When our lives get chaotic, we pay dearly in terms of time, money and stress. There are hundreds of things you can do to simplify your life. Here are seven to help you get started ... one a day for the next week.

1. Carry only the keys you use every day. Take everything else off your key ring. If you don't recognize what a key is for, toss it. If you have keys you use occasionally, keep them on separate rings in a safe place. I only carry three keys: house, car and office. They're not bulky. They're simple to select. AND they fit into a pocket in my purse. Not only has this small trick simplified my life; my car ignition is happier, too. Heavy keys can pull the ignition out of alignment and cause it to eventually fail.

2. Get rid of all but one credit card. One statement, one bill. Having so many credit cards can really create stress in your life, and it is not necessary. In fact, having many cards is hazardous to your wealth. Start today with the goal of strategically getting rid of all but one on which you carry a zero-dollar balance.

3. Downsize your purse or briefcase. Carry only the minimum essentials. If you're anything like me, no matter what size of bag you carry, it fills to the brim. Ditch the bag that's the size of Nebraska in favor of something small and compact. Carry only the items you really need.

4. Cut back your jewelry to a couple of simple but elegant items. It takes a lot of energy to manage dozens of pairs of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. About 15 years ago, I decided I would own and wear only one pair of classic earrings. It was a bold move but one I have never regretted. You cannot imagine how this has simplified my life. Since then, I have upgraded to two pair: one silver, the other gold.

5. Buy only white linens. Everything will match, and that saves time and hassle. Fine hotels everywhere feature all-white linens. You should, too. When everything is white, you don't worry about fading, matching up sets or matching the room's decor. Every top sheet goes with every fitted sheet in its size, so you don't have laundry hassles. Everything launders the same. White linens are classic, and they're cheaper, too.

6. Keep a tasteful trash receptacle where you open mail. Only handle the mail once. Don't carry all the junk mail to the table to become more household clutter. Put a waste can right where you open the mail, and dump the junk the moment you identify it as such.

7. Change your attitude about voicemail. I cannot believe how my life has been simplified since I no longer feel obligated to answer phone calls from numbers or names I do not recognize. I rarely return voicemails that do not rise to the level of urgent. If they want me badly enough, they'll call back. In the meantime, I use the delete feature with abandon. Delete, delete, delete.

Time: We're given just 24 hours each day. So far, no one has figured out how to increase that number. But if you begin to simplify your life, you'll swear you've suddenly found more hours in your day!

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.