Organizing Tip :: Get Organized in a Bad Economy
We all know that disorganization costs us money.
A bad economy makes these costs even more apparent. We can no longer
afford to buy duplicates of things we already have in our home. We can’t
afford to lose things that we spent good money for. Most of all we
really need to stay on top of our credit ratings and payment histories.
If you’ve always had that nagging feeling that your “organizational”
situation was not financially healthy, then maybe now is the time to
start getting things back on track. Start slowly. Think about what is
costing you the most and resolve to do something about it.
The following are some suggestions for the most common areas where
organization can save us money.
Your Finances:
Now is the time to set up a top notch filing system.
Whether you purchase an already made filing system or create one on your
own, the filing system should be easy to use and make sense for how you
think about your papers. You'll need a folder for bills (or possibly
multiple folders by bill type) and another one for receipts and another
for essential mail. Having a folder system will give you quick access to
whatever information you're looking for later.
Don’t let your mail pile up. Every time you go to the mailbox take a
couple of minutes to sort through it. Gather the bills and put them into
a “To Be Paid” inbox. Make sure this inbox is visible, handy and won’t
be used to store other papers. Check the “To Be Paid” box every week.
If getting bills into the mail on time doesn’t work for you, set up
electronic bill paying through your bank. This is helpful because it
keeps your payment history electronically and you can set up recurring
payments to make sure bills are paid when they’re due. No more late
fees!!
Put manufacturer rebates or limited time offers in a place where you
will be sure to get to them. While it can be an ordeal to fill out the
forms and cut out UPC codes, keeping up with rebates saves money. Avoid
leaving the required paperwork in the bag or the bottom of your purse.
If you miss the window for these deals that money is gone forever.
.
Be diligent about shredding personal and confidential documents.
Identity theft costs us millions of dollars each year.
Your Home:
An organized home allows us to be aware of what we
have in it.
When you have an organized pantry, you don’t buy duplicates of groceries
you already have. How many times have you bought cleaning products or
paper supplies that you didn’t really need?
Clear out the closets. You just might find the sweater you bought months
ago and forgot you had.
Don’t overfill your fridge. If you can’t see what you have in it, you
can’t make good meal planning decisions. Food you don’t eat because you
didn’t see it before it went bad costs money.
The possibility to save money lies in our home and habits. Try expanding
your focus from simply watching your pennies to trimming your
wastefulness. When you get organized, you will be amazed how much money
you will save.
Past Tips:
What to Get Rid of Now?
Start a
Time Management Program
Could You Become A Minimalist?
What Can
You Get Rid of Today?
Organizing your Kids’ Paperwork
Organize Your
Photos
A Step by Step Guide to Paper Management
Clearing Clutter
Enjoy the Warm Weather & Get Organized Too!
Get Organized in a Bad Economy
January is Get Organized Month
Organize Your Closet
|