Are you delaying cleaning due to cost?

Well, all those coordinating storage products, drawer dividers, matching hangers, and new shelves can really add up. And let’s not forget a label maker so your labels look as good as the ones in the magazines.

We’d all love to splurge on stylish coordinated products. But really, this comes second to paying the gas bill, or it should! So start thinking cheap and cheerful.

The good news is that you can tidy up without spending a penny, and better than that, cleaning up the mess can actually SAVE you money!

First, let’s remember the essentials of cleaning. That is, purging your possessions, keeping only what you love, use or need to keep.

The goal is to get things out of your house, not put more things in.

The next step is to organize your storage effectively by looking at where and how often items are used. None of which cost a bean.

Of course, once you’ve sorted through your things, you’ll probably find that you need containers. But before you buy, buy the house!

And by that I mean, take a good look at what you already own and discover its potential.

• The tub that the Christmas chocolates came in may be taking up space now, but use it to store the different bags of rice or flour and it can really save you space.
• Chipped but cute cups can hold pens.
• Plastic margarine jars are useful for small items and come with lids.
• Shoes can be stored in the boxes they came in.
• Tissue boxes can be filled with folded carry bags, simply pull one through the opening.
• Tupperware can hold just about anything.
• My personal favorite is the two liter plastic ice cream tub – a handy size, easy to clean and comes with a lid. I use them to store everything from folded underwear to recycling to snacks. (OK, I eat a lot of ice cream).

If you don’t have enough containers on hand, do your friends a favor and take them off their hands.

Well, then you’ll be one lucky lady (or gentleman) if you can get away without buying anything. So let’s see the best way to do this.

First of all, take your time and resist the sales hype. That sock organizer looks cute, but wouldn’t your socks look just as neat rolled up and lined up in one of those free plastic tubs you already have?

ALWAYS follow the golden rule: measure twice (or even three times) – and buy once. Nothing is more annoying than a plate stacker that’s too tall for your cabinet, or a Lazy Susan that jams your kitchen cabinet a crack open.

So draw plans of your cabinets and shelves with measurements, and keep them handy when you go shopping.

Take a little time and shop around – you won’t have to search far on the web to find the same items at a wide range of prices. And don’t forget to factor in postage: some are free, others, to say the least, are not!

Check out thrift stores, big box DIY stores, a certain Swedish furniture store, and those fun shops with laundry bags stacked outside and mops and buckets in the window. They can all be treasure troves of practical products.

Now what you were waiting for:

Can cleaning really save you money?

For starters, time is money, especially for freelancers. Have you ever calculated how much you spend searching for lost items? Too much, probably. Do yourself a favor and get organized. You should try to find most things in a couple of minutes.

How many bulbs, towels or tubs of paprika do you have? Most people have three or four items that they keep repurchasing. Organize your space properly and don’t leave duplicates to hide.

Overcrowded and cluttered closets make choosing an outfit nearly impossible. You may have fewer clothes after a mess, but you’ll have more real options.

Do you spend money going out because you’re too embarrassed to invite people over, or do you just want to avoid clutter in your own home? Make your home the place you want to be and be proud to show it off, and save a fortune.

Have you ever bought a new pair of pruning shears, even though you can distinctly remember buying a pair last summer? Order your garden shed and save money.

Who hasn’t treated themselves as a reward for a busy and stressful life? Eliminate stress and you won’t feel the same need. Relaxing in your calm and organized home will be a pleasure in itself.

Part of order is storing items properly, and this means things last longer and are less likely to break.

Who knows, it may even end selling your old stuff and MAKING money.

Still think you can’t afford to clear? You should have exercised by now, you really can’t afford not to!