Hoarding issues affect over 400,000 Australians, which is a small number compared to the 19 million Americans labelled as hoarders, but it’s still a significant number of people who need help getting organized.
We’re familiar with psychological issues that hoarding habits can have, so today we’re going to talk about how it also affects your finances.
How Hoarding Buries You In Debt
So how does an innocent collection of items turn out to be financially destructive?
This is how, it’s because you tend to:
- Lose bills amidst the clutter – bills unpaid equals penalty fees.
- Misplace cheques and even cash.
- Buy things you don’t need.
- Spend money on non-piority items.
- Collect multiple items because if you can’t find what you’re looking for you purchase another one.
- Rent a storage unit for extra space.
These habits can create a financial problem in the long run. Hoarding, even just a little bit, can leave bank accounts empty while homes are filled with unnecessary belongings.
Things go from woe to worse when you start acquiring things beyond your earning capacity and fall into credit card debt. This may cause financial stress and in turn creates a bigger burden in your everyday life.
How Decluttering Can Help You Save In The Long Run
Declutter (verb)
to remove unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place)
Here are some ways that illustrate how decluttering will help you save. Decluttering will:
- Stop you from buying the same thing twice.
- Save you space therefore no need to buy storage containers or rent units.
- Help you avoid penalty fines for late bill payments.
- Make you money if you are able to sell your excess items.
- Lessen stress and anxiety in your life so you can prioritise what matters.
- Stop impulse buying because you know exactly what you have at home.
Remember that little stuff if accumulated may be priced big. Start the change now.
Hoarding tendencies can come in many forms. If you think you have excessive hoarding problems then we encourage you to seek professional help.
Want Help To Simplify Your Life?
If you:
- Feel overwhelmed
- Have too much stuff
- Have too little time
- Don’t have your priorities in order
- Are drowning in chaos
- Find it hard to think straight because there’s too much on your mind…
then our next online program is perfect for you. Join our 21 Day Simplify Your Life Challenge.
Take a lovely, long breath – we’re on our way to a simpler, calmer, happier life…
The 21-Day Simplify Your Life Challenge begins Monday, 16 January 2017 (US time).
Click here for the details.
FREE For Premium Subscribers
As with all our programs, this program is FREE for Premium Subscribers.
Simply log in to your My Account Page and join us at any time, from anywhere, startingMonday, 16 January 2017 (US time).
To see upcoming programs, check out the Program Schedule.
I find I am way too bounded to simple objects. You know when you can’t throw that old purse even though it’s dirty and the zipper is falling apart but you can’t get rid of it because it reminds you when you and X had your first kiss… It’s really hard for me to declutter, but from time to time I feel like an organized tornado and I just declutter my entire space within a month. I hope I am not the only one like this?
You’re definitely not alone there, Audrey.
You might find some inspiration here:
7 Lies That Keep You Caught In The Clutter
http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2009/10/hoarding-7-lies-that-keep-you-caught-in-clutter/
Declutter Clinic: Should I Sell, Donate, Or Throw It Out?
http://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2013/02/declutter-clinic-should-i-sell-donate-or-throw-it-out/
Kylie
Community Manager