All that extra stuff you have is costing you money!

Do you know that the average homeowner has
$5,000 worth of unused and unwanted items?
De-cluttering will save, and perhaps even earn, money for you.

Call on your courage.

By taking active steps, you can stop clutter’s spread.

Here are some tips to help you save –

    1. Find lost items and stop buying multiple replacements. As you clean and organize, you may find items that you thought were gone forever. Now, you can create a convenient spot for them, where you can always find them when needed.
    2. Save on food. Once your cupboards, pantry, fridge and freezer are organized, you can find foods you’ve bought, and stored items won’t go bad or expire. Keep an inventory of stored foods to make both meal planning and grocery shopping easier.
    3. Avoid late fees on misplaced bills. Can’t find a bill in the piles of paper around you? Create an efficient and workable system for your bills and other incoming mail so you can pay bills on time.
    4. Enjoy newly empty spaces. Once you start organizing, you’ll likely become happier living with less stuff. You might even have empty drawers or shelves. While you could buy things to fill them, you’ll soon discover that the empty spaces are far more satisfying than all that once filled them. It’s also easier on your eyes. Really!
    5. Resist impulse buys. They can be tempting. Once you have more control about the things in your home, and more carefully consider where to put them, you’ll likely resist buying extra gadgets, gizmos and trinkets.
    6. Collections lose their power. Collectors who once excitedly anticipated adding the next item to their collections usually find that living in a more organized way is more satisfying. Adding to collections becomes less attractive. Newly free and empty space is more pleasing.
    7. You can live in a smaller space. While not something you must do, you may find that once you de-clutter and organize you actually need less living space. You can save piles of money on mortgage or rent payments, insurance, and utilities. You might even save on health care costs, since cluttered homes with excess stuff usually are dustier and dirtier than those with fewer extra objects. It also could be better for your heart.
    8. Save on moving costs. If you’re planning to move, you might be facing surprisingly high costs, even if you plan to move yourself. If you’ve already shed the excess stuff that you don’t treasure, you’ll spend less in both money and your own energy.
    9. Consider “sunk” costs. Again, the average homeowner has $5,000 worth of unwanted stuff – things bought and never used, or maybe used once. Once you think about this, you may change your buying habits.
    10. Sell your excess stuff! What would you do with that $5,000? Add to your savings? Pay down some big bills? Put it towards a new car? Plan a vacation? Statistics show that items resold on eBay bring average profits of more than 400%! Also good – Amazon and Craigslist. I especially like the Front Porch Forum. It’s an excellent, and fun, online community bulletin board, accessible in all Vermont towns. Staff say that its sales yield better prices than those on Craigslist.

De-clutter Me! serves Burlington, Vermont, and surrounding areas.
Call or email Ellen today!
802.598.3639 or ellen@decluttermevt.com