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It might sound ridiculously simple — and it is! But it’s true: being organized will save you money. In fact, it could save you at least a few hundred dollars (or more!) per year. Here are 7 ways being organized saves you money:
1. You can plan a weekly menu.
By planning a menu, you won’t be scrambling to figure out something for dinner at the last minute. This saves you time, sanity and countless unnecessary trips through the drive-thru lane.
2. You can buy gifts ahead of time.
When you find a great deal online or in-store, you’ll be able to take advantage of it for an upcoming birthday or holiday, instead of waiting until crunch time and having to buy something at full price. As an added benefit, you’ll likely be able to put more time and thought into a meaningful gift rather than just throwing something together at the last minute.
3. You’ll have the time to clip and organize coupons.
When you plan ahead, you’ll have time to print coupons for things you’re already planning to buy. Or even to match coupons to items that are already at rock-bottom prices at your local store.
4. You can buy in bulk.
If you’re organized, you’ll be able to take the time and effort to buy extras of items when they are free or at rock-bottom prices. You’ll also know what you have on hand already and how much you regularly use of items you buy.
5. You’ll avoid late fees.
When you have your life in order, you’re much more likely to pay bills on time, return books to the library before they are due. It’s amazing how much this can save in late fees and library fines!
6. You can find what you own.
Having a place for everything and keeping everything in their place saves you a lot of time looking for lost items, plus it prevents you from spending money to replace items you can’t find.
7. You’ll remember to call and ask for discounts.
When you’re organized, you’ll have time to call and try to re-negotiate fixed rate bills annually. Things like internet and phone packages are often negotiable — and we’ve saved hundreds of dollars over the years by calling once a year to ask if they have a better rate they can give us.
How does (or would) being organized save you money?
Love the ideas to save money and being organized! While you are getting organized don’t just throw things out. You will be amazed what you can sell online or in the local paper. Of course donating to local charities is also a good thing and can be tax deductible.
I love this post! I just began a post along similar lines sharing how we just finished our “Just Make Do” January challenge. Where we organized ALL our food, personal and cleaning supplies. Took a good inventory and only purchased perishable items we are unable to store long term.
The results have been great!!! Instead of spending $400-$500 dollars on groceries for family of 4 in the month oj January, we spent a whopping $100 on food and $50 on drinks. (We require bottles water and Gatorade due to health issues ans special food due to multiple varied food intolerances.
It has allowed us to organize our cabinets, simplify our menus, reduce our spending and enjoy more family time.
We also found an unbelievable amount waste because items had be hidden and expired.
Organization is the key and will be saving our family hundreds this year.
Thank you for the reminder and all you share and do! You are truly an inspiration!!!
Great article Crystal! When I’m organized, I save money because I don’t let food expire on the shelf before we can eat it. I try to stock up only enough to last six months or less. No more buying 20 boxes of cake mix just because they’re super cheap. And, as I stock my pantry shelves, I place the newer items behind the older ones. About once a month I check to see what has to be used soon before it expires.
What a great post, Crystal. I was not born organized but am learning from your blog and from others. Yes, being organized definitely saves money, whether it’s organizing the pantry or the coupons. God bless you!
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
I have been so convicted of this truth lately! I have bought things ahead of time for holidays and then not remember what I purchased or been unable to find where I’ve hidden it. I purchased an auto saver card for oil changes and lost it. Organization not only saves money, but emotional energy as well as there can be a lot of time spent looking for things and then being so discouraged at not being able to find them, but it sure encourages me to keep moving forward in taking the time to put things away rather than counting on my memory 🙂
I just wrote about this the other day too, reflecting on my own organization! I struggle with my paper organization but I am slowly getting better. I recently missed early registration for my oldest son to play basketball (which would have saved me $10…sigh).
I get stuck paying the “stupid tax” too! LOL 🙂 Doing better though since I found out my library offers email reminders!!
I totally agree with this! Since we’ve started making a menu, we’ve saved so much on the groceries…I even made myself a super cute dry erase menu so I didn’t have to waste paper! Also, some companies, like Direct t.v., you can save money by having your bill taken out of your checking account (automatic debit) We currently get $15 off a month for doing this! We also have a checking account that earns interest…you have to use your debit card a few times a month and have atleast one automatic withdrawel, it’s not much, but it’s something!!
I think just keeping the frig organized (using up those leftovers rather than pitching them) would save $100 in a years time. I’m working hard on that one point right now.
Yes! I agree with you!
#6 FTW. I don’t know if you read The Frugal Girl, so you may not know that recently she called #5 “Paying the Stupid Tax.”
But also: By being able to find the things I have, I can have fewer things. By having fewer things, I have the funds to buy higher quality things. By buying higher quality things, I buy things that last longer. By buying things that last longer, I get a better deal and spend less in the long run. But first I have to have the funds to buy the higher quality things.
No, I hadn’t read that post. Thanks for the tip!
I think the first word in #1 should be “by” instead of be. Not trying to be critical. Typos seem to jump off the page at me and you told me once that you like to know if there is a misspelling or typo. Love your tips.
Thanks so much for catching that typo!
It’s easier to identify what isn’t being used when everything is organized. Unused items in good shape can be sold. That “found” money can go towards an extra payment on a bill, the vacation fund, education savings, emergency savings, etc.
When everything is in its place, it’s easier to recognize items that need to be returned to lenders. Instead of purchasing a replacement item, it can go back to the original owner.
When everything is organized, it’s easier to try something new or enhance existing hobbies or skills. In addition to enjoyment, pride in accomplishing/learning something, or checking off a bucket list item, learning something new or adding to a skill set can create opportunities to earn income.
Dang, I love that closet space! By staying organized you also know what you can keep and what you can sell. I recently was gifted with a lot of very nice clothes. I kept what I could wear, shared with my mom, mom in law and co-worker, and will sell the rest!
I know! I loved it, too!
So very, Very, VERY true!!
6. You can find what you own.
Having a place for everything and keeping everything in their place saves you a lot of time looking for lost items, plus it prevents you from spending money to replace items you can’t find.
Recently I negotiated my cable bill. It was reduced by $20.00. I’ll take every little bit of savings.
Yay for savings!
I think of all the ideas you have posted in this series, this one would have or does have the biggest impact on your finances.