Organizing On A Budget

There's no escaping the rising prices. Inflation is real and it's having a deep effect on many people. Professional organizing services are a luxury service that many can't afford for all their organizing needs, if at all.

Just because you don't have barrels of cash to throw at your clutter problem, doesn't mean that you can't improve your organization and cut the clutter. There are strategies for stretching your organizing budget, even if that budget is a big, fat zero.

Have a plan
Be very clear about your goals in advance of the work so that you can outline a plan for tackling the project. By starting off with clear goals and a plan, you'll be able to effectively utilize any resources you have.

Gather free support
Friends and family can be a great help. Do you know someone who seems very organized? Do you have a friend who is also disorganized who can help you in exchange for your help at their home? Will one of your friends be willing to sit with you to keep you accountable to the project? Can you barter your services in exchange for someone else’s help? Do you have a birthday or holiday coming up when you can ask for a gift of an organizing session?

Stretch your dollars
If you can afford some professional organizing, find an organizer who can work with your budget. Perhaps a consultation and action plan is all you need to get the ball rolling to tackle the project on your own. Or maybe you can plan for one session a month where you tackle some challenging areas together and you work independently (or with your support people) between sessions.

Don't buy bins and containers
Most of the time you will have all the containers and storage you need once you have decluttered. If not, be creative by using shipping boxes, asking friends and family for cast-off containers, or browsing your local Buy Nothing group. With a little brainstorming and creative thinking, you'll likely be able to create organization with things you have or can get for free.

Sell what you can
It can be burdensome to sell things online, but it can be a great way to fund your organizing project. As you declutter, post items on Facebook, eBay, Nextdoor, Poshmark, etc. Use any money you get to hire assistance or to fund your other financial goals. However, be honest with yourself about your willingness and ability to sell items. If you are someone who will make a pile to sell and then never get to it, donate the items and move on.

Look for inspiration
If you're at someone's house and admire their organized systems, ask them how they accomplished it and for tips you can use for your project. You can also spend some time looking at free content of organizing projects on social media and YouTube. Consider how you can translate some of those ideas to your space.

Upgrade later
While it's nice to have an aesthetically pleasing space, sometimes that is more challenging when you're on a tight budget. It can be disheartening to see images and videos of fresh and organized spaces where everything is uniform and the bins all match, while you know you can't afford to do the same. Do the best you can with what you have and slowly upgrade your organization as your finances allow. In the meantime, practice keeping things organized and refine the system so that when you are ready to upgrade you'll know the investment will be worth it.

Being tight on funds does not mean you have to suffer

Being tight on funds does not mean you have to suffer under a mountain of clutter and disorganized chaos. With resourcefulness, the help of friends and family, and some hard work, you CAN create an organized space without breaking the budget. Think outside the box, ask for support, and be creative, and you'll be organized in no time.