Feng shui means wind (feng) and water (shui). It was originally used to locate auspicious sites for graveyards. Gradually though, feng shui began to be used for dwellings as well. The system enables the harmonious flow of ch'i—Indian equivalent of prana or life force.

No wonder feng shui is skyrocketing into an international trend. Real estate developer Donald Trump used it to design a skyscraper. Hollywood actor Johnny Depp hires a feng shui pro "to purify my living space". Body Shop owner Anita Roddick  was another happy convert. The Midland Bank, one of the most successful banks in the world, designed its head office after feng shui consultation. In the 1990s, the Credit Lyonnais bank produced a feng shui stock market index that accurately predicted Hong Kong stock market's moves.

You get out of bed, breeze by the coffee maker and stumble into the shower. Next, it's a quick stop to the undie drawer and then you are off to hunt in the wardrobe for something to wear.

Confused as to whether you should start riffling through the pile on the floor or fight the knotted up hangers, your mood suddenly shifts into disgust, rage and even a tad of depression. Your whole day miraculously takes on those evil moods, and you're so used to them, you think that it's just a part of your personality. If this sounds at all familiar - you need a feng shui wardrobe makeover!

Daily confidence and efficiency begin with an orderly closet.  Experience a surge of energy after ridding your closet of old, worn and undesirable clothes.  Now replace that closet with your finances.  Clutter clearing is modern day alchemy. When you accumulate too much stuff, it impedes the flow of energy in your life. If you are feeling stuck financially, that you should clear out anything that has to do with your finances. This would include your bills, receipts, statements etc. When you go through this process you clear blockages and you can then create a shift, or new beginning.

One of the ways in which you could ease financial strain and avoid future problems is by reducing the amount that you have to pay out each month. In order to do this you should carefully go through your outgoings in order to check whether there are any payments that you could get rid of, such as costly subscriptions and memberships for services that you no longer tend to use, such as gym memberships.

Tax time is a good time to clean the filing cabinet and eliminate yourself of old paperwork. Yet, the fear of throwing out financial papers causes many people to save everything, leaving a packed filing cabinet with yellowing paperwork.

While saving old tax claims is not only wise but a necessity, how often are these forms really reviewed? For most people the hopeful answer is never. The moment the taxes are in the mail place all receipts and copies of the tax forms in a large envelope, label it "2005 taxes", and seal it. Should an audit or other evaluation require the forms to be produced, they will be neatly together in the filing cabinet without any worry. Each year remove the oldest year and shred the entire envelope.

How long should a person keep the forms? While there is no concrete answer, many CPAs suggest that seven years is more than enough. For most people who file accurate tax returns without any special circumstances, the statue of limitations expires three years after the date of filing.

Some things do not need to be saved. Items like old checks, monthly bank statements, credit card bills, and utility bills are catalogued by the company issuing the bill/statement. Should the need arise, they can pull up the account history easily. Shred utility bills the moment the payment is posted to the account. Credit card statements fall into the same category unless there is a tax deduction on them.

Other items absolutely need to be saved. Receipts for major purchases such as household improvements or jewelry need to be kept for insurance or resale. All warranties and receipts for the items under warranty should be saved as long as one has the items. Mortgage statements, vehicle pink slips, and contracts should be kept indefinitely.

Keep all your bills in one place, separate bills by due dates, come up with 2-3 days of the month to write out and mail bills, and pay bills 4-5 days before due date.

The final note about cleaning out the filing cabinet falls into the heading of safety. No, not safety from an IRS audit or a late charge on the light bill - safety from identify theft. Always shred discarded documents. A stolen identify is far worse than a missing tax form from 1988.

Helen says: It's no use correcting the kitchen if you are going to eat in front of the TV.  Feng shui works, but in degrees. It won't lead your life for you, but it can help you take some measure of control over it. And it can enhance your level of harmony. What more do you want?