Is paperwork taking over your home? It can pile up quickly. Start by creating a system to sort and store your paperwork. Here are several tips to reduce and organize the stacks of paper in your home and prevent it from accumulating.
Incoming Mail
Before setting the mail on the counter, walk over to the wastebasket and toss junk mail and ads you don’t need. Call companies to remove your name from mailing lists for any mail that you no longer want to receive. Sort the mail into these categories:
Short-Term Filing
Sorting your mail into these categories will prevent it from piling up and getting out of control.
To pay - bills
To do – add appointment reminders to your calendar, respond to invitations, fill out forms, etc.
To read – magazines, newspapers, etc.
Set aside a place in your home to hold short-term files
There are several methods for storing paperwork, the key is finding one that you will use. If you want the files to be visible and easy to access try one of the desktop file organizers below. If you prefer the papers to be neatly hidden away, choose lidded storage boxes or file cabinets.
Individual file folders, a lidded box or wall file holders work well too.
Once you have sorted the mail into categories, put the paperwork into a “To be Filed” folder. Then, once a month or so, transfer the paperwork you need to keep from your short-term filing into a long-term hanging file by category. Note that once bills are paid or they appear on your credit card statement, you can toss the actual bill. Consider signing up for auto pay for monthly bills or any bills that come on a regular frequency.
Keep current magazines in a decorative basket or bin or stack them on your coffee table or nightstand to keep them easily accessible. Once you have read them, save or scan any articles you want to keep and recycle the magazines. Remember, you will be getting another issue soon!
Long-Term Filing
There are a number of filing methods, so it is important to choose a system of labeling the files that makes it easy to find the paperwork later. Read this guide that explains how long to keep important papers.
Here is a list of suggested file folder label names
Auto
Purchase agreement, payments, title
Auto insurance, registration cards, AAA
Auto maintenance
Financial
Credit card statements
Bank statements
Investment files – keep a separate file for each investment company
Home
Real estate purchase or rental agreement
Mortgage or rental payments
Home insurance records
Home improvement records (renovations, additions, painting, roofing, decks, fencing, etc.)
Receipts for furniture and other home goods purchases
List of home paint colors
Home maintenance service records (pest control, heating & air, etc.)
Appliance manuals (access them online and eliminate the bulky manuals)
Landscaping records (plants, plans, mulch, lawn maintenance)
Important Papers
Social security card, birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, will
Loans
Student
Personal
Medical
Dentist – bills, records
Eye Doctor – bills, records
Doctors – bills, records
Insurance plans and coverage
List of current medications
Personal
Receipts for jewelry, watches
TV/Cable/Telephone/Electronics
Purchase records
Cable company bills
Cell phone purchase and landline bills
Digitize your paper files
Use your printer or smartphone to scan important paperwork online and save physical file storage space. Create digital files for things like vital records, newspaper clippings, letters, certificates, diplomas, home paint colors, addresses and travel notes.
Set up a daily routine
The best way to get paper clutter under control is to prevent it from happening. Set aside a file drawer for anything you need to keep long term. Once you have a designated place for paperwork to go, you will find it's a snap to keep it that way.
Happy Organizing!
Kay