Clutter is untidy, messy, and disorderly. Ultimately, clutter impedes movement and reduces effectiveness. Whether it is physical or emotional clutter, it is the result of disorganized habits. BUT, It's more than just a pile of misplaced stuff. It's money left on the table. Although it can't be measured, the amount of dollars tied up in disorganization is tremendous. Let's count some ways.

1. It Affects the Thinker:

The appearance of clutter on the floors, desks (at home & in the office), in the cars (that sit outside the "2 car" garage too full to fit a car), in the fridge, in the email inbox, etc... These are "Brain Fog" creators. This kind of distraction creates negative feelings, depression, analysis paralysis, and so on. It's a "productivity killer". 

Clutter diminishes our ability to focus. And for those with predisposed focus problems (like yours truly), clutter becomes a monster. We don't directly notice the brain becoming overwhelmed, but our work results will. A clean organized space will help to clear the mind, making us able to use full execution power. Consider the Marie Kondo Steps. Daily routines will assist with decluttering life, and increasing performance. It's time to see clearly through the cluttered mind and space. Take the approach of a minimalist for example. Try spending less time on things that make us stressed, and more time on activities & people that make us happy. This sounds like a dream come true to me.

Missing a child's school function or assignment assist, because the flyer was hiding in a stack of mail (still waiting to be opened) is not good. Having trouble keeping up with family events and special occasions can create emotional guilt. For women and mothers especially. Guilt can lead us down the "overcompensation" rabbit hole. I know, because I've done it! Mickey Mouse's pockets are getting fatter YOY. Big businesses like Disney and others, are banking on our insecurities, and our dreams to be the best parents in the world. Disclaimer: To all my Disney fanatic friends, don't mistake this for judgement. Just a sample used for emphasis. Mickey is a cool dude, and I'm opened to visiting him... On my own terms (pre-planned and on a budget), of course. 

2. Too Much Stuff gets Expensive:

Guys and gals alike, purchasing that same tool (you can't find in the cluttered garage) for the third time, can be frustrating. Much is revealed when it comes time to move... "What am I doing with 10 screwdrivers, 5 bikes, 4 coolers, and files and files of papers, mags, and brochures going back 2 decades?" Help is out there, as this is coming from a relatable place. Have a yard sale, sell unused goods online; and whatever doesn't sell, donate or ditch it in the dumpster. Life will go on, I promise. 

What's worse, is having our overstock, costing us an extra monthly rental payment. About 9% of U.S. households rent a self-storage unit, and of those, 67% have homes with ample storage space. The average storage rental payment is $100/mo. The larger climate controlled units can cost as much as $450/mo. The 4 D's (Death, Divorce, Downsizing, & Dislocation) are legitimate "present" reasons for renting extra space. But, let's get organized, and reduce the use of storage units to short-term, and stop feeding the nearly $38 Billion industry.  

What was once known as retail therapy, can be renamed "Retail Torture". Are we shopping for unnecessary products and clothing, because the bathrooms and closets are unorganized? Maybe, maybe now. Example: "I can't find a thing to wear to that party coming up next weekend, so I need to go buy a whole new outfit and accessories". Ladies and gents, how many garments do we have with tags on them? Don't answer that. But, the next time there's an urge to shop, consider discovering what you have, don't have, really want, truly need, and discard the rest. 

3. Emotional Clutter Feeds Big Banks & Businesses:

Overdraft fees are a fun expense... The banks are "banking" on our disorganized forgetfulness, as life continues to get busier and busier. Unbudgeted habits will allow our money to control our happiness and future goals, and not in a good way. The affects of a cluttered mind causes oversights. Such as, forgetting about the auto-draft for that mag subscription (do we ever read them?). Or, having multiple music subscriptions, when one would do just fine. Just simply being too overwhelmed to know what's really going on at the place that holds onto our money. The Latin translation for "bank" is "ripa". Be careful not to let the banks "ripa" you off, and get on a budget!

Savings opportunities are often overlooked as we navigate life. What about high premiums? Here's a scenario. The car insurance companies are loving me so much by now. "I just don't have the time or energy to deal with insurance shopping, because I'm too stressed and in a mess."  Now we're five years into that policy, they're getting fat on my increased rates with every policy renewal. I suck it up butter cup, and just pay it. Besides... What's an extra $50/month? No biggy!

Don't let that Pay-stub STUB you my friends. What's that miscellaneous insurance coverage you're opting into at open enrollment? Do we really need dismemberment insurance? Or cancer insurance? If we already have term life insurance, and a decent medical coverage, the answer is likely NO (for help with this, please reach out, as more "take-home pay" is the key). And, are the W-4 elections working for or against you? Taking home a sizable income tax return is not necessarily a good thing. All it means is that the IRS held "non-interest bearing" money from you throughout the year, which could have been pocketed and/or earned compound interest somewhere else. 

Auto-pay PAYS! Lower those payment fees. Opting into auto-pay, and online bill-pay reminders can save time and money. Most utility companies wave processing fees, when you're set up for auto-draft. 

Lower those interest rates. If we're lucky enough to have student loans for example: There are some cases where they offer discounted interest rates for simply setting up the minimum payment to be auto-drafted from a checking account. Instead of 6% interest, it could be 5.75%. Overtime, this can be a big savings. Just call and ask!

It's time to organize your life, DECLUTTER, minimize possessions, increase clean space for clarity, and save time & money. "Pay" attention, so you don't have to PAY TOO MUCH!