How can being organized save you money?
If time is money and being organized saves you time, it saves you money. Lets say you look for 6 things each day that take you on average 5 minutes apiece. You reorganize your office and reduce the time to 1 minute search for each item. You are now saving 24 minute each day or about 146 hours each year. Even if you have to invest half of that time staying organized that still gives you 73 hours of extra time from being organized. This is an extra 9 days each year.
You can reinvest your extra time back into work to try to earn more money, spend it with your family, or just take some extra time to relax.
As a Professional Organiser I often see clients who have bought multiples of something because they couldn’t find the one they’d already bought. Sometimes these are expensive items like mp3 players. I often also uncover missing money, cheques or jewellery, or even paid accounts eligible for some reimbursement. In addition to time being money, that’s how being organised can save you money.
I am also a PO… I have clients who often end up paying late fees by not paying their bills on time because they can’t find them.
People pay tons of off-site storage fees to store their excess belongings.
I had one client who did not file taxes for ~5 years. There was nothing owed to the IRS, but no opportunity to collect for anything over 3 years.
While sorting through papers and belongings, I frequently have clients who find cash, checks and gift cards, lost jewelry, etc. as Angela mentioned.
Additionally, whether it’s a sign or a symptom of disorganization, often ‘sport shopping’ is an issue. Money can be saved by addressing shopping habits.
Of course, the list could go on…fees for late returns of library books or dvd’s, fees for missed service appointments, unused gym membership, etc. ;)