You don’t have to spend a fortune, nor do you have to be overwhelmed by decluttering either your home or your office! Using some creativity and planning, you can have an organized space to improve your productivity and create a cleaner environment without costing you an arm and a leg. No matter if your workspace is lacking organization or your living quarters are too cramped, there are many ways to control the clutter at a low cost!
Table of Contents
Start with a Simple Plan
Assess your existing resources before you buy storage containers and organizing tools. Determine which areas need the most help and break down the decluttering process by tackling one part at a time (i.e. a drawer, an entire shelf, or your desk). Completing smaller units of the entire process will make decluttering easier and less stressful!
Sort and Categorize Everything
A key part of decluttering is making piles of similar items:
- Keep
- Donate
- Sell
- Throw Away
Be honest with yourself as far as whether you have used an item within the last twelve months. If you have not used an item during that time, you should probably discard the item. If you only perform this step alone, you will get rid of most of your clutter at no cost to you whatsoever.
Use What You Already Have
You do not need to purchase expensive organizers. Instead, look for items around your home (or your office) that you can use again:
- Old boxes can be storage boxes
- Jars can store small office supplies
- Shoe boxes are perfect for storing goods in drawers
Using repurposed items will help you save money and create zero waste.
Maximize Vertical Space
When you have limited space, use vertical space instead. Add affordable shelves on the walls, stacking containers will allow you to use vertical space effectively. Use hooks or other hanging organizers to keep your items off the floor and in an orderly fashion.
Sell Unwanted Items
Selling the items you no longer want helps you declutter your house, while at the same time generating income for you. Use online marketplaces or hold a garage sale to sell unwanted items. The money earned can be used to purchase simple storage items or to rent storage space if you have furniture or boxes that need to be stored.
Donate to Free Up Space
If selling doesn’t interest you, you can still donate these items. Clothes, books and furniture are all highly sought after, especially if they are in good shape. Donating your unwanted items doesn’t just free up space for you, but also helps people in need.
Create a Maintenance Routine
Cleaning out the clutter is not something you do just once. You need to dedicate some time (no longer than 15 minutes) to keep clutter from accumulating again. Regularly putting things back after you are finished with them, also regularly reviewing your belongings will all help keep your home or office clutter-free.
Consider Affordable Storage Options
If you have reduced the amount of things you own, but still do not have enough space in your home or office, renting a storage unit may be a great way to solve that problem. You can search for cheap storage space to rent within your budget. Most storage facilities will provide you with flexible storage options to store seasonal items or documents, or other items without taking up extra space in your home or office.
Conclusion
There does not have to be a large expense to declutter; you just need to carefully choose what to keep and dispose of and consistently stick with your simple decluttering or organizing habits. By reusing what you already have and eliminating items that you do not use anymore, combined with creating and maintaining some simple daily activities, you can keep your work or home free from clutter without going over budget. However, you’ll also find affordable storage space for rent to help you create that extra space, while keeping you clutter-free.
