If you can clean up your finances before closets, it’s a lot easier to be organized when you get to the “stuff”.

Having a guided, planned-out strategy has worked for me in regards to both my closet and finances. Not only is cleaning up my finances essential, but it is also incredibly rewarding as I look to create a new normal.

It may seem a little weird, but I firmly believe in using a budget as a starting point for any sort of decluttering process. If you don’t know where your money goes, how do you know what to keep and what to get rid of?

I’m a fan of Marie Kondo. I’ve read and tried out the “KonMari” method, and like most women, I think it works. And not just for closets.

It takes four days to clear out a house full of stuff—clothes, toys, books, and knickknacks—but only two hours to work through finances and insurance.

I’ve cleaned up my finances, so I’m adding a new post to this series. Keep reading for my thoughts on what’s next in this journey.