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My two latest purchases from Dollar Tree were a purple foam noodle and a Jot Magnetic Locker Box Pocket. I used the noodle (cut down to a shorter length) to store my Ball Jar bands (the part that holds the lid on). They stack snuggly on the tube and then go into a plastic storage shoebox.

When I saw the Jot I immediately realized, if the magnet was strong enough to hold the holder, and some of the things you put in the holder, that I could put it on my fridge and store some of the small kitchen tools that I often reach for in a drawer. I’ve put a small pair of scissors, a pen-type box cutter, vegetable peeler, a zester and a shredding tool to make shredding (chicken or veggies) easier in it. I stuck the magnet on the side of the fridge and it makes it easier to get these often used tools. *Unfortunately, the glue holding the magnet on the back of this holder, didn’t hold. After it fell off of the fridge twice, I took it off.

Recall that when I decided that I wanted to try sprouting beans, and saw a grease splatter guard in Ollie’s, I immediately realized that I could buy one at Dollar Tree for $1.25. So, I went to $T and bought one, and for “a then unknown reason” I also bought a pair of kitchen shears. I had no conscious reason for the scissors, but next day when all the scissors/shears I had would not cut the metal mesh of the splash guard, I looked down into the shopping bag and saw the new shears I had bought. I tried them and they had just enough teeth on their blade to catch the metal mesh and cut it easily. That really is one of those “God provides” moments. I had no reason to buy them the day before. *Ha! So I wanted to make some more of these sprouting top filters, but couldn’t find my McCormick shears, so I bought another pair. Just got to get a more organized approach to where I store things… not that I don’t already put many things in plastic shoe box storage boxes.

I think I managed to cut eight round mesh screens out of the one splash guard, and because I used the Ball Jar lid to trace the outline on the mesh, they fit snuggly in the band without being glued. I’ve made several sprouting jar lids and all have worked repeatedly, and successfully, and I saved about $3 per lid.

$T sells various food products and one of them is Libby’s Pineapple for $1.25.