I too use the baby ponytail holders, they work great right out of the package. I think mine came with 100 or more and I believe I got them for a dollar.

I use the ponytail holders, too. Then I stick my bobbins in an empty straight sided pill bottle for taking to classes. Also, I will often use smaller pill bottles (with straight sides) for holding bobbins of the same color. I hate when I am on a roll and doing a project and I have to stop and wind a bobbin. Since I mostly use: white, black, light taupe and dark taupe threads for my projects, I keep these bottles filled at all times.

I also use the medium and large black binder clips for holding a stack of blocks together. Which reminds me that I had better go get some while the school supplies are out.

I still have my gallon of Elmer's Glue that I bought 2 years ago, so I don't need any of that, yet.

I bought a box of binding rings and cut them apart and they work well also and are very inexpensive. You can buy a box and share with friends and still have some left. Who needs expensive specialty gadgets when all you need to do is post a comment on the board and you get a lot of ideas. Quilters are awesome for sharing and saving money.

this post was in response to the comment how do you keep your thread from unwinding.

Love the idea of the bobbins on the binder ring and the plastic and/or small pony tail holders to hold the thread on the bobbins.
Thank you to everyone who shared ideas!

Tartan, what a great idea, thanks!

I picked up two packages of (5) Frixion pens for $2.09 per package this week at Walgreens. We start school early, so lots of stores are already closing out leftovers.

bkay

I decided to change washable markers, knew I have some in waiting. I looked everywhere in sew room. Could not find them. I bought new ones last week, fat and thin markers, lots of colors.

Today I looked in my fabric closet and lo and behold there were 2 boxes I bought last school year. I am sure they will dry up before I can use them up. I never thought to look there before I bought new ones.

Isn't it positively amazing that when you can't find something and you no sooner buy it, that the missing one suddenly turns up?

I lost my eye glasses and I held off buying new ones because I knew that they would turn up the minute I bought a new pair. Had to use my ten-year-old eye glasses and I waited about 1 1/2 years until my next eye examination, before I finally gave in and bought a new pair. It was barely three days after I picked up the new glasses that I found my other pair. Apparently, I had cut my husband's hair and left the glasses in the box with the clippers. Since these clippers were not my favorite pair, and I usually use another pair, I never thought to look there. Just what are the odds? This happens to me all the time.