I hate to break it to you, friends. Clutter is costing you money. Don’t worry. We all have a messy area of our home. Maybe it’s the junk drawer. Maybe it’s that one closet. Maybe it’s an entire room. Maybe it’s the entire house.
The cabinets in my kitchen reach back into the nether spaces of my walls. I have no clue exactly what’s back there. And when I bend down to grab a pot or pan from underneath the cabinet, I’ll be honest that I’m a little scared to find out what’s lurking.
But the cold, hard truth is that the expense of clutter adds up. We’re not able to find the things we need which can cost us time but lead to wasting other products, too. We hold on to clothes that don’t fit, clogging up hangers and dresser space. Some of us even turn to storage rental facilities when the space in our homes runs out.
Clearing the clutter can feel overwhelming, though. We don’t even know where to begin. Start with these five key areas of your home to begin to free up breathing space and maybe even budget space, too.
Spices, baking goods
How old is too old when it comes to seasonings? While spices don’t necessarily expire in a manner that would cause you to become sick, they do lose their savoriness. For this reason, it’s a good idea to regularly comb through your spice rack and baking goods. Toss out what you don’t really use. Clear the way so you can access items you need on a regular basis. Find an organizational method that allows you to see more of items you need and use on a regular basis and tuck back those that only make a seasonal appearance once or twice a year.
Your sock drawer
If your dresser runneth over, consider clearing out the extras. Eliminate unmatched socks or those that have seen better days. Use drawer dividers to prevent smaller items from taking over the entire space. You may want to consider using a different folding method if you find your clothes difficult to see when you open the drawer.
The shoe closet
It’s a good idea to pare down your pairs of shoes. Consider donating gently used shoes to an organization such as Soles 4 Souls. Occasionally running shoe stores or shoe chains such as DSW even have receptacles to take those that could be worn again. Free up floor space in your home and closet, limiting your collection to pairs you truly wear.
Household goods
Lamps, furniture, small appliances you haven’t used in a decade, exercise equipment — here’s where you can really turn your clutter into cash. While freeing up space from reorganizing the above mentioned items can give you peace of mind and save you time, the measurable effects on your finances are difficult to calculate.
However, when it comes to household goods, one person’s trash truly can be another’s treasure. Remember to sell them for what someone might actually pay, not your sentimental value or original purchase price. Search for similar items to determine a median price. Do something with the money you make — like paying off debt or saving toward a specific savings goal — rather than purchasing more stuff that could become clutter.
Your vehicle
Many of us spend the most vital hours of our day in our cars. We drive them to our jobs before we begin a work day. We decompress on the way home after said long day. We cart our kids from practice to school to meetings and more.
Some people keep their vehicles pristine (my husband is some people). But others of us get on the struggle bus when it comes to our ride. Take some time to empty out the cup holders and throw away the random trash. Since our car can affect our mindset, it can have a positive or negative impact on the way we do our jobs and live our lives. Which we all know impacts the way we handle money, too.
When we can’t find the items we need, we purchase duplicates. When we don’t keep our fridge and pantry straight, we waste food. In fact, the average American family of four wastes up to $2,275 in expired food each year. Nearly a quarter of all Americans pay their bills late because they can’t find them.
Physical clutter kills your finances. Tidying up just a few areas of your home causes a shift in your personal behavior and even your demeanor. Choose one area and let the organizing begin. Make space and then fight the urge to replace items you give away or sell.
