A lot of spools of thread, the bottom can be pulled down, then wrap the excess thread around the spool bottom, and place the spool on your table and press down to close it. The aurifil thread bottom can be removed or also pulled down and again wrap around your excess of thead, then put the bottom back up to close. Guiterman thread is the same, you have to pull it down and it is quite hard at first, but it will also pull down. Those that do not have a notch in the thread, I use my small cutter, and cut a nick in the top to place in the thread.
Those bobbin threads can be pushed through one of the holes in the top or the bottom of the bobbin, if they have holes, mine does. However I don't think all spools have a hole in the casing - my janomi I just run the excess threads through and under the thread that is wrapped onto the bobbin still.