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Temporary Papers (not including bills & important records) Organization starts with the idea of a well-known cliché, "a place for everything, and everything in it's place". If you don't have a designated home for various incoming papers, there is no wonder it's overwhelming as the piles accumulate. Probably the hardest part of managing the paperwork around your home is that a file drawer in the other room just isn't convenient enough, especially for the temporary papers that circulate. Here a some ideas for easy access to your temporary papers, such as fliers, newsletters, church or school bulletins, your child's class list, etc. Choose one of these filing systems: 1. Wire step-file for counter or desk 2. Small, open top plastic file basket 3. Plastic file box 4. File drawer if you really want everything out of site Use combination of plain & colored manila (file) folders for the categories you choose. Note: too many assorted colors might make it difficult for the most important or utilized folders to stand out; consider using mostly plain folders and using colored folders for just a couple of categories. Folder Ideas: Action: a bill to investigate, portraits to order, Read: newsletters and information you want to read when you get a chance to sit down School: important school papers, including the list of their classmates, school phone numbers, etc. Sales Fliers: local sales fliers with items you're thinking of purchasing Church: bulletins, newsletters, directory or other fliers To Be Filed: a place to temporarily stash papers that need to be filed in a drawer or box Kids Stuff: projects you work on (or intend to), or replacement sticker (reward/progress) charts & such Menus: if your family relies on take-out often, your collection of menus should be handy Project X: research you're collecting, such as a car purchase, house shopping or health info & another project folder may contain papers from your job or volunteer work you're involved with #1 Rule for mail = if you have a minute to get mail from your box, you have a minute to sort out the junk mail and toss it in the trash immediately! All mail should fall into the following 4 or 5 categories: Junk to toss: unwanted magazines & catalogs Junk to save: coupons, menu's, magazines & catalogs to save etc. Read: newsletters, info from insurance, credit card offers, etc. Bills to pay: these should be easily identifiable so create a regular system of where bills will go until they're paid Treasures: letters, cards, photos (these are probably what most people want to find in their mailbox, so look at these right away and then post them on the fridge, display them on a shelf or store them in a file folder or container What About? Magazines, Catalogs, Coupons, Receipts See tips on clutter (click here) or above this window What About? Kids Coloring Pages, Projects & More See tips on toys (click here) or above this window |
Filing - "yuk!" Having a filing system that makes sense really helps minimize the tendency to procrastinate this tedious work. Mapping your filing cabinet: Drawer 1: >Bills & subscriptions - use a folder for each regular creditor from credit cards to insurance. Then designate a single folder for various 'one-time bills', such as a home repair or annual subscription Drawer 2: >Important records - bank statements, paycheck stubs, loan documents, insurance papers, social security statements, tax returns, birth certificates, etc. Drawer 3: >Letters from family & friends >Manuals - separate folders for major appliances, baby/kid stuff & other >Other - report cards, left-over pictures from portrait sessions, copies of resume or performance reviews and other documents from work Tip: Keep a folder handy, labeled "to be filed". This way, everything important is in one place until you get around to filing in proper folders. |
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| Organizing Paperwork |
