We’ve all heard the phrase, “You need to spend money to save money.” It’s true in so many facets of our lives.
Good quality items last longer and prevent us from repurchasing the same things over and over again in a short amount of time because they either break down or degrade faster. The same thing holds true in whether your home is organized or in utter chaos.
That chaos usually involves clutter. There’s an anonymous quote that reads, “Look around. All that clutter used to be money.”
Starting in the kitchen, if your pantry or food cupboards look like someone emptied grocery bags and randomly placed items in there and quickly closed the doors, you’ll never figure out what you have on the shelves. Do you have 10 containers of salt or just one? You’re pretty sure you have the bouillon cubes for that special dinner, but just in case, you buy another package, only to discover later that you have enough to make dinner for the neighbors for the rest of the decade!
Finding out too late that the marshmallows you needed for today’s candied yams are hard rocks, that the spice containers for the holiday feast are rusty or that the canned peaches for the birthday dessert are marked “Best before 1999” is sadly all too common in many homes. In the average American home, roughly 30% to 40% of purchased groceries end up in the trash. Reorganizing the pantry with labeled shelves and containers helps you avoid accidentally stockpiling foods, aids in keeping track of expiration dates, and prevents unintentional food waste.
In the garage, my motto is, “If you can’t see it, you can’t find it,” which means you might need a “lost” tool for an immediate problem (like a plumbing issue) and then buy another of the same tool because you can’t find it. We all know people who own several of the same tool, but they’re found throughout the garage. Keeping tools in labeled drawers and cabinets (and then immediately returning them to their “home”) prevents repurchasing expensive tools over and over again.
Keeping your finances organized is another way to save money and avoid late fees. If you’re finding that remembering to pay bills is an issue, using auto pay can eliminate the paper and online reminders, plus avoid potential shut-offs and late fees. Keeping other bills, such as medical, in an easy-to-use filing system on your desk or command center will help to remind you to pay them in a timely manner.
Perhaps you’re spending money on unnecessary or unwanted subscriptions, in which case paying attention to bank statements is a must so they can be canceled. Also, keep all tax records neatly organized and easily accessible so you can maximize your deductions at tax time and lessen the panic when it’s time to file.
Being organized saves money by preventing duplicate purchases, reducing food waste, eliminating late fees and curbing impulse shopping.
As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.”
Los Altos Hills resident Lyn Rogers is a professional organizer and owner and CEO of Lyn At Your Service. For more information, see LynAtYourService.com.
