Today I want to talk a little bit about organization and why it will save you money. You will find that many blogs and sites that focus on money-saving ideas also share ideas on organizing. It seems that saving money and staying organized go hand in hand.
Being organized does not come naturally to me and it is something that I am constantly working at to achieve. I know for some this comes easily, but I am not one of those people. If you came to my house right now, you might be surprised at the disorganization and projects that are looming around here. It is a constant battle for me especially now that I am a mom.
I desire to be organized though for many reasons, including financial ones, and that is why I continually try to work at this.
Reasons to Get Organized:
– If you are organized, you will have a good idea of the inventory that is already in your home. You will know exactly where everything is and you will know how many of that item you already have. Instead of running out to buy toothpaste, for example, you will know where you keep the extra toothpaste and will be able to use this instead. This will save you from buying repeat items and it will save you from spending extra money that you don’t have.
– If you are organized, you make lists for yourself. A good grocery list, for example, will save you money because you will know exactly what you need and you will buy only that. People who come to the grocery store with no list end up making multiple trips to the store (wasting gas money) and buy items that they don’t need.
– If you are organized, you save money on food. Menu planning and proper planning of meals (the night before) helps to prevent visits to those fast food restaurants. Plan meals that are easy to make and try to have back-up plans for nights where you don’t feel like cooking. It might be something as simple as a frozen pizza, but having something to eat at home will save you from wasting valuable money at McDonald’s.
– If you are organized, you keep a calendar of events. Why does a calendar save you money? Well, you know when your appointments are and you don’t miss them. Missing appointments can cost you money for not showing up to your doctor or dentist office. They also offer valuable reminders for when bills are due so you don’t have to pay late fees. You also are a star because you remember anniversaries, birthdays, and are a person that people can rely on.
– If you are organized, the things you have last longer. You make the time to care for the items you have in your house and you remember to schedule maintenance for your automobiles and the appliances/services needed in your home. This will save you money because you won’t need to replace things in your house as frequently and things will generally run smoother for you.
There are plenty more reasons to be organized, but I wanted to focus mainly on the financial benefits since we are talking about ways to save this month.
Here are some of the resources and books for getting yourself organized
Sites to Organize Thyself:
MomAdvice Organizing Section
Organizing Topics on Our Blog
FlyLady
Organized Home
Organized Christmas
Cozi
Real Simple
Martha Stewart
I’m An Organizing Junkie
The Lazy Organizer
Organising Queen
Neat & Simple Living
Books to Organize Thyself:
Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
Sidetracked Home Executives by Pam Young
Homekeeping Handbook by Martha Stewart
It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh
Scaling Down by Judi Culbertson, Marj Decker, & George Booth
Potential Savings: $30 or more
Sound Off: What is one way you stay organized?