I may be a bit biased, but there are so many ways to benefit from getting organized. Organization can improve your efficiency, calm your mind, save time and much more. Some benefits of organizing are more obvious than others- for example most people associate being organized with a neater home. However some benefits may not always come to mind. Today let’s take a look at a few ways that getting organized can help you save money!

Avoid overconsumption

One of our top organizing rules is “reveal, don’t conceal.” While this typically applies to the containerizing stage of organizing- using clear containers so that you can see the contents- it also has a broader application. By organizing your space you are revealing the contents of your home, rather than concealing them with clutter and mess. When you can actually see what you own, you are far less likely to make duplicate purchases and to make impulse purchases.

Circulation

Circulation prevents accumulation! It’s one of our favorite sayings, just take a look at The Circulation Solution.  Circulation can also save you money! For example we’ll use the playroom. Oftentimes playrooms can get cluttered and chaotic. After all, they’re meant for play! Unfortunately, this often means scrambling to clean up before hosting guests or children rushing through the cleaning process to move on to the next fun thing. As a result, organization goes out the window and toys get mixed up and buried and hidden. When this happens, your kids will likely end up playing with the same few toys and forgetting and neglecting the rest. Then they want new toys when they tire of the same rotation. In an organized playroom, everything has a designated storage area to return to after play. All toys will be visible, accessible and loved, reducing the number of new toys you’ll find yourself purchasing throughout your kids’ childhood.

Donate

You will likely find that as a result of the organizing process, you’ll discover that you own a lot of items that you no longer need or want. If there are items are not quite worth the effort of selling, you can always donate. Not only is donating your gently-used belongings a great way to give back and help the community, it can also save you some money. When you write off your donations on your taxes you can reduce your tax liability.

Sell your stuff

When you have an organized home, you will be more aware of your belongings. When you’re more aware of what you have, you’ll also be tuned in to what you are ready to part with and what you’re ready to invest in. Having knowledge of what you own is a great opportunity to take stock of what you could possibly sell for some extra cash. This may include clothing, accessories, electronics, décor, etc. These days it’s fairly quick and simple to sell items online. There are many great options such as Depop or Poshmark, where you sell direct to consumer, or sites like ThredUp, who will buy your clothes and resell them for you. It’s a nice way to earn a little extra and save for new items that you wish to buy. 

Reduce storage fees

This one relates back to circulation. By circulating your belongings rather than accumulating them, you remove the need for outside storage. The cost of renting a storage unit can be steep. When you stay on top of organization, you’ll reduce clutter in the home and eliminate the need for storage outside the home. Even if not fully eliminated, you will be able to shrink the amount of storage that you are paying for. Not to mention, getting your storage unit(s) organized can make visiting them far less of a headache and ensure that you’re using the space that you’re paying for as efficiently as possible!

Never miss the mail

Sorting the mail is one of our top three daily organizing tasks. It’s often the number one source of relentless clutter. In fact, we have an entire video dedicated exclusively to how to organize the mail. By using organization to stay on top of your mail, you’ll not only stop the endless pileup of papers taking residence on your otherwise useful surfaces, but you can also save money! Using our mail organizing tips you may avoid late fees on bills, identify and cancel unwanted subscriptions you forgot you had, and catch coupons while they’re still active. 

Rediscover lost money

One of the most exciting moments in organizing is finding hidden treasure! Oftentimes as you declutter your space you may happen upon forgotten valuables. In my experience I’ve found gift cards, cash, coins, uncashed checks, coupons, and lost receipts for items people wish to return. Even finding the smallest amounts can feel like a reward. Unburying and returning lost treasure to our clients can be one of the most exciting moments on a job!

Get ahead of expiration dates

You will reduce waste- both product and money, by getting ahead of expiration dates. When you have an organized fridge, pantry, medicine cabinet, bathroom, etc. you are far more likely to use up the products that you already own before they expire. At this point you can then repurchase. This applies to food, first aid, medications, beauty products and more. 

More time to DIY

You’ll spend less time on frantic and frustrating searches for items buried in clutter. You’ll also reduce the number of distractions that clutter can present. In an organized space, decision making also becomes a quicker process. When you’re aware of what you have you can quickly decide on things like outfits, meals, shopping lists, etc.. You may even find that you fall into a routine of having an organized grocery list and or schedule. Small wins like these amount to a lot more free time. With the time you’ve earned back you may eliminate the need for your regular cleaning service, or at least reduce the regularity. You may also have more time to prepare home-cooked meals, decreasing the frequency of takeout or dining out.

Along with the myriad of other benefits, these are just some of the less obvious ways that organizing can help your financial health. We know that getting organized can be a daunting and often time consuming task- as always, we’re happy to help with any of your organizing needs!

Can you identify any small organization wins in your home that may save you money in the long run?