Spring Cleaning Away the Clutter Will Save You Money

The Purge

This is the first step. It’s time to clean out the pantry, cabinets, dressers, closets and that garage you cannot park a car in. Get rid of food that has expired, items you haven’t used in at least 6 months, clothing you haven’t worn in a year or more, or if you’ve looked at these things but then put back because it “just doesn’t fit right” or you like something better. It’s time to toss it!

The Donor

Now that you have purged these items you don’t want, maybe someone else does. Rather than throw away these items (other than those expired from the pantry), consider donating them to a local charity. It makes you feel good and it’s a tax write-off! Or if you have the time and want to bring in the extra cash, you can sell your items online or by holding a yard sale (just don’t go out and buy more stuff!).

We Bought a Zoo

Sometimes the disorganization is so bad and your supplies so plentiful, you forget what you actually have on hand. You wind up buying items you already have or multiples of the same thing. (In my house it’s glue sticks. I officially have enough glue sticks to last forever, except they have all dried out or will before I have a chance to use them all.) Think of all the money you will save if things are organized to begin with and you purge on a regular basis!

Confessions of a Shopaholic

One of the biggest mistakes we make trying to bring order into our environments is spending money on organizing the things we don’t actually need. We’ve all done it… go shopping because we need something in which to store all of our stuff and it feels like we are being productive. But all those bins can be expensive, and you’re only putting a bandage over the real issue. Instead of buying ALL THE THINGS to corral the mess, assess the mess itself.

Monster House

You’re paying rent on a 2-bedroom apartment, and yet the spare room is not being used as a bedroom, but a catch-all for a bunch of random STUFF, ask yourself “Is the apartment too big, too small or are we using the space we have poorly?” The next time you’re looking for a home, evaluate how much room you really need, and think about how better to utilize your space.