Utterly Organized Blog

by Tracie Utter CPO CPA

There is not one answer to this question but I can provide the basics.  As with any service, more experienced people charge more.  Your concern should be whether the organizer has the skills to solve your organizing needs and is that cost worth it?  It depends on several factors:

1.  How complicated are you? Generally, the more involved your project, the more it will cost.  If you are drowning in stuff, your house is full and you don’t want to give up any of it, you can expect that your project will take longer and require more experienced organizers.  Here’s a video of a hoarding project I lead.  It took three very experienced organizers plus the home owner  about 5 days to organize this approximately 1,400 sq ft home, click this link.

2.  How fast can you make decisions? Generally, the faster you make decisions, the faster the project will proceed. The types of decisions you will make are related to what to keep verses get rid of and where to place things so that you can find them.  It’s fun to talk and think about the past but it slows the project down. Find an organizer that can keep you focused.  Talk about your habits and what you can do to stop bringing clutter into your envirnoment.  Ask the organizer to share how their other clients handle similar issues.

3.  Does the organizer charge by the hour, project or what?  Most organizers charge by the hour, however, that will change.  The organizing industry leader, NAPO.net, is teaching organizers how to charge in other ways.  Hourly charges start as low as  $25/hour to $hundreds/hour.

4.  Where are you located?  As with everything, the larger, more famous the city, the more you are likely to pay.  Organizers in LA, NY and Chicago charge three times as much as those in Louisville, KY.  Remember, the more you pay, the more you should expect.

At Utterly Organized, you are matched to an organizer based on what you need.  We work on an appointment basis.  Appointments usually last 3-4 hours at a time.  A small kitchen that is moderately disorganized might take 2 to 5 appointments.  You can do as much homework as you want.  We charge on an hourly basis based on the skill set of the organizer.

The Utterly Organized Team 2010

Utterly Organized, a team of trusted organizers serving Louisville, KY and the surrounding areas.

by Tracie Utter CPO CPA

I know organizing financial information is not much fun; however, it is a necessity. I’m convinced, it doesn’t get easier the more money you have, in fact, it’s gets more complicated. 

Financial organizing defined:  taking responsibility for your financial situation. This includes knowing how your money comes in and how it is used, as well as, paying bills on time and investing at a risk level you are comfortable with.  At any point, you should be able to estimate how much you have in cash and investments verses how much you owe. You don’t have to have an accounting degree to do this but you need to be organized. 

Start with a list.  If you are starting from scratch, start by making a list of what you own and what you owe.  What you own includes bank accounts, retirement accounts, real estate, investments and valuable assets like cars, furs, art work and jewelry.  You don’t need to list every little thing, just the big stuff.  Make a separate list of your debts which includes everyone you owe money. Do you own more than you owe or owe more than you own?  Either way, you need to know. 

Keep track of bank accounts.  No matter what’s on your lists, most individuals have a main checking account. Expect to spend most of your time keeping track of this account. This can be done on paper or electronically. I encourage you to explore mint.com. They offer free financial software that keeps track of how you spend your money.  I talk about it briefly in my newsletter. However, you don’t have to select an electronic format unless your situation is complicated. A checking account can easily be managed in a paper check register.

I’ve got the bank account under control, now what?  It’s the “b” word, budget.  Instead of just keeping track of your bank account, plan where your money goes before you spend it.  This is the point where many of my clients fall off the wagon. They spend a lot and end up with clutter.  Then I come in to help organize the stuff and/or their finances. Budgeting can be simple but requires discipline.  Once you become aware of how you spend your money, you might decide to change your habits…stop eating out so much, stop shopping so much or whatever.  It’s easy to discuss in theory but difficult to implement.  Even if you are well off financially, you still need to be aware of your spending habits. Maybe you should consider making donations to nonprofit organizations to reduce your tax bill (cash and noncash). 

Once I develop a budget, how do I use it?  When you are buying things, think about your budget. A budget is made up of categories. Consider which category your purchase falls under and decide if you have enough.  Of course, no matter what category, you have to make sure you have enough cash in your bank account.  Connect to your bank account, yes, right there in the store.  Use online banking. 

Cash vs. Debit card vs. Credit card.  To decide, consider your spending habits.  Do you tend to buy no matter what?  You might want a debit card.  If the money isn’t in the bank, you can’t make the purchase.  Instant boundaries.  Another advantage to debit cards is that the data can be downloaded into an electronic check register like Quicken, Mint or Money. When the data is downloaded it includes the store name, date and amount spent so you don’t have to keep receipts or remember where you shopped.  This ties in nicely when comparing to a budget.  If you don’t like debit cards then use cash.  Credit cards are fine as long as you pay them off in a timely manner. 

Taking responsibility for your financial situation will become less painful as you make it part of your routine.  There are people like me who will get you started.  As with any organizing project, you’ve got to want it bad enough to commit.

Utterly Organized, a team of smart organizers serving Louisville, KY and the surrounding areas.