I have subscribe to a handful of design magazines. They offer inspiration, ideas and information, and I like to hold on to them for reference. [My design archive, if you will.] I've kept them organized by title (and that's about it). They were taking up the two bottom shelves of my bookcase.
Because I don't access these magazines super often, I decided they could go in the attic. Rubbermaid's CleverStore totes are the perfect size for magazines. I used the 30-quart size because they are taller (and hold more). They are clear so I can see the title and date on the side without taking the lid off or digging through them.
I took the magazines off the shelf one title at a time, and I organized them by date. I started with the oldest on the bottom and stacked up from there. Some titles took up two totes and some only one. Once I was done, we put them up in the attic. I left the ones that I still subscribe to closer to the attic door so I can put the newest edition on top and in the correct tote. Now they are in order, stored away and organized so I can find something when I need it!
One of these days I'm going to go through the magazines and pick out articles and information that I want to keep and get rid of the rest – by either recycling them or using one of these tips to reuse them. I found this link to a place that will bind your old articles together into your very own hardcover book. I think THAT would be awesome….when I get the time and energy to go through all of those mags!
I rip out articles I want to keep and recycle the rest. I have a cookbook I made from recipes I want to try, a home notebook with tips about the home, and an exercise one for workouts I wanted to save and try (that one has dust on it ha ha). Use notebooks and clear plastic sheet protectors and create your own reference books rather than holding onto all those magazines.
BTW I am a HUGE Rubbermaid fan…I use them to store pictures (waterproof), old files, memory boxes, toys, etc. You can never have enough Rubbermaid storage containers.
Thanks for your comments Melinda! I agree – that I need to go through these magazines and rip out the articles/pages that I want to keep and recycle the rest. It’s finding the time to do it that is the problem for me. One of these days I will get to it! At least for now they are stored out of the way, and I can still access them if needed.
Storage containers are great for so many things. I’m glad to hear that you find a lot of different uses for them! I agree once again – you can never have enough!