Clutter costs you way more than you may think.
It costs you in cash, of course, but beyond that, it is a sneaky thief that can rob you blind in just about any aspect of your daily life.

Photo by me (Caitlin)!

1. Money
   This one is the most obvious. I’ve already talked about how clutter can cost you money when you have to buy a duplicate of an item that you have lost in your clutter. You can also lose bills, cheques, or even overdue library books in your disarray, which can cost you in late fees, higher interest rates, or simply in lost potential money.




2. Time
   It is very easy to waste time sifting through piles of paper or mounds of clothes searching for something specific. Worse, it’s easy to waste time and money at the same time while you run out to the store to purchase something you already own but cannot find. Clutter robs you of time that should be spent on more enjoyable or more essential tasks.




3. Friends/Social
   If you’re stuck at home trying to find “something” in all your clutter, or worse, feel too depressed about it to go out at all, you will be missing out on socializing with your good friends. On the flip side, if you go out anyway and end up feeling guilty about your mess, your mood could put a damper on the fun with your friends.




4. Self-esteem
   This is still a big one for me. While I’m making progress in my fight against clutter, I still feel guilty sometimes for not being “better”. It can be a devastating hit to your self-esteem if you feel ashamed enough of your clutter that you feel you can’t invite friends or relatives over.




5. Space
   Another obvious one, but sometimes we don’t realize just how much space clutter can take up all by itself. When you start clearing it out, more often than not you’ll find more clutter than you thought you had.




6. Respect
   First impressions matter, even if we wish they didn’t. Having excessive clutter in your home (or on your desk at work) can give others the impression that you are dirty, or that you don’t care enough about yourself to clean up your home environment. This can lower their opinion of you.




7. Job opportunities
   Many families have been hit by the recession, and most job postings are getting way more applicants than they need. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because it took you 3 days to find your good résumé paper and a stamp, and then lost the employer’s address in the pile on your desk.




8. Energy
   While searching through and cleaning up clutter rob you of your energy directly, clutter can also prevent you from getting more energy. If you bedroom is cluttered, you may not be getting the restful sleep you need to recharge. A great way of having more energy in your life is to exercise, but you have to actually do it. If you end up not going to the gym (or even for a jog around the block) because of the hassle of finding your running shoes, grabbing your shirt from the pile of unfolded laundry, and looking for your iPod headphones (only to find them squashed and broken under some library books), you’ll never get to enjoy the benefits of exercise.




9. Well-being
   If you’ve ever experienced any of the above, you’ll know how it can definitely affect your overall well-being! Getting depressed and/or angry at yourself can definitely impact your quality and enjoyment of life.

How does clutter cost you? Can you think of a tenth way that clutter is robbing from you, literally or figuratively? Please share it in the comments!

You may also enjoy these posts:

• Costly Clutter – Getting Rid of your Clutter can Save you Money
• The Library is Your Friend
• Clutter Costs
• Clutter Lessons from TLC’s What Not To Wear