Here are the steps in text on decluttering finance, received from Sarah Nicholson, Commercial Manager of Justmoney


Clean up

Piles of statements stuffed into drawers, and guarantees going mouldy in the garage, will only raise your blood pressure. Allocate time to sort through grungy folders and records. Shred what you don’t need to avoid identify theft.

Get sorted

Locate and safely store important documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports, and car registration certificates. Taxpayers must also keep records and supporting documents for five years from the date on which SARS received the tax assessment for that year.

Go paperless 

Electronic statements reduce the amount of paper you have to process or shred, and are better for the environment. Set up folders on your device so that you can easily locate mail.

Stick to a system

Some people have the time to do a daily check on bills and balances, many find it more realistic to process a batch of paperwork in one go, say once a week. The important thing is to stick to a system that works for you. Log into your bank account to check balances, pay your bills, and generally keep track to help avoid potential problems. Consider automating some payments.

Check where your money goes

Download a money app or write down what you spend in a notebook. This way you can’t evade the evidence. Does a large amount go on eating out and bookings on ride-sharing apps? Dig deep and get to the root of your spending habits.

Come clean

Sitting down with your significant other or holding a family meeting to talk about finances can lead to agreement on priorities and cost-cutting. Debt consolidation may be a lifesaver, with one affordable monthly repayment, giving more breathing room and protecting assets from repossession.

Decide what you really need

Check what policies and investments you hold and whether these still suit your circumstances. You could be paying too much for car insurance, and too little on life insurance, for example.

Trim the excess

Do you really need four credit cards, a gym membership you never use, and investments with a range of service providers? Reducing these numbers can give you a clearer idea of where your money goes and will cut the amount of mail you receive.

Budget better

Determining what is really important to you will encourage you not to fritter away money.

Spark joy

Keep up the momentum. “Decluttering and organising must be ongoing, but the payoffs are well worth it,” says Nicholson. “Break up a big job into a series of small tasks, and you will remain ahead of the game. Marie Kondo’s goal is to help more people live a life that ‘sparks joy’. Revel inknowing you have freed up your finances to do things that bring you more contentment and happiness.”