Time Is Money
While you may think that the clutter in your home costs nothing to keep, most people do lose money on clutter. Not only might having too many possessions keep you from being able to find the things that you need when you need them, but sometimes when items can't be found quickly, you might be tempted to rush to the store to replace the item.
Not only does clutter affect your home life, it can also spill into your professional life. Those who lose things because of unmanaged clutter may suffer a loss in credibility as well. If you are a professional who is regularly late to meetings or misses deadlines because of misplaced proposals, notes, and the like, you can expect that your business will suffer because people will be wary of trusting you with important documents and projects.
Not only does clutter (and the resulting chaos) undermine your reputation, it can cause you to waste precious energy and time searching for things that could be kept in an easily accessible spot. This kind of chaos can also prevent you from being fully present to the work at hand. Instead of being able to focus on your current task, your mind rushes in a thousand different directions.
When you are distracted by piles of clutter and the nagging feeling that you'll never be able to get them under control, work takes longer and is generally less impressive in the end. Focus comes with an ability to see what is essential and central.
Another problem with clutter and disorganization is that it may interfere with your ability to pay bills on time. Late fees and increased APRs on credit cards can greatly increase your cost of living over the years. Not only that, but missed bills can negatively affect your credit rating. Nobody needs these kinds of marks against him — especially if the problem is not actually lack of funds, but rather lack of organization.
The other area that will cost you in terms of clutter is your home — if at any point you want to sell your home, the first thing you'll need to do is purge the clutter. Clutter can greatly detract from the ambiance and appearance of your home.
Realtors generally believe that an uncluttered home will create a far more favorable impression for potential buyers — buyers need to be able to see into the farthest reaches of your closets. They also must quickly see the innate beauty of your home, which can easily be obscured by clutter. Likewise, the respect and love you devote to your home by keeping it tidy and uncluttered communicates to potential buyers that your home is worth their energy, love, and money.
