By this time of the year, you might feel like things in your home and life are disorganized. With the hectic summer season coming to an end, and a long summer of kids home from school, you may have some clutter and disorganization to tackle. Now is the ideal time to declutter your home and maintain your budget. Let’s see how.
End of Summer House Cleaning
One of the first things you can do at the end of a season is go through your home and thoroughly clean it. Doing this every season can eliminate the bigger task of “spring cleaning.” You’ll probably save money because your home will be better maintained, and you won’t need as many products as you would if you do it only once a year.
In addition to general cleaning, don’t forget to take on those chores you don’t do regularly, like cleaning the refrigerator, spot-washing the walls, cleaning under moveable appliances, and sanitizing the dishwasher and washer.
Consider Homemade Remedies
Not everything needs a store-bought solution. There are products on the shelves for every task you need to do, and, if you buy every product for your house cleaning, it may cost more than your budget allows. For example, you can purchase an already-prepared cleaner for your washer. It’s supposed to clean out hard water and mold build-up and help with the damp smell that washers get.
However, vinegar is an inexpensive solution that works just as well. You can research how much vinegar to use to clean out your washer. This works well for dishwashers too. In fact, vinegar is a base ingredient for many homemade cleaning solutions.
If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, add things like lemon juice or a few drops of essential oils to make it smell more pleasant. Just be sure you research what can be mixed before experimenting on your own. There are several online recipes you can use.
Review Your Finances
Reviewing your budget is another way to get on top of the end-of-the-summer clutter. You may have some loose ends to tie up from summer trips. Or you might want to review your credit card statement to ensure there were no errors while you were on vacation, etc.
While looking at your financial paperwork, check for expenses that you may be able to reduce or eliminate. You may have trial subscriptions that are expiring that you want to cancel. Additionally, it’s a good idea to check how much you’re paying for things like cable, cell phone data, and insurance. There may be better deals if you shop around. When it comes to insurance, Freeway Insurance is well-known for providing quality policies at reasonable prices. You may be able to reduce your overall insurance cost.
Resell or Recycle
You probably have things in your home and closet that simply take up space. A good rule of thumb for clothing is if you haven’t worn it for 12 months, it’s time to get rid of it. But don’t just throw anything away; you may be able to resell some of your things. Places like Poshmark and eBay are online selling sites that might be a good option for you. If you don’t have the time to post and mail, be sure to recycle.
Get Organized, Feel Better
You’ll feel better once you get your home and finances in order before the busy start of school. Take a moment to celebrate and enjoy the last of summer!
