One thing I pride myself on is the vast improvements I’ve made on my bad cleaning habits. I am a naturally messy person; I accumulate lots of junk, I hate doing dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and generally picking up after myself. I was on a super fast track to becoming a first class hoarder, until I took a step back, looked at my life, and decided that I didn’t want to spend it surrounded by mountains of trash and junk. I’m still disorganized– I don’t think that’ll ever change; it’s who I am– but I make it a point to clean everything at least once a week, and to donate/throw out stuff I don’t use. Not only has it made my life easier, and made me a much happier person, but it has saved me money. I don’t compulsively shop anymore, I always follow a list, I can find the things I need instead of buying new ones, and I can find important financial documents much easier. Check out this post by Stephanie at Six Figures Under for how getting organized will save YOU money:
-Refunds and Reimbursements: My husband paid $2,350 forstudy materials, but $250 was refundable. Had we been keeping a real budget at the time, I would have noticed that we never got the refund. Thankfully we got off easy this time, but being disorganized almost cost us $250!
-Recalled Products: Keep an eye out for all high end products you own in case of recalls.
-Library Fines- The library is a great free resource, but if you’re not careful, it will cost you. Be sure to keep track of all your books and return them on time!