In my work with clients as a Professional Organizer, I’ve observed many characteristics in chaotic homes, but here I focus on four major characteristics that I’ve found to be most common.

1. Lack of systems and homes for belongings – Without systems and procedures, each time a task is performed; it’s like reinventing the wheel. Time, energy and productivity are lost. In addition, if belongings do not have consistent homes, then again, time, energy and productivity are lost when searching for needed items. Without systems and regular homes for belongings, family members have nothing to count on in the home, like “this is the process for performing this task, or this is where we put this item.”

2. Children not consistently performing home maintenance tasks as an active member of the family team – Let me share with you one lesson I’ve learned in my many years as an Organizing Consultant and parent of two … you cannot truly gain control of your home and achieve an organized lifestyle if your children are not an active and contributing member of the family team working toward the common goal of keeping the home picked up, organized, and running smoothly. From my observation, the less the children are given clear home maintenance expectations (chores) and consequences for not performing these expected tasks, the more chaotic and disorderly is the home, and the more frazzled and overwhelmed is the home manager.

3. Procrastination runs rampant in chaotic homes. – Procrastination is a bad habit. There is really nothing positive that comes from choosing to procrastinate. In the organizing world we define it as a delayed decision. There are many causes of procrastination, most notably our increasingly fast paced 24/7 lifestyle, but essentially, procrastination is an impulse to delay an action or decision until a later time. Procrastination is always present in disorganized and chaotic homes. Procrastination often spreads to all family members – when one person gets away with it, it opens the door for others to adopt the same behavior.

4. More stuff comes into the home than leaves. – With the massive debt that the average American carries, it is no surprise that our homes are bursting at the seams with over purchasing and consumption. Common in chaotic homes, are often few limits placed on how much stuff comes into the home. Impulse purchasing is common, with little analysis about the purpose of a new purchase or where it will be stored once home. Then as a result of our busy lives, we never get around to the drudgery of purging little used and no longer valued stuff. Without regular efforts to equalize our stuff (eliminate equal amounts of existing stuff as new stuff is brought home), our homes are soon bursting at the seams and in a state of chaos.

There are many more common characteristics than the four detailed above, but these major characteristics will give you some food for thought. Can you identify your own household in any of these characteristics?

The growing trend among UK consumers to look for financial relief each month by applying for payday loans indicates that there are many Britons finding it difficult to make ends meet, according to National Debtline.

It warned that the increased number of payday loan applications – which was highlighted by a recent moneysupermarket study – was symptomatic of an underlying problem where people are finding that their outgoings regularly exceed their incomes. Advice offered by the national telephone helpline service informs consumers they should set out a budget to help them manage their financial situation and minimise the effect that items of expenditure such as shopping and household bills, mortgages and personal loan repayments are placing on households every month.

According to the moneysupermarket study, the number of people opting to take out payday loans has increased by 55 per cent since September. The group attributed much of the growth in popularity to inflated demands on personal finances arising from recent energy price hikes and the increases in the average costs of food. Tim Moss, head of loans at the firm, said that the loans were proving a more attractive option than going into an unauthorised overdraft.

Commenting on the findings, Beccy Boden Wilks, spokesperson for National Debtline, said: “If your salary is not lasting until next payday, and therefore need to use this service, then there is obviously a problem. You are spending more than you earn. So if somebody feels the need to use a payday loan on a regular basis, it’s probably symptomatic of a serious underlying debt problem. Therefore, you need to set a budget, or [ask] are your current financial commitments too high, or have you overstretched yourself with your mortgage.”

She added that for those whose outgoings are exceeding their incomes, seeking independent financial advice may be a prudent option. In doing so, people might be able to identify areas where they can cut back on monthly spending and lessen their reliance on lending. She also advised that people may want to negotiate with their creditors to agree upon an extended payment period with a lower monthly contribution, while extending the length of a mortgage was also identified as a way to reduce the strain on finances. According to Ms Boden Wilks consumers who are struggling with their finances should ask themselves whetehr or not they can realistically meet their mortgage and credit responsibilities, or whether they should consider talking to their providers to renegotiate terms.

Moneysupermarket’s Tim Moss also noted that while payday loans were an effective short-term solution, people who were regularly struggling with monthly payments should sit down and evaluate their finances and identify areas where they can cut back on spending.

Elsewhere, residential property industry commentator the Council of Mortgage Lenders last month identified a growing trend among those looking to get on to the property ladder, with first-time buyers approaching their parents for a loan to cover the costs of a deposit as many mortgage providers withdraw 100 per cent lending packages.