The Cost of Clutter

I've been subscribing to this e-newsletter for a while called "Living on a Dime." After all, isn't that what all students have to try to do? Anyway, this free newsletter is just chock full of interesting, valuable, and helpful advice. I was especially intrigued by the title article, "The Cost of Clutter."

The author, Jill Cooper, raises some though-provoking points. Although her readership is composed mostly of working moms, there's plenty of useful advice that applies to any over-busy person, including single students. Think about just a few of the ideas she posits:

Being unorganized can be a contributing factor to overspending and debt.
Have you ever bought something you knew you already had, just because you couldn't find it at home? This can be anything from tape and scissors to new clothes because everything you have is dirty and you don't have time to do the laundry. Seriously, I know a woman who used to frequently buy new underwear for her family for that reason -- and I SWEAR it wasn't me!

What about eating out? Surely I am not the only person in the entire UB community who has ever decided to eat out because the kitchen was messy and I didn't feel like dealing with it. Jill says one person can save $5,000 a year by not eating out. You have to admit, that's a nice chunk of change! She also makes a valid point that frequent eating out can also lead to weight gain.

Have you ever had to pay a late fee on a bill because you misplaced it or couldn't find your checkbook? Those things add up. And heaven forbid you should bounce a couple of checks due to lack of organization -- just one episode like that can cost you $100 easily!

Well, I don't want to re-write the entire article here, but if any of this sounds a little too familiar to you, take a look at what Jill has to say. http://www.livingonadime.com/articles/cost-of-clutter.html It won't cost you anything but a few minutes of time and who knows, it could end up saving you some big bucks if you make big changes.