Reduce Money Worries

Published in Cambridge Chronicle, December 20, 2006

There are many benefits to clearing clutter and organizing: more room, more clarity, more comfort, but have you ever considered...more cash? Clutter-clearing is a great way to reduce your (holiday) money worries. Instead of going to the mall and fighting the crowds, go into your closets and find your treasures.

For example, when turning a cluttered room back into a guest room, my client (normal, high-functioning, excellent social skills) and I found great cash-flow opportunities: 45 minutes at the local grocery's sorting machine turned sixty-seven pounds of coins into $611.57, unused Kate Spade pocketbooks (with price tags) sold on Craig's list, creating another $800. $420 worth of nice Christmas gifts were found instead of bought. A three-year old $50 Crate and Barrel gift certificate completed her set of dishware for her holiday dinners. Add it up! Her clutter from one room became $1,881.57!

When clearing clutter, hundreds, even thousands of dollars appear in seven ways:

Finding cash and coins
Finding gift certificates and cards
Selling found items of value
Returning unused items
Preventing duplicate spending
Receiving tax write-offs for donations
Giving away nice stuff as gifts

Another woman found thousands of dollars worth of yarn in nine separate containers stored throughout her home. She had no idea how much she had, and kept on buying. This winter, instead of buying more, she's creating more space and comfort in her home, doing more of what she loves by knitting her holiday gifts, and saving money. She is now practicing prosperity through ClutterClarity.

Clearing clutter had become a treasure hunt, not torture, and we're definitely going back for more.

You don't have to attack your clutter to organize. Instead, pace (don't push) yourself. "Putter through your clutter" and carve away what you no longer use or love. Stay motivated by tracking the money you save or make. Most stuff has obvious answers: toss, shred, donate, keep, sell. No need to worry. Start clearing fifteen minutes a day or four hours a week. Put the "not yet" or "undecided" stuff aside, and concentrate on what clutter can be turned into cash for the holidays. What a relief!

Return items before the holidays for cash or store credit to prevent unnecessary cash outlay. If it is too late to return something, don't feel bad about missing the dead-line and leave it at that. Give the nice things away as gifts to someone who will appreciate it. No money wasted. Otherwise, donate it, and feel good about helping someone else.

Expired gift cards and certificates are not always a done deal. Make the effort to call companies to ask, negotiate (plea) a new deal. You may turn regret into a surprise gift for yourself and loved ones during the holiday. At the very least you'll feel better for trying.

It's true that the coin machines in grocery stores get 8.9 cents on the dollar, but you get 91 cents, and think how much you gain in cash and time! Wisely spend your time clearing your clutter (or doing something you enjoy) instead of rolling coins. Pour those coins into the machine, dash to the check-out line, and fill your pockets with cash.

Craig's List is a great way to increase your holiday cash-flow. Because it is local, buyers can pick up items and you don't have to hassle with shipping and long lines at the post office. Consignment stores are a good alternative, too, but find one that takes your stuff for cash so you don't have to wait for the future sale to get your money before the holidays.

Let's settle this once and for all. Re-gifting is totally OK. In fact, be proud of setting an example of non-waste and smart money management. No need for embarrassment. When asked where a certain item is, explain that you appreciate the gift, thought, and effort, and leave it at that. Repeat yourself if need be with a tone of confidence, not defensiveness. Do not be held hostage to another by holding onto something you do not want or love. It takes up valuable space in your home and costs you in many important ways. Re-gifting is a win-win situation.

Importantly, expand the concept of re-gifting to include anything nice in your home that you no longer love or use, not just gifts. "Nice," means it is in good shape and/or has sentimental or monetary value. You may have loved or used it in the past, but if not now, it's taking up valuable space in your home. Let it go and let someone else benefit and enjoy. By doing so, you literally make room for your current desires.

Be very selective about what you hold onto for the next generation. Choose what is very special and give it to them now as a holiday gift. Over the holidays, show your children what you are storing for them. If they tell you they don't or won't love or use it, let most of it go to someone who will. The last thing you want is to become a large, non-paid storage bin. Encourage them to go through their own stuff, keeping what is of value to them, and donating or selling the rest for more cash in their pocket.

Very often, holding onto stuff has more to do with being afraid that you won't have the resources (cash) in the future to replace it, than it has to do with valuing the item itself. Make good choices now so you will have the resources in the future, maybe even tomorrow.

When you donate your nice stuff, it becomes other people's treasures. What you do not want may be exactly what other people will love, certainly need. You create value in more ways than one when you write it off on your taxes. By donating, you literally spread the wealth and holiday spirit.

"Don't have the time"...one less hour a week of TV or the computer can put money in your pocket. Importantly, consider clearing clutter from your calendar. Remove something that annoys you or that you really don't enjoy, and replace it with a clutter treasure hunt. At the very least, you'll find a bit more peace of mind during your holidays.

Instead of buying more stuff to store with that new found cash, buy experiences to share with the people you love. The gift of your time is enormous, especially for children. They'll remember fun with you much longer than a new plastic toy. Invest in activities - dinner, theater, vacations, museum memberships, day trips - anything that creates a holiday experience that our memory can hold onto forever. Quite a good way to invest the money you make from your clutter.

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Reduce Money Worries