Getting Organized Can Save You Money

In this tough economy, it's now more important than ever to get organized. Whether you realize it or not, being disorganized leads to unnecessary spending. It's time to buckle down and create new habits and systems that will make your hard earned money go further so you can continue to live the life you want to live. Following is a list of things you can do to get organized and start saving money.

• Get your paperwork in order. Create a filing system to store your important financial documents so you'll know exactly where to find what you need should a financial question arise.

• Develop a bill paying system so you're never late on paying your bills, to avoid those nasty late fees. If you pay your bills online, organize your 'inbox' and make sure all of your information is correct (i.e. your bank account number). One late bill can cost you $30 or more in unnecessary fees.

• Know your finances! Keep track of your spending on a weekly basis. Know exactly where your money goes. this will help you plan a budget and avoid overspending. Be aware of high interest rates and memberships you don't use. Start paying attention to bank statements and take note of recurring unrecognizable or even unwanted charges.

• At the end of the day, place all of your loose change into a glass jar. Once it's full, take it to a Coinstar machine. Cash in your change for dollars, putting money back into your pocket. To locate a Coinstar machine near your visit www.coinstar.com.
  

• Get rid of clutter! Not only does clutter cause stress and rob you of your precious time and energy, it takes up space in your home, costing you money.

• Get rid of expensive storage units. Once you clear up space in your home, move the contents of your storage unit into your home. Make sure you move only items you want to keep. The others can go. No more monthly bills!

• Create a 'home' for all of your belongings. You'll always know what you have and what you still need to get, helping you to avoid purchasing duplicate items.

• Have a designated place to keep uncashed checks until you can get to the bank (i.e. an envelope in your purse). The same goes for gift cards and gift certificates. This will help you spend what you've already been given.

• Keep receipts for big ticket items organized. Always know where to find them in case you need to return something or mail in a rebate.