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[Webby the Bear]

I have several magnetic trays which helps prevent losing bits.

That's also an excellent idea.

However I want to do it without spending any more dough for the moment. But certainly something for the future ''Webb's Autos Parts and Tools'' bin 

[Reefpotato]

If you're doing a job for the first time, remove bolts/etc & lay them out as they came off (sometimes bolts are a different length) & then when you've removed it thread the bolts where they came from in a couple of turns.   

Digi cameras are great for this kind of thing, especially if you won't be putting it back together for a little while. 

Agree here  Also mark all cables both ends, and take a pic of how,where they come from, might seem obvious when you take them off,but are they going back straight away? more than likely not, I do this all the time and belive me, even when you think you remember, you don't always,especially the next day 15 jobs later, 1 wrong cable/ lead and it can turn into a nightmare. It takes a few more min's to mark things but goes back a hell of a lot quicker,when its marked you say to yourself, "oh yeah I remember that came from there," but trust me, when its not..... Im sure that was there... 
Moving on...the digi camera or I use my phone to take pics of things as they come off, part numbers too. Added bonus, you can send to ya m8's, post on the forum etc. takes an extra 10 secs to take a pic' 
Another tip, if your phones got the facing camera, ie video calls etc, if you cant see an item, often you can put the front camera on, point it at the thing out of view, you can see it it the screen, then take a pic, I used this method when I couldnt see the tool needed to take off a bolt from behind the brake shield, couldn't determine if an Allan bolt or torque,worked a treat with a clear pic', but I use it all the time as memory so bad 
I think the best advice is, don't rush, take your time and do it properly,in the end its quicker.
Good Luck 

[JamesV6CDX]

Personally, just chuck them all together in one pot Even when doing major work (HG replacement upwards)

That makes 2 of us! Not the first or last time I've been called a "saddo", for putting all the bolts in one pot, and being able to name each type

[Webby the Bear]

Cheers RP.

I do tend to rush stuff speaking in general... so with engines I'm defo going to slow down. even if it means taking an extra day or two 

[Gaffers]

ziplok bags are good for this as you can label on each bag where the bolts/bits came from.   

[Andy B]

Personally, just chuck them all together in one pot Even when doing major work (HG replacement upwards)

That makes 2 of us! Not the first or last time I've been called a "saddo", for putting all the bolts in one pot, and being able to name each type

We can all do that if we're doing the same thing day in day out.

At work, we might have to build up a machine that someone else stripped down and the last time you did it was 3 years ago. You just hope that you're not faced with a bucket of bolts with nothing labelled up & that all/most bolts have been put back to something like where they came from & that there are felt tip marks on bits where it would be possible to put them back arse about face.

[Webby the Bear]

ziplok bags are good for this as you can label on each bag where the bolts/bits came from.   

Even better!!!!! Nice one lads 

[JamesV6CDX]

We can all do that if we're doing the same thing day in day out.

Sadly, I wish that were the case. I'm lucky with the free time I get at the moment, if I get my mits on a V6 once every few weeks...

[Reefpotato]

ziplok bags are good for this as you can label on each bag where the bolts/bits came from.   

     top idea 

We often use plastic boxes but this is much better idea 

[aaronjb]

ziplok bags are good for this as you can label on each bag where the bolts/bits came from.   

Bags are very handy indeed - as are mag trays that someone else mentioned. Though I tend to be the 'stick them all in one pot' person 

Usually works fine, but I did have to squeeze the braincells a tad trying to put the Nissan back together 8 years after I'd taken it apart 

[Nick W]

I use a combination of all of these.
Screwing fixings back into the hole they came out of is probably the best; it takes no time at all, guarantees that you'll get them right, and if you lose the bolts etc it will be the least of your problems.

Sorting them into appropriate groups in a labelled container(bag/tin/plastic tub) works well.

If I'm going to be reassembling the bits straight away I tend to just leave them laid out in order on the bench/floor/in the boot/anywhere I won't trip over them! It also means that I'm unlikely have spare bits leftover, something that's really frustrating. I have no qualms about making notes on assembly either.

Digital cameras are an excellent resource, quick, cheap and easy. Take lots of photos. Delete them when you're done. If it's a longterm project upload them to the computer, and name them sensibly. Programs like paintshop make it easy to annotate them directly.

Permanent or paint markers are also handy for labelling the actual part, particularly for long term stuff. Mark the containers with what's in them too. Get rid of all leftovers when the project is done. Otherwise you'll be left with a garage/shed/house/garden full of festering junk for years. Be ruthless! If it doesn't sell on  Ebay or club sites, and you can't manage to give it away, that's proof that it is rubbish.

None of this takes any time, and is paid back when the rest of the job goes easily.

[TheBoy]

I try to keep bits together, eg, waterpump pulley bolts get put with waterpump pulley.

Maybe I suffer OCD, but I can't handle watching, for example, JamesV6CDX, who throws everything in a heap on scuttle.  I know where everything goes, I just can't handle the disorganisation

[tidla]

ziplok bags are good for this as you can label on each bag where the bolts/bits came from.   

he is fixing a car not keeping them for evidence.

tend to put bolts with components or in a toolbox tray with separate compartments.

[Gaffers]

ziplok bags are good for this as you can label on each bag where the bolts/bits came from.   

he is fixing a car not keeping them for evidence.

tend to put bolts with components or in a toolbox tray with separate compartments.

With experience we can do that.  But when I started out I used the ziplok bags.  Worked a treat