Plastic Tablecloths
If you keep an eye out for deals you can quite often pick up nice flannel-backed vinyl tablecloths for as little as $1. But other than picnics, what are they good for? Here's just a short list...

- Keep one in the trunk of your car, great to kneel on if you have to change a tire, use as a makeshift tarp for hauling large items, cover the back seat and floor if you have a sick child or pet, or just for a spontaneous picnic!

- In the kitchen, cut to line shelves, drawers and cupboard tops, way cheaper than shelf liner, and more durable, just wipe clean. The flannel-backing helps it stay in place.

- In the diningroom, no, not on the table, under it! Or under the highchair to be more exact. Why pay more for a splashmat? If the tablecloth gets too grungy, use it ...

- For home renovations, as a drop cloth, fold it up to cushion your knees, or hang it over a doorway to keep in dust from a sanding project.

Laundry Baskets
Buy good quality, heavy duty, plain old rectangular laundry baskets. They'll last almost forever, and they're great for more than just hauling dirty clothes!

- Back into the trunk...besides holding your bargain vinyl tablecloth, you can put your jack, tire iron, emergency flares, and any other necessary equipment into a sturdy laundry basket. No more annoying rattles or worrisome thuds from the trunk!

- But you may want more than one laundry basket for your trunk. Keep another 1 or 2 in there (depending on the size of your vehicle) for stopping shopping bags from scattering their contents, holding large items from wholesale clubs, and for transporting food dishes to your next get-together.

- Instead of a blender for a housewarming or for the newly married couple, fill a laundry basket with cleaning supplies or staple food items. Yes, it is possible to wrap a laundry basket, but you may prefer to just tie a big bow around it!

- If you have a two-story house, keep a laundry basket near your stairs to collect items that need to be returned to the other floor.

- Use two different sized baskets as a make-shift pet carrier. Put a towel in the bottom of the bigger one, put the pet in, then quickly turn the smaller one upside down and put it over top as a kind of lid. Keep a close eye and a ready hand, as an irritated pet can push the top off, but it'll work in a pinch.