The Economics of Organizing, Part 2: The Stuff You Don’t Want

Here's the second in our 3-part series about the many ways organizing saves you money and puts you back in control:

Part 1. The Stuff You Have
Part 2. The Stuff You Don't Want
Part 3.  Hidden Gains

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The Stuff You Don't Want

We discussed reviewing and organizing your belongings in Part 1, and when you do that you not only find some things that were forgotten about and wanted, but you also identify many things that are unwanted.

Selling the stuff you don't want is clearly the most direct way to make money. Craigslist is my favorite way to sell things locally, and eBay is great too, especially when you have a special or rare item that needs a larger market. Some people might also enjoy having a garage or yard sale. (Check Yard Sale Queen and WeekendTreasure.com for tips)

If you choose to give the stuff away instead, you can still reap financial benefits in the form of tax deductions. (for USA readers) You would be very surprised! Most people grossly undervalue what they are donating to charity. For example, can you believe that frumpy bridesmaid dress in the back of your closet (in excellent condition) has a fair market value of $22.00? You can get the most tax benefit for your donations by quickly tallying up the actual fair market values using It’s Deductible Online from Intuit/TurboTax. It’s like the “Blue Book” for valuing household items. It’s free and only takes a few moments, and there is a tax savings calculator that adds up your savings as you enter your items. You can also get much of this information in booklet form from Money For Your Used Clothing. 

By organizing your finances, you will almost certainly find there are expenses you don't want. If you are disorganized, you may be routinely paying unnecessary costs like late fees and incurring higher interest rates because of your irregular payment history. You may also find that you’ve been paying for something you’re not using, like a gym membership or even a storage unit rental fee. You'll want to go through your credit card and checking account statements carefully, looking for recurring charges and ones you don't recognize or remember, and get a bill-paying routine in place to make sure you pay on time. If possible, it's ideal to simplify by consolidating all accounts down to one or two cards.

Getting organized can also help tremendously if you are downsizing to save money, or if you are in the unfortunate position of needing to sell your home quickly. You can speed up the process of selling your home by decluttering your environment and making it more show-ready. Getting rid of the stuff you don't want means that closets and other storage areas look bigger with fewer items in them, and if buyers want to envision themselves in the home, your personal stuff makes it harder for them to put themselves in the picture.

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Saying It Again…

It may not be in your budget to hire a Professional Organizer right now, but affordable expert help and advice is right at your fingertips at ClutterDiet.com. We provide superb support to accomplish your organizing goals for about the price of a pizza. You can get access to our team online for a whole year for about the price of two hours of our time in person!

And for my Professional Organizer friends reading this, you can still help potential clients who call about your services but find they cannot afford your hourly rates in person. Join our affiliate program to refer clients on a budget to Clutter Diet, and EVERYONE WINS. You get paid for the referral, we receive new members into our online community, and the clients get the help they need.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Hidden Gains!  How has organizing saved YOU money? Share your story in the comments.

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