Anyone who's getting into DLSR photography knows that it is not an inexpensive hobby. It's tough to buy everything you need right away, so amateur snappers like myself are stuck collecting all of the pieces as we go, making-do with in-a-pinch solutions.

When you're a photographer with a limited budget, you have to get very resourceful. Recently, I found my bank account shrinking and my collection of equipment growing. My old camera bag wasn't up to the task, and became too small to haul all of my photography necessities. I had a laptop bag that was more than up to the challenge, though - and it was at the bargain price of "I already own it" .

The only problem was that there wasn't an adequate place for my spare lenses to sit protected. Camera bags normally have foam inserts or neoprene sleeves to protect lenses. My laptop bag didn't have any of that. So what's a girl to do?

Well, I walked over to my bar cabinet. No, really. It turns out beer koozies — which can be found all over in neoprene or thick foam for less than a few bucks each — are the perfect size and shape to store compact camera lenses. They fit snuggly and securely around my lenses to give a little added protection inside my laptop bag.

MORE CHEAP TRAVEL STORAGE TIPS FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Use a Sunglasses Case to Store Cords and Cables in Your Bag
• Travel Tip: Vacuum-Pack Packing
• Pack Tech for Travel with a Pocket Pot Holder
• Device Packaging is the Perfect Travel Case

(Image: Taryn Fiol)