Spring is fast approaching, and many people feel the urge or the need to do some Spring Cleaning this time of year. At iMoneyCoach one of our big goals is to find ways for our clients and friends to save money, save time, and make money. So I have put together a quick list of ways you can do each of these this spring.

Save Money

  1. Make your own window cleaner. Here is an easy recipe for a DIY window cleaner that evaporates quickly and is comparable to the big name brands and can also be used on tile and chrome surfaces:

Ingredients

* 1 cup rubbing alcohol          * 1 cup water          *1 tablespoon vinegar

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, spray on surface to be cleaned and wipe with a cloth or paper towel.

  1. Medical expenses. Reducing the allergens in your house by getting the dust out of nooks and crannies, getting mold off the shower curtain, and deep-cleaning to get rid of bacteria will not  only make you feel good, but it can keep you healthy, which will save you the expense of doctors visits and medications.
  2. Check for leaks around the home. Re-caulking around windows can help keep the cool air inside this summer so you don’t have to run the AC as much.

Save Time

  1. Get the whole family involved. Make a list of what needs to be done and have a family work day. This will get the job done faster, and everyone can bond over the work and maybe share a dessert as a treat afterwards.
  2. Have all your supplies rounded up and ready to go. When it’s time to get started on a room, have all of your cleaning supplies in one easy place so you don’t have to spend the time running back and forth getting each supply you need as you move from cleaning windows to dusting to sweeping, etc. Consider using a bucket to keep everything together. This will help keep things tidy under the sink all year long too!

Make Money

  1. Sell your old books at a used book store.
  2. Sell your old, unwanted jewelry at a pawn shop.
  3. Sell other old items at a garage sale. Be sure to put reasonable prices on things so that you make money, but don’t price things too high that you will otherwise throw out. If you don’t live in a garage-sale friendly location, join up with a friend or multiple friends and have a big sale somewhere else.
  4. If you have some larger or big-ticket items, list them online like on Craigslist. You may be able to get more money for the items and not have to worry about hauling them in and out of the garage or baking in the sun during your garage sale.
  5. Donate whatever does not sell. Be sure to get a receipt so you can report your donation on your taxes.

 

Remember that even though you just cleared a lot of clutter out of the house you don’t have to go out shopping and buy all new things! There’s a lot to be said for simple living – hey, the less stuff you have in the house, the less stuff you have to clean and the more money you keep in your pocket.

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