Keep an extra roll handy

I'm sure I'm not the only one who hates running out of toilet paper in the middle of one's daily ritual. We're not always alert when sitting on the throne, so we don't always notice when a roll's almost empty. So an extra roll where one can easily reach it—without having to stand up!—is a must.

I know there are pretty crocheted toilet paper holders out there somewhere—I've seen them in the homes of friends and family. But for the life of me, I haven't had the luck to find any. So my husband jury-rigged us one.

All it takes is two S-hooks and a length of nylon string. The only thing you have to watch out for is that the S-hook can fit inside the toilet paper's cardboard tube. Tie the string to the S-hooks on both ends, put the roll through, and hook the lot on the holder. That's it. It's far from Martha Stewart, but it does the job.