I found myself in exactly this position recently. I had more pencils than I could possibly use right away, and they were starting to take up unnecessary space. I didn’t want to just toss them in a box where they’d get lost or damaged, so I decided to do something quick, simple, and practical to organize them.
Here’s the easy hack I came up with:
Gather your extra pencils. It doesn’t matter if they’re sharpened or unsharpened, but if you want them ready to use, sharpen them first.
Align them neatly. Make sure the tips are all pointing in the same direction—this keeps the points from breaking and prevents accidental pokes when you grab them.
Choose your binding material. A length of cord works perfectly, but you can also use ribbon, yarn, or even a sturdy rubber band. If you want a cleaner look, use twine or decorative string.
Wrap and secure. Wrap the cord around the middle of the pencils for a small bundle, or wrap near the top and bottom for a larger group to keep them stable. Pull it snug so the pencils don’t slip out, and tie a simple knot or bow to secure it.
Why this works so well:
Saves space: Instead of pencils rolling loose in a drawer or bag, they stay neatly bundled together.
Easy access: If you’re in a classroom, office, or study group, you can quickly grab or hand out a set without sorting through a pile.
Portable: You can make separate bundles for different uses—one for your backpack, one for your desk, and one for art or craft supplies.
Reusable: When you run low, you can easily untie the bundle, grab a few, and rewrap the rest.
It’s a small change, but it’s amazing how much more organized your supplies feel when they’re tidy and ready to go. With this simple trick, those extra pencils become a neatly stored, easy-to-find resource instead of clutter.