Why aren't you organized?

 

I was asked, "What types of folks can't keep their houses, desks, and cars organized," on another forum.

Here's my reply.

Visual organizers appear not to have things organized, but they know where everything is on their desk, etc. By nature, I am a visual organizer. Twenty-three years of on the job organizing using filing systems have had its effect on my home life.

Essential documents and tax items should be filed correctly, in a way that makes sense for you and your tax preparation agent.

A horizontal mail type system works better for this type of person than filing drawers and cabinets. Keep filing simple, and don’t be too detailed.

For clothing or toys, shelves might work better than drawers and boxes.

It is a matter of finding a method that works well for you. It might even be a combination of methods.

Some folks don’t keep their houses, desks, and cars organized because they have not been shown how to do it.

Finally, some people are lazy. They cannot be bothered even to try to keep things organized and do nothing at all to make things better. They don’t pick up after themselves, don’t put clothing in hampers, trash in the garbage can, and won’t help clean around the house. This type of person wants someone else to do all the work and want someone else to pay for things.

My mom and dad had a solution for lazy children. It involved a trip outside to the woodshed. You didn’t remain a slob long in their house!

Are you failing to plan for unexpected circumstances?

 On another forum I was asked, "What do the poor do that make financially comfortable people scratch their heads? "

My answer is as follows.

They max out credit cards, buy cigarettes and alcohol, pay for nails and fancy hairdos, and buy name brand clothing.

I was working in a service station watching a mom deny her child a small container of milk. She told the toddler that she couldn’t afford it. Is the mom dressed to the nines for a night out? She had fancy nails and hairdo, makeup, driving a new car. Of course, she can not afford a small carton of milk; she has to get $20 of gas, two 18-packs of beer, and a carton of cigarettes.

• The upcoming generations haven’t learned delayed gratification or fiscal responsibility.
• They don’t have the skills to budget.
• They don’t have a reserve in case of illness, loss of job/income, or death.
• We, as a nation of consumers, need to learn how to live with less.

I lived with less, then married, had a child. Both adults worked jobs; we were comfortable, and both got older. He retired.

I lost my job after training my replacement, back at minimum wage after being out of work for eight months. Not making enough to cover the bills. Used savings. Cut wants and extras drastically, paid off home improvement loan. I was involved in a car wreck and am now paying for a car. Transportation costs will always exist.

So, we’re once again back at having less income, the less that we had when we first got married. The thing is this, we’ve been there. We know how to budget our efforts and monies. We won’t go into more debt after we pay off that car.

I am now retired. Health and age issues limit future employment. I won’t downsize our possessions; we don’t have replacement funds. As our “stuff” ages out of usefulness, our home will become more minimal. We can live with that, we have been there and done that!

My family continually gives the other family members items that they need. I have extra, you need this, here, you can have it. No monies exchanged, just the giving from the heart.

I remember dad’s Christmas presents being toilet paper and paper towels. The larger families received bigger packs. He said, “I just want to give you something that I know you need.” Mom and dad were on a fixed income, both disabled; they still gave to their children—from the heart.

So, look at that person with less. Someday, it might be you. Life and circumstances change—plan for it. A car wreck, a job loss, or a health emergency or injury can bring your comfortable life down. Start saving for it. Pay off debt. Sooner rather than later. Help those you can. Learn new skills. We don’t need all the stuff that we think that we do. Learn to appreciate what you have. Put people before things. Put your loved ones before anything or anyone else.