How, you might ask, could being organized save you money? Surprisingly enough, in lots of ways. You see, if you’re more organized you are more aware of what you need to do and what you need (or don’t need) to buy. Refresh your surroundings, get organized and see the changes it could make in your finances. Here are 6 ways getting organized will save you money.
Make cash.
Get rid of all the things in your home that you no longer want or need—clothes, electronics, furniture, toys, sports equipment, etc. Put them up for sale on Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon or sell them at one of the many consignment shops in town. If you don’t want the hassle of selling them, give your extra things to Goodwill, Salvation Army or another charity and take the tax deduction. Goodwill’s we bsite (goodwillswmi.org/donate-goods-to-your-localgoodwill-store) has a valuation guide so you can calculate the value of your contribution; just be sure to get a receipt. Not only will you have more cash, you will be doing something good for the environment by recycling!
Dine in
Declutter and clean up your kitchen. If your kitchen is neat, you’re more likely to want to
cook in it. Eating-in can save you a lot of money. The average American family spends upwards of $200 per month eating out. Plus, if your kitchen is organized you know what you have as far as ingredients and you’re less likely to waste money buying things you already have.
No buying double
If your home is organized, you know what you have and where it is. How many times have you fruitlessly searched your home for something only to give up and go buy another one. Think about it—glue, nail polish, phone chargers, batteries. All these little things that go missing can really add up. In addition, you'll save money, time, and gas by not making
unnecessary trips to the store.
Avoid late fees and penalties.
If your bills and receipts are organized you’re much more likely to pay them on time and avoid costly late fees, interest charges and penalties. Your taxes will also be easier to prepare and submit on time.
Time is money
Knowing what you have and where it is saves you a lot of time. And, as we all know, time is money. Actually time is much more valuable than money as you can never get back wasted time. According to The Wall Street Journal, one-third of respondents in a poll stated they spend 15 minutes a day on average searching for lost items. That’s over 90 hours a year! Think what you could do with all that time.
Increase your home value
Having an organized home not only helps you sell your house faster, it gets you a better price
for it as well. The number one thing realtors ask their clients to do to improve the look of their home is declutter. Cleaning out the overflowing closets and cupboards helps show buyers how much storage space (a big selling point!) you actually have. Getting rid of the clutter makes your home look bigger, cleaner and more inviting. And bigger, cleaner and more inviting
means more money!
