Being Disorganized Is Costing You Money

While organization may not be at the top of your mind when it comes to personal finances, a lack of it could have a direct impact on your wallet.

For many people, being disorganized can lead to real-life costs, including missed opportunities and deadlines and wasted time. Here are some examples of how being disorganized can cost you money:

1. Missed payments: A bill or credit card payment can easily be put aside and forgotten until the due date passes. Not only will this cost you late charges, it can also trigger universal default on your credit cards that instantly raises their interest rates to the most expensive levels.

2. Overdrawing accounts: If you don't know how much money is in your checking or savings account because you haven't balanced either recently, you increase the chances of accidentally overdrawing one of the accounts and having to pay overdraft fees.

3. Frequent ATM stops: Knowing the amount of money that you will need during the week or on a particular day will help ensure that you have enough on you when you go about your daily activities. If you don't, you are much more likely to have to stop at an ATM that is not part of your bank's network -- which will mean paying fees for taking out your own money.

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4. Missed opportunities: Knowing what you are going to need in the future gives you time to research and find the best price on the item. If you are forced to purchase something at the last minute, chances are you will pay a lot more for it. If you plan ahead knowing that you need a new barbeque for the summer, you can look for a good deal and likely get it on sale. But if you end up realizing you need a barbeque a few days before a party, you are going to have to pay whatever the current price is at your local retailer.

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