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The first month of the year is also known as National Get Organized Month. In many circles, it’s a time of year that encourages people to “declutter” and streamline their lives regarding homelife, work, and even finances.

“Getting organized” involves many aspects of daily life. Yet, they are all connected, too. If you’re looking for tips to make everyday life a little easier, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few pointers to help you get started.

Advantages of Getting Organized

There are many benefits to organizing a few more aspects of your life. Let’s go over some of the more immediate advantages:

• Provides peace of mind. Knowing where things are and how to access them will make you feel more at ease. Think of the moments when you wasted time trying to find your car keys, forcing you to rush your commute. Keeping your home and office in order can go a long way in simplifying your daily life and reducing stress.
  
• Improves time management. Having an idea of what you want to do for the day makes every moment count. Creating plans for things like your workday and running errands can return precious minutes to your day, which makes a big difference.
  
• Alleviates strain on finances. Organizing your spending and keeping track of your finances is an art, too. For example, having a shopping list reduces overspending. Likewise, keeping your financial documents in order goes a long way in improving your budgeting sense. Keeping up with your financial records lets you budget more efficiently, reduces the chances of surprises, and reduces worries about overspending.
  

Save Space: Declutter Your Home

More often than not, keeping things organized begins with where you live. Although the “Spring Cleaning” season is months away, it doesn’t hurt to declutter regularly. Getting rid of things you don’t need is a great way to free up space—physically and mentally.

Start with simple things like your clothing. If you have things that no longer fit or match your style, consider tossing them. Donate clothing to charity or a thrift store if these items are still in good, wearable condition.

Then, move on to bigger items. You’d be surprised at how things you no longer need can be more helpful in another person’s hands. Consider holding a garage sale or listing on a social media platform’s marketplace to find new owners for your unneeded items.

Failing that, you can always toss items that are no longer usable. If you or someone in your household loves holding onto scrap because “it might be useful someday,” make an effort to weigh the benefits of freeing up space now versus waiting for a nebulous DIY project that may never see the light of day.

Moreover, there will always be a fine line between saving space and having leftovers for an upcycling project. In these cases, it may be handy to have a container dedicated to saving scrap materials and, when it gets full, make an honest effort to throw out unused things.

Save Time: Run Errands With Purpose

Take a moment to look back on how you run errands. Do you find yourself leaving home with a goal or set of tasks in mind but end up taking a ton of side trips or making impulsive purchases as you get them done?

While running errands and meandering about can be fun, think of its added costs: wasting gas, overspending, and taking out even more time from your day, to name a few.

We’re not suggesting having a rigid schedule for every day and waking hour (though that approach might work depending on your style). Instead, be more mindful of how you spend your time running errands.

Take grocery shopping, for instance. You can reduce the time (and money) you spend at the supermarket if you have a plan before stepping through the front door. Write down an actual shopping list and stick with it. Make sure the items you pick up align with your budget.

Save Files: Make Important Documents More Accessible to You

So, we’ve talked a little about keeping your place and schedule free of clutter. Now, let’s talk finances. In today’s wired world, financial documents can be accessed at the click of a button or tap on the touchscreen.

If keeping track of paper receipts and documents is getting in your way (and taking up space on the dinner table or countertop), consider switching to paperless. Many financial institutions and businesses have this option. Opting for the digital delivery of documents has many advantages like:

• Reducing clutter in your mail
• Being easy to replicate and back up
• Saving precious space in your office or filing cabinet
  

You can start by switching to paperless account statements through your financial institution. Then, you can branch out to things like running errands. Many restaurants and stores offer the digital delivery of receipts, providing quick access to these things without stuffing your pockets. You can even take photos of paper receipts to back them up on your electronic device of choice.

On the other hand, digitizing all your documents can quickly crowd up your computer. Have a system for organizing digital files so they don’t get lost in a sea of app icons. Just like cleaning your house, it also helps to delete files that are no longer relevant. Ask yourself: do you really need to hold onto that receipt from that one takeout joint you visited months ago?

Even if National Get Organized Month is more than halfway done, it’s never too late to start. After all, organization is a skill that can be developed and refined over time. Implement little changes here and there, and discover a method that best works for you.

First Florida Credit Union is your dependable partner for keeping your finances in order. Explore our website for helpful items, like our mobile banking app that lets you easily track your finances.