Is clutter causing you financial strain? A professional organizer offers insights on how tidying up can lead to significant savings.

The mess on your desk, shelves, and coffee table isn’t just an eyesore—it can also cost you money! According to certified professional organizer C. Lee Cawley based in Arlington, Virginia, disorganization can lead to missed payments and overlooked rebates. If clutter is affecting your finances, read on for expert tips to tackle it.

Late Payments

Is your credit card due date the 15th or the 25th? Many people miss payments simply because they can’t find their bills.

Solution: Consider automatic bill pay. It can simplify your life, provided you have good budgeting habits and remember that payments will be deducted automatically. With auto pay, regular expenses are taken care of for you. E-bill delivery is another method to manage bills without clutter. “Regardless of how bills arrive, make paying them a regular part of your routine,” advises Cawley. “Weekly can be too much, and monthly is often too long. Pay on the 1st and 15th, or every other Friday evening, then reward yourself with a glass of wine. You’ll never have a late payment again.”

Unnecessary Clothing Purchases

Great news: you snagged a bargain on black pants! The downside? You already own two similar pairs stashed away in your disorganized closet.

Solution: Cease purchasing unnecessary items. Americans tend to buy over one article of clothing each week, making it essential to keep track. Start by clearing out your closet and drawers; donate or sell anything you won't wear. Be ruthless! Next, organize your wardrobe by garment type (pants, shirts, skirts) and color for quick visibility. If space allows, stack sweaters and T-shirts on shelves instead of hiding them in drawers. Be selective when shopping—stick to a list of necessities, not impulse buys,” Cawley advises. When adding to your closet, remember the professional organizer's mantra: “one in, one out.” When you acquire something new, remove an item you no longer wear.

Misplaced Mail

Even in our digital world, some bills still arrive via traditional mail. Cawley recalls discovering a $9,000 check at a client’s home—this was the third time it had been misplaced, and it was close to expiring.

Solution: Designate a mail station near your entryway. Include a trash can for junk and a shredder for sensitive documents. Cawley recommends setting up five labeled, color-coded folders: “To Pay,” “To Do,” “For Taxes,” “Pending,” and “To File.” Unopened mail can go into “To Do” before being sorted into the other folders as needed.

Forgotten Rebates

Snagging a $50 coupon is just the first step; you must actually submit it to receive the cash back. Fewer than half of rebate offers are claimed.

Solution: Shopping online often makes rebate processes easier, as they can be applied automatically. For in-store purchases, keep pre-stamped envelopes near your front door to mail rebate coupons right after getting home. Alternatively, hang a bright envelope in a noticeable spot (like the garage door hook) to collect all your rebates in one place. Just remember to send them!

Lost Return Receipts

Imagine buying goat cheese for a salad only to find it expired because you lost the receipt and can’t return it.

Solution: Dedicate a pouch in your purse solely for receipts. Once you’ve confirmed the transaction with your statement and the return period has lapsed, toss it.

Missing Tax Deductions

Did you forget about that big bag of clothes donated to charity? That could have translated into a nice tax deduction. (For guidance on which receipts to keep, check “When to throw away financial documents.”)

Solution: Trying to recall all your deductions right before tax season can be costly. If a digital budgeting tool like Quicken isn’t appealing, create a file box with hanging folders to store receipts, bills, and statements as they come in. This way, everything will be organized and ready for tax time.

Excess Food Purchases

A recent study revealed that U.S. households waste about 6.2 cups of edible food weekly. By changing habits, families could save around $1,500 each year by minimizing food waste.

Solution: Menu planning is key to avoiding overbuying, a leading cause of food waste. Schedule “leftovers night” and take food for lunch to work, which also saves money. Organize your fridge and pantry by grouping similar items for easier visibility. This can help prevent accidentally purchasing duplicate items. Cawley also implements her professional organizing skills at home by designating a shelf for leftovers, ensuring family members know where to look for snacks. She prefers using Rubbermaid TakeAlongs, which stack conveniently, and marks the date with a dry erase marker to track how long items have been stored.