You know you have clutter. We all do in one form or another. But have you ever thought about what it's costing you? Sometimes the cost is obvious, such as late fees incurred for an overdue bill that was lost in a mysterious pile of paperwork. Other times the cost is mental or emotional, such as the embarrassment of having others see your cluttered space.
A good rule of thumb is buying only what you need, and getting rid of the things you no longer need. Take time daily and weekly to clear out the clutter. Here are 5 ways that clutter can cost you:
Money:
When we don’t have room for all the clutter, we tend to go straight for the storage unit. Don’t pay to store it. Renting a monthly storage unit, especially one where you forget you even have one or you may never even go into can cost thousands of dollars a year. Find and use what you have. What does this mean? Pick a day or two out of your week and gather all your items and start taking inventory. You can take the items you no longer have use for to a donation station or have a garage sell on the weekend. By having less items, this helps us stay organized and manage what we do and do not need.
Time:
Pretty sure we've all asked this specific question. "Where did I put my keys again?" When the house is a mess, a common problem for all of us is lost items, such as keys, shoes, important paperwork, etc … Did you know, NAPO (The National Association for Professional Organizers) says that on average, people spend 1 year out of their life looking for lost items. Streamline your life and your time by having less. Get out the door quicker by putting things in the same place consistently.
Space:
All the clutter we accumulate tends to take up all the space in our homes. We tend to buy storage containers after storage containers and end up with more. Or we think since we have so much stuff we need to buy a bigger home with extra rooms. DON'T DO IT! In the words of Elsa in Frozen, "Let it go". We simply need to let go of some stuff we no longer have need for, to make the space you already have seem bigger.
Well-being:
Clutter is a breeding ground for dust and bugs. If you can’t see the floor, you can’t clean it properly. If you want to avoid spiders, bedbugs, and your sanity, keep items off the floor. Dusty clutter also leads to allergies, headaches, and stress.
Focus:
Don't come down with C.H.A.O.S. (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome) Clutter is not only visually distracting, but when you see piles of papers, clothes, or boxes in your space, it can keep you from focusing on your family & friends, your work, or your priorities. Get organized by creating a system, a routine and checklists to help you figure out what you need most compared to what is taking up space.
Time to let go of the clutter and avoid the hidden costs. Keep it light. Keep it simple. Save time, money, and your energy, by having less and knowing what you do have in the first place.
Want more helpful tips? Check out the 8 Organizing Steps to a Tidier Home
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