Mighty Bargain Hunter, a personal finance blog I read on a regularly basis, has just recently posted an incredibly comprehensive list of the 16 ways being disorganized costs you money. The post is interesting not only because it covers just about everything, but also because it highlights how our collective desire to run around causes us to take our eye off the financial ball.

Lots of people who go through personal bankruptcy come to me with their finances in disarray. When asked how much they spend on such basics as transportation, food and clothing they look at me blankly. It is only after a significant amount of time that we are able to puzzle through where the money goes each month.

Once the bankruptcy case has been completed, the consumer is still faced with the problem of budgeting. The absence of debt makes a difference, but it doesn’t help to fill the savings account each month. Rather, the individual exiting the bankruptcy court should take a hard look at where the money goes and attempt to spend smarter.

I highly recommend that you print out the list from Mighty Bargain Hunter, tape it to the refrigerator, and review it often.