How Clutter Chases Money Away

Have you ever heard that having a cluttered home can cause money to run away from you? I know, I know...it sounds like airy-fairy mumbo jumbo, but think about it for a moment...

Has your desk ever been so cluttered that you forgot to pay a bill and incurred a late fee?

Has your cluttered purse caused you to forget to enter in a debit card purchase and you then overdrew your account?

Have you ever injured yourself in your own home when you tripped over "stuff" cluttering up walkways?

Have you ever bought something that you already owned, simply because you couldn't find the item in question? Have you ever found overdue late library books or movie rentals under your messy car seats?

Are you getting my point here?

To save yourself time AND money, implement some of these tips:

*Every evening when you turn off the computer, spend just 2 minutes clearing off your desk or workspace. When it becomes a habit you will do it without thinking and it then takes seconds.

*Once a week (or more often depending on your habits!) take a minute to clear out your purse. Pick a day to do this and do it every week.

*Enter your purchases in your checkbook immediately before the receipt has a chance to disappear!

*Open your mail standing over a trash can. That way you can immediately toss the junk mail instead of laying it aside.

*Once a day (before bed is a great time) take just 2 minutes to walk through the house with a trash bag in your hand, and throw away paper trash, magazines, junky plastic toys that seem to multiply overnight, etc.

*Before you log off your computer at the end of a workday, take a moment to delete any favorite places or organize them into folders. Do the same with email. (Better yet, set up your email program to automatically file certain emails into folders as they download.) This will save you time when you need to find things later on.

*The day before you go grocery shopping, clean out your fridge. It's emptier now so this is easy to do, and you can grab all the leftover bits to make "Refrigerator Stew" instead of letting those items go to waste.

And my personal favorite:

*Never own more than one laundry basket. The more you own, the more you fill up with clean, unfolded laundry!

And just for fun, here's the airy-fairy stuff:

Having a cluttered home or office can make you feel tired and overwhelmed, because you have an emotional attachment to everything you own. It's as if a tiny string is connecting every possession to your subconscious mind.

Do you have kids?

Have you ever noticed how your child behaves when s/he has too many choices? How about when they've been given a ton of gifts? Do they not get irritable and frenzied? They can't decide "what to do" with so much stuff around that they pitch it all and play with the box...it's simple!

I organized my kid's room the other day (I go on a tear and do this periodically), putting all the toys into categories, organizing them into containers, throwing a lot away, puttting some things away for later, and lo and behold! They NEVER played in there before, and now they're in their room all the time playing peacefully.

It's the same with us!

A cluttered home means you will have less energy for your business or other work.

I hope these ideas help you save time and money.

Carrie Lauth publishes a free "no fluff" weekly newsletter for work at home Moms new to marketing on the Internet. Get your copy plus subscriber goodies at http://www.business-moms-expo.com/newslette r.html

Kids Clutter: Organizing at Every Age

Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More

Organizing Tips to Help You Conquer the Laundry Monster

Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink ?... Read More

Memorabilia -- Use It or Lose It!

What do you do with those special items that have... Read More

Four Easy Steps to An Organized Closet

The National Association of Professional Organizers has dedicated January to... Read More

The Organized Move: Unpacking with a Plan

(This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More

3-Step Clean Sweep Program to Organize

3-Step Clean Sweep Program 1 -... Read More

Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 1

The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More

Getting Organized For The New Year - Part 2

In part 1, we discussed a system you could use... Read More

The Five Ways To Ease The Process Of Eliminating Clutter

I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More

Organizing Your Day

One of the hardest things for most individuals working from... Read More

Five Simple Tips to Get Organized Today!

Take time to declutter this summer...Writing can certainly consume the... Read More

Getting Organized - Getting Fit

In a speech entitled "Organized Living in a Disorganized World"... Read More

Get Organized - Stay Organized

My mother is one of the most productive people I... Read More

The Love It Or Lose It Principle: One Simple Key to Living Clutter-Free Forever

It wasn't long ago that you spent an entire weekend... Read More

Secrets to Eliminating Emotional Clutter

Are you plagued by clutter in your personal or professional... Read More

The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Organizing Your Kids Rooms

1. In terms of organization, what is the first thing... Read More

10 Tips to Get Organized and Clutter-Free- Now!

1. THE LOVE IT OR LOSE IT PRINCIPLE: Every item... Read More

The Magnificent 7: Tips for Cleaning Up Clutter

Clutter is postponed decisions®. Here are some suggestions to simplify... Read More

Escaping The Clutter Trap? - 5 Steps For Increasing Productivity And Decreasing Stress

? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in... Read More

Organizing Solutions for the Disorganized Entrepreneur

After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More

Organized Living in a Disorganized World

We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization.... Read More

The Clutter Factor: From Packrativity to Productivity

? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home... Read More

Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More

10 Organizing Tips for Road Warrior Parents

Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your... Read More

Clutter is Postponed Decisions?

Do you ever sit down at your desk buried in... Read More