Today's economy is forcing people to rethink how they will spend the holidays or even a weekend outing. Perhaps the family vacation that requires airline tickets and hotel rooms is now on the chopping block. How do your replace it?

People are choosing to make more out of staying close to home by going on weekend camping trips or even going to a nearby park in town for a family picnic. Tailgating parties are really popular now during football season. If you're going to a concert, don't fight the traffic and go early, find a great parking place and have a tailgate party. Any of these family outings gives you a chance to enjoy leisure time with friends and family while you whip out the picnic baskets and enjoy.

So, you decide to stay close to home. Use some of the money you'll save from flying to a far off vacation spot by purchasing a few organizational items for your picnics, barbeques and tailgate parties. There are many products to choose from to consolidate and pack food, drinks, ice for coolers and everything needed for your outings. You can go for a traditional picnic basket or choose from a number of collapsible picnic baskets, coolers, tote bags to organize your food and supplies and keep everything cool or hot and ready to go.

The materials used for picnic and camping items are easy to clean and insulated to keep cold items cold and hot items hot. If you are a greenie, picnic baskets are made of recycled material. But why wait for a picnic? Collapsible organizers for the trunk are great for doing the family shopping. Shop and stow your groceries in insulated tote bags, coolers or organizers. So your picnic baskets serve other uses and fold down for easy storage.

As a picnic or tailgate party host, having a number of carrier and storage items on hand makes you a smart and savvy homemaker as well. These are a great way to replace plastic shopping bags or paper bags that disintegrate with use. Cardboard boxes are too rigid and will not keep food at proper temperatures. In these times where space is a commodity, be smart and find eco friendly picnic basket items that conveniently serve your needs and fold away for later use.

Think about it: in some respects, today's economy isn't such a bad thing after all.