Cheap green office supplies to buy or make

Coffee tin filled with marbles hold pens. (Copyright Jaipi Sixbear 2014)

Are you looking for cheap office supplies for your desk? I've been searching for them recently, after remodeling my office. They can be found but it takes some unconventional thinking. Sometimes you have to make them yourself. Here are some ideas for cheap office supplies you can buy or make.

Stack-able paper file

These were once just a buck or two each. They are now 7.00 and up each! Make your own with 8x11 shallow cardboard boxes sold for a dollar or less. Simply put the boxes together, then cut out one side to slide the paper in. Stack these cheap office supplies up in a pile. Use clear tape to hold them together. Cover with contact paper if desired.

Upright magazine box

Once again, these are cheap no more. You can make an upright magazine file box out of an old cereal box. Simply cut box into triangles. Clever cutting gets you two magazine files from one box. Tape two or more together for stability. Cover with contact paper for a more finished look.

Pen holder

An empty coffee can or drink mix can makes a great pen holder. Fill the bottom with marbles or pebbles for weight and to hold pens in tightly. These cheap office supplies double as paperweights in a pinch. Cover pen holder with contact paper or leave as is for a cute desk accent.The picture above shows one I made for my partner's desk.

Paper clip and small supply holder

Drawer organizers are not cheap office supplies. Make a paper clip holder with recycled small lidded jars. Glue the lids to a wood block. Spray paint the whole thing. Fill the jars, invert block. Screw jars onto the lids. Small containers from the dollar store also work to organize cheap office supplies.

Rubber band holder

I saw these cheap office supplies in a magazine years ago. Simply screw short fat dowels into a block of wood and invert. Rubber bands and single binder rings slip right over the dowels for storage. These cheap office supplies can be varnished, painted or left alone. Consider letting kids paint the rubber band holder and other office supplies for a whimsical look on your desk.

File boxes

Plastic, metal and cardboard file boxes are available in many department stores. Take it one step further by making your own. Check grocery stores for empty boxes of the appropriate size. Cut an indentation from one side to make files easily accessible. Why pay for cardboard file boxes when you can make one for free?

CD holder

Shoe boxes make versatile cheap office supplies. CD holders can be made easily from one or more shoe boxes. Stack them vertically or horizontally. Tape together for stability. I prefer building these so that the CDs are inserted next to each other, rather than stacked. This makes it easier to remove CDs for use without disturbing the entire pile.

Desk /Book shelf

A desk may not be in the budget when looking for cheap office supplies. Consider stacking 4 milk crates, two on each side and laying a wide board across them. For stability use 4 crates on each side. Turn the front crates open side out to use as book shelves. Cheap office supplies can easily include this DIY desk. Another alternative is to use short file cabinets on each side to hold the board desktop. Use a cloth cover on the board and you won't need a mouse pad.

This post was previously published by this author on a closed yahoo! property.