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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.
1. 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 even Amazon or sell them at a consignment shop. Don’t want the hassle of selling? Give your extra things to Goodwill, Salvation Army or another charity and take the tax deduction. Goodwill’s website 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!
2. 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.
3. 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 (and gas) by not making unnecessary trips to the store.
4. 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.
5. 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, you can never get back wasted time. According to The Wall Street Journal, one third of respondents to 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.
6. 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!
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The old saying the kitchen is the heart of the home. still holds true, but today’s kitchens are also central command for many families. In most homes the kitchen is not only where we cook and eat, but where we pay bills, open the mail, leave messages, answer the phone and keep the family schedules and calendar. Even if your lucky enough to have a home office, chances are your kitchen counters are still home to a whole lot of papers. In a few simple steps you can clear off your counters and make a kitchen command center.
Sorting
Begin by sorting all the paperwork laying around the kitchen—bills, catalogs, magazines, permission slips, appointment cards etc. . . Recycle or throw away things you no longer want or need and sort the rest into piles. For example, bills in one pile, appointments in another, kids’ papers in another. Any important papers such as birth certificates, passports or mortgage papers should be placed in a labeled box and put in another room.
Location
Next, choose your location. If possible locate your command center away from the area most used for food prep. A little bit of counter space may be enough, but if you can clear a small cupboard or drawer as well it will work even better. Once you decide on a spot, remove all the “kitchen” items from the area.
Supplies and Set Up
Hang a dry erase, magnetic or cork board above the counter to post messages or just put a notepad and pen on the counter. Place extra pens, pencils, a pair of scissors, a stapler, paperclips, stamps etc. in a caddy. Label individual colorful file folders or an accordion file in the way that works best for you. For example, bills, receipts, notes, homework and/or a file for each family member. Store the files in a vertical or horizontal file holder, whichever works best for your space. Hang the family calendar and schedule on the inside (or outside) of the cabinet above your command post.
It’s important to get the whole family to use your new command center for messages and notes. Remember to flip through your mail as you’re walking into the house and toss unwanted magazines and catalogs into the recycling bin. Open the rest of the mail at the command post and put everything in its proper file (or toss it) before it can clutter up your kitchen.