Are You Making Full Use of the Things You Already Own?

A great way to save money and become more organized is to make better use of the things you already own.

My big question of the day for you is this: are you taking full advantage of all the features in the things that you already own or subscribe to?

I am willing to bet that you are not – because I know for sure that I don’t.

Yet, when I get frazzled and it feels like everything is out of place or just a hot mess – the first thing that I want to do is go out looking to buy a new solution for the disorganization. Usually this is because the system and tools that I am currently using are clearly not working.

But is that statement really true? Do I need something new to fix a broken organization system or do I just need to learn how to use what I already have?

Things You Can Make Better Use Of

Technology

Think about it – you have technology at your fingertips by way of a smart phone or computer. It has tons of features to help you stay organized baked right in. Have you taken the time to learn them?

I use Apple computers and devices and they come with apps for Notes, Reminders, Calendar, and more. With every update new features are added – so the apps are very robust and do much more than what I currently use them for.

If you have an Amazon Alexa enabled device or a device that has Siri – there are all kinds of shortcuts you can use to save you time – the key is learning how to make it work.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are another thing that we often make good use of.

For example, I subscribe to several Apple services including Apple Music and Apple Fitness. Yet, there are days that I don’t exercise even though I have access to virtual exercise classes right at my fingertips.

The same thing goes for music. With a little planning I could create a few more playlists to listen to more often in different situations.

And don’t even get me started on gym memberships! If you subscribe – it’s time to start using it!

Books

How about self help books or novels? Is there a stack of reading on your nightstand or a collection of unread books on your Kindle? Instead of searching for something new maybe the answer is in there.

Storage Containers

And what about baskets, boxes, bins, and other storage containers? Repurposing something that you already own is a great way to save money and the environment.

Household Items

Household items makes up a very big category of things that we need to do better with.

Do you have a bunch of toiletries – things like perfume, travel sized shampoo, soap, and lotion, makeup, etc – cluttering up your cabinets? Instead of running out to buy more, round up what you have and start using them up.

How about dishes, appliances, and other kitchen items? If you never use the “good” dishes maybe pull them out for everyday use or make a point of using them once a week for a sit down family dinner.

Appliances are very similar to technology. Each one is capable of doing many things but we often use them for singular function. Depending on the model, you can make dough in a food processor but also a mixer.

So, before buying a new appliance, see if one that you already own is capable of doing the job.

Your Newer Car

This is one you probably don’t think about until you get into your car at which point you don’t have time to figure it out.

New cars have a lot of technology built right in and there are settings for just about everything – from programming the radio to setting your seat to camera adjustmets.

Finding the Time to Learn

One of the biggest obstacles that keeps us from using all the things that we own is a lack of time.

Learning something new takes time and when we need something right now, we usually don’t have time in that exact moment to learn how to do something new.

The key here is planning. With a little planning you can learn to use what you have before you need it.

When you were in school or college, your professor did not give you all of the material you needed to learn 5 minutes before the final exam. Instead, you received a syllabus at the beginning of the semester and learned the information at a steady pace over the span of several weeks or months.

Similarly, when you want to learn a new technology or take full advantage of a service that you subscribe to – you need to pace yourself. You may even create a little syllabus of your own or schedule some weekly time on your calendar for learning that particular skill or device.

What Will You Make Better Use Of in the New Year?

Focusing on my health is my number one goal for the new year. This includes both physical health and mental health.

To this end, I will be making better use of my online fitness apps, gym memberships, and healthy recipe books. I will also be reading many of the self-help books I have amassed over the years and using the many beautiful Erin Condren notebooks that I have for journaling.

Stay tuned for my 2025 reading list – this is my reading “syllabus” to keep me on track.

If you, too, want to make better use of what you have, try this quick exercise.

Be sure to share your plans with us in the comments below!