What Is Clutter Really Costing You?

Most people think clutter is just about mess.

But after years of helping people organise their homes, offices, and businesses, I can tell you this:

Clutter is expensive.

Not just emotionally or mentally — financially too.

Again and again, I see people wasting money simply because they can’t see, find, or use what they already have.

And often, the cost is far bigger than they realise.

The Nursery That Kept Buying More Paint

One nursery I worked with had redesigned their shelves. Their original large paint bottles no longer fitted the new storage, so they began buying smaller bottles instead.

When we decluttered and reorganised the space, we discovered:

• the original larger paint bottles still hidden away

• multiple half-used bottles of exactly the same colours

• supplies they had completely forgotten they owned

• 
  

They weren’t overspending because they were careless.

They were overspending because clutter had made their stock invisible.

The Client Who Thought He Needed Another Glue Gun

Another client kept buying glue guns.

Every time he needed one, he couldn’t find the previous one, assumed it had broken or disappeared, and bought another.

During our organising session, we found several glue guns in different drawers and cupboards around the house.

The issue wasn’t a lack of glue guns.

It was a lack of systems.

Clutter creates duplication — and duplication quietly drains money.

The Money Hidden in Childhood Bookshelves

One client I supported was sorting through old childhood bookshelves when we discovered envelopes of cash tucked between books and memory boxes.

Money she had completely forgotten existed. Birthday money from her Grandma.

It had probably been sitting there for years.

That’s the thing about clutter: sometimes it hides what you need, sometimes it hides what you already have, and sometimes it literally hides money.

The Handbags Full of Forgotten Currency

Another client owned several handbags that she travelled with regularly.

As we decluttered them, we found different currencies scattered throughout:

• Stirling

• Euros

• Dollars

• Moroccan Dirham (which was handy as she was about to travel back to Marrakech)

  
  

Individually, none of it seemed significant.

Together, it added up to a surprising amount.

Small amounts hidden in clutter often become invisible — and invisible money never gets used intentionally.

The Office with Unused Gift Cards

In one office declutter, we uncovered three completely unused gift cards buried under paperwork and stationery.

Nobody remembered they existed.

That’s another hidden cost of clutter: things expire, opportunities get missed, and useful resources go unused simply because they’re buried.

Clutter Costs More Than Space

Clutter costs:

• money

• time

• energy

• focus

• productivity

• peace of mind

It causes duplicate buying, forgotten purchases, wasted resources, and constant frustration.

But the good news is this: small changes can make a huge difference quickly.

Join My Free ONLINE Talk

That’s exactly why I’m running a free talk:

How Much Is Clutter Costing You — and How to Fix It Fast

📅 Monday 11th May⏰ 12pm

I’ll be sharing:

✔ the hidden financial cost of clutter

✔ why we keep rebuying things

✔ simple systems that prevent waste

✔ quick practical changes you can make immediately

This is for business owners and you will get a chance to share your business in a 40 second pitch and have three 1-1's.

If you’d like to join, get in touch and I’ll send you the details.

Because once you start noticing the true cost of clutter, you’ll never look at your space the same way again

Email me at kathrynlord@moretoorganising.com with your name, business, email address and phone number and I will book you in.