to keep my small recipe books in, in the kitchen.  Folks think LITERALLY outside the box!!!!!!

Shoe box on top of store bought drawer stacks for extra storage in the kitchen.  My small handmade recipe books are in the shoe box.  I have a drawer stack on each side of the stove.

Small box from pet treats works great for seasoning and sauce mixes.  These can be painted or covered in pretty paper if desired.  Keeps things together and organized.

 

I have totes and inexpensive plastic boxes that I have gotten at thrift stores and from the Dollar Tree that work great.  Plastic milk crate 'like' boxes are super for the freezer as well.  Sort meats and place in separate containers for easy access.  Perhaps blue for pork, red for beef, green for fish, yellow for chicken.

I keep plastic gallon ice cream buckets for all kinds of dry storage.  Popcorn tins (those big pretty ones from the holidays) are super storage containers - they work great for holding pet food and bird seed as well.
Tins of all sorts are good storage.  You can often find nice size ones at thrift stores for pennies.
Large glass jars are great for dry good.  I keep jars of all shapes and sizes.  Large ones are great for pasta, rice, flour, sugar, etc. in the regular pantry and for long term storage.  Smaller ones are used for spices, soup mixes, etc.  They are also nice for leftovers in the frig - since you can see through them.

These hold jars of dehydrated goods I use a lot - nuts, herb teas, barley, etc.  They just stack on top of each other.  $1 each at the dollar tree.

 Tote I got at thrift store.  Holds a ton of stuff for long term storage.  I keep dried been (in ice cream buckets (by type)) in it, extra pasta, etc. It easily closes with the lid and things can be stored on top of it.

Books, books, books.

TP storage - easily accessible under bathroom cabinet

Storage for extra bags of flour and sugar. I have many of these.  Easily stack in a corner out of the way or in a closet.

Ice cream buckets are great for anything.  I even cover them with pretty paper and use as goody baskets at the holidays

Fruit baskets from the orchard get used in may ways.  This one holds jars of dehydrated mushrooms.  They are nice for gifting pantry good at holidays as well.  Add a pretty dish cloth to the bottom and you have a rustic gift basket.

FREE rolling rack I was gifted

$1 baskets stacked on each other for various bathroom goods.  Not necessarily things I use daily, but want close at hand.  These sit beside the tub just under the pedestal sink.


I get canned cat food by the case and keep those boxes.  When they become empty of cat food, they work great for canned veggies or fruits.  They are super for deep pantry storage of mixes, spices, broth, soups, etc.  I also buy lots of things at Aldi and get many flats from there.  I don't throw them away.  They all get used.  It makes stacking and moving goods so easy.

Like I said most of my deep storage is in the basement - BUT not all.  I use whatever space I can.  My second bedroom has lots of goodies stored in the closet.  I have my upstairs (daily use) pantry.  I have a linen closet in the hall for all first aid supplies.  I have a nice 'pie safe' looking cabinet in the bath for towels, make-up, hair dye, bathroom cleaners, etc.
I have baskets that hold candles of all sorts - behind a chair in the living room.
I have a wall of bookcases in second bedroom - as I get rid of books I am done with, I store goods in there.
I have an old non-working freezer (upright) in the basement.  It didn't make the trip out when we got a new one.  It is used to store extra blankets, pillows, and comforters.
I even have a older wicker laundry hamper downstairs (years old) that contains the bedding for the outdoor kitties when all laundered and not in use.

When you have a  smaller home, you have to get creative.  There is no place or nothing that is scared from use!  It is also handy at times, as many storage solutions camouflage your goods, so that no one can actually see what you have.  That could be very IMPORTANT if SHTF someday - as you don't everyone knowing about your storage.

I know many people have truly depended on their stock-piles this winter with the occurances of bad weather and being out away from town.  Fires, storms, hurricanes, snow, etc. can cause us to stay put and use what we have.  Loss of job, poor health, SHTF, etc. can all be reasons for needing our long term storage.


NEVER think it costs a fortune to get storage.  Use what you have and get creative.  Where there is a will there is a way!
Stay safe and work on keeping your supplies up and ready for your precious families.  Being organized saves money!
IT'S ALL GOOD!