The Real Cost of Clutter

Did you know that there could be a high price to pay when your home is full of clutter? I am not talking about the cost of hiring a professional organizer to help you declutter and organize your home, although hiring a PO is not usually cheap. Most of us love what we do and would practically do it for free, but we are professionals and have high costs to running our businesses (ex. insurance, marketing, educational courses, website maintenance, supplies etc.). However, what I am really talking about is the emotional, physical and financial cost of having a lot of clutter.

I hope this will give you a better understanding of the real cost of having a lot of clutter:

Time

The time it takes for you to find your items, and if you can’t find what you are looking for and you really need it, the time it takes you to buy another one.

Buying items you already have

Ask yourself – how much money have you spent buying items that you already have but couldn’t find.

Buying items on sale

Buying items on sale, even though you may not need them or use them, is a classic example of spending when not necessary. Another example is buying more than you need because the larger package is a better deal. For example: you need only 5 pens and the cost for 5 pens is $3, but there is a pack of 30 pens for $6. Which do you buy? Ideally you should only buy the 5 pens, because if you buy the larger package, you are spending twice as much as you need to, and you will end up with 25 more pens then you need.

Paying for storage

The cost of paying for a storage unit every month, can really add up. Ask yourself if you really need those items in the storage unit? Do you even remember what is in the storage unit? If you haven’t used them in several months, chances are you do not need them.

Upset Family Members

If there is one person responsible for the majority of the clutter in a home, it can cause family members to become upset and tired of dealing with the clutter. This will put a strain on your relationship with family members.

Health

The cost of having a lot of clutter can really play a negative role on your health. (example: anxiety, depression, stress and asthma)

Embarrassment

It is not just the person who contributes to the clutter that is embarrassed, but other family members as well. Often children or spouses, who live in a cluttered home, are too embarrassed to have friends over.

Safety

If there are too many items in a home, it is often unsafe to walk around. Falling over items or items falling down on you or family members can be extremely dangerous.

Missed appointments or late fees

If your home is unorganized then there is a good chance that your files and schedules will be unorganized as well, and can cost you money.

Can you relate to any of these points? I used to be guilty of buying things on sale, and not really needing them. I am much better at skipping the sales now.

Wishing you all the best,

Kathy xxoo

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