So you got a lot of stuff for Christmas. Time to declutter!

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It is one of the quirks of the yearly consumer cycle: Right after the month where shoppers are encouraged to overindulge and hit sale after sale, there's the month where consumers are encouraged to organize and declutter the houses they've just packed to the rafters with gifts and after-Christmas sales bargains.

Retailers aren't stupid: many people have just come off a week or two of being shut up in their houses, up to their ears in family members, newly acquired stuff and wrapping paper scraps. After a fortnight of enforced togetherness and tripping over stuff that doesn't have a permanent place in the home yet, who wouldn't want to sweep their place clean and turn it into a haven of quiet order? And who wouldn't feel receptive to someone promoting the message of peace and organization via [whatever's on sale]?

I'm all for cathartic decluttering. Done right, it can be good for your bottom line. Here are five ways how:

-- When you aren't up to your eyeballs in stuff, you're more likely to know exactly what you own and where it is. This prevents making duplicate purchases. We've all known someone who's bought a second, third or fifth flashlight because they couldn't find the first. Don't be that someone who buys the same thing over and over.

-- As you declutter, you can tally up how much money you spent on the stuff you're now clearing out of the house. Keep that tally in mind -- the next time you're about to make an impulse purchase from Target because that hot pink galvanized tub is adorbs and you're sure you can find something to do with it, ask yourself if you're only adding to the tally of "Money I will later lose through decluttering." If the answer is at all yes, curb the impulse.

-- Decluttering makes room. You can then use this room for the things that will make your life richer, easier or more interesting in the long run. For example, decluttering your pantry, then spending a few bucks on clear storage containers and a labelmaker, lets you set up a larder that you can quickly and easily scan after work -- thus saving you on takeout, if you're organized enough.

-- You can head off financial headaches if you know where everything -- warranty cards, receipts and manuals -- happens to be. This way, when your blender goes kablooey, it's a simple matter to find the supporting documentation and take your case to the manufacturer. (TIP: One easy way to organize all this stuff is to use an accordion file folder. Just figure out how you want to organize all the manuals -- alphabetically, by room, by use, whatever -- and drop everything in the correct pocket the minute you unpack it.)

-- Finally, decluttering can be good for your tax returns. If you're holding on to a cache of old eyeglasses, you can usually drop them off at a Lion's Club or via Unite for Sight and you've got a charitable donation for your tax return. Anything you've got too much of -- clothing, toys (in good condition), books -- can usually find a home with an organization that will be happy to give you a receipt.

The rest of this week, we'll look at different aspect of decluttering -- the ethics of tossing someone else's stuff, how to keep clutter from creeping back in, when it makes sense to embrace a little clutter. Do you have strong opinions on clutter and cleaning things out? Share them at dollarsandsense@sfgate.com.

Posted By: Lisa Schmeiser (Email) | January 04 2011 at 08:53 AM

Listed Under: Wallet-friendly habits