02:14 PM Mountain Standard Time on Monday, July 26, 2004

By Lisa Haffner / NewsChannel 3

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We all know a cluttered home can make you feel disorganized and stressed out, but did you know clutter could actually cost you money?

It's a familiar sight in many of our homes -- overflowing paperwork, stuff we'd clear away if only we had the time. But professional organizers say all that piled-up clutter is eating away at your free time.

"The average person loses one hour a day to disorganization," according to Sue Shipman of Successful Organizing Strategies. "If you just take that over a 50-year period of time, two years of your life is gone."

The professional organizer said disorganization costs you not only time but money, too.

"Ever lost a bill? Ever had to pay a late charge? Eventually, that affects your FICA score, how much you have to pay if you go to buy a house, a car," Shipman said.

The key is understanding your habits and developing a system that works for you. Shipman suggests designating a staging area in your home where you keep all the bills and paperwork.

She also suggests buying a labelmaker to label your individual files.

Shipman also says to sort junk mail every day right over the recycle bin. That way the real junk is gone immediately, freeing up your mind and your time for what's really important.

Shipman also recommends buying a shredder and shredding everything with your name and personal information on it.