Organize paperwork with this easy filing system! Sort paper clutter using these categories and learn how to set up a paper organization system that works.
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
Do you struggle with organizing too much stuff? This collection of decluttering tips from Living Well Spending Less will help you live a clutter-free life.
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
One of my goals for 2017 is to document more of my organizational projects on the blog. Over the last couple of years (basically since I had Sami), I have been posting some of the 'after' shots on my Instagram, but I just never got around to taking photos & blogging about the process. So, the first area of our home I decided to tackle for 2017 was our office. More specifically - our paperwork & filing drawers. Since this is my absolute least favorite area to deal with, I figured it would be best if I got it done & out of the way first. Understandably, everyone has different amounts of available storage space within their home. Not everyone will have the exact footprint as our office, but hopefully you can implement some of these organizational ideas into your own space. We happen to have a desk with three dedicated file drawers. Fortunately, this allows for ample file storage, but it also means we can accumulate a lot of paperwork over time. Here's about two years of build up that I needed to purge & sort through: THE GAMEPLAN I had two main objectives with this project: sort all of our existing paperwork and modify/update our current filing system. To start, I like to clear a large space on the floor or countertop that I can use to sort everything. I typically refer to a cheat sheet when deciding on what & how long we should save certain documents. When possible, I always try to sort the paperwork & determine what needs to be recycled, shredded, or archived as I pull each file out one by one. Not surprisingly, this can become extremely time-consuming & overwhelming. Since I had not gone through our file drawers in so long, there was A LOT to go through and I ultimately felt like it was taking me foreeeeever just to finish sorting. So fairly early on, I decided to pull out all old paperwork that didn't belong in our file drawers & create a giant pile that I could go through in more detail at a later time. For me, this meant going through the pile over the course of a few evenings while we watched our shows...slowly but surely :) Once I eventually finished sorting & shredding, I filed away any of the remaining important paperwork in our IKEA KASSETT boxes: Some folks prefer to scan their old documents instead of holding onto the physical copies. This is a great idea, but is just too much extra work for me personally. Also, don't forget that you can also go paperless on your statements to help reduce the amount of paperwork that you'll need to deal with at the end of the year as well. Meanwhile, I began updating our filing system for 2017. Here's the final product: Here's how I did it..... CREATING FILING CATEGORIES There is no right or wrong way to file paperwork, it really just comes down to your personal preference and what works for you & your family. There are however, some general categories that work for most people & can be tweaked as needed. I recommend writing down a list of all the different types of documents you need to file & then figure out how to group them to your liking. I ended up with 6 main umbrella categories: HOUSEHOLD VITAL DOCUMENTS BANKING & FINANCE MEDICAL & HEALTH AUTOMOTIVE MISCELLANEOUS I designated an entire bottom drawer as our "Household/Home" drawer, which includes the following: HOUSEHOLD Mortgage statements Home insurance HOA Utilities (gas, electric, garbage, water, internet/cable, alarm system, phone (we do not have a landline, so I include our cell phone instead) Closing documents (and other documents like tax assessor, inspection) Maintenance (pest control, HVAC) Home improvements Manuals & warranties (permanent fixtures, small & large appliances, tools, electronics, baby gear, & furniture) Our desk drawers give us the option of hanging legal or letter sized file folders, so because our mortgage closing documents are legal sized, I decided to use legal sized folders for all of our paperwork in this particular drawer (the desk is the Bedford Desk from Pottery Barn). I also keep our "Home Decor & Design Binder" in this drawer. The purpose of the binder is to keep all of our paint, furniture, & home improvement project info all together in one spot: The remaining 5 categories all fit in the top drawer & are divided by color: Color coding is not essential of course, but I definitely think it helps make it a bit easier to find paperwork. Of course, the simplest way to color code is by using some basic multi-colored hanging files: Or, if you would prefer a more neutral color scheme, you can use plain hanging files folders & white folders: I ended up using the grey & while folders, and then chose to create my own multi colored tabs using washi tape. To make the washi tape labels, I stuck some colored washi tape right on the white paper labels & then placed a clear label on top of the tape. To save on label tape, you can type & print all your labels out at once and then them yourself: I also created a legend so we know exactly what type of files each colored section is composed of. It's pretty self explanatory, but a little extra organization never hurts: VITAL DOCUMENTS (YELLOW) Birth Certificate Social Security Card Marriage Certificate Passports Citizenship Drivers License Voter Registration Academic Transcripts & Diplomas Military Records BANKING & FINANCE (GREEN) Checking & Savings Accounts Credit Card Accounts Stocks, IRA's, Mutual Funds Life Insurance 401K, Pension Plan Loans Taxes MEDICAL & HEALTH (BLUE) PCP Dental Vision OBGYN Specialists (Dermatologist, Endocrinologist, etc) Pediatrician Health Insurance AUTOMOTIVE (CORAL) Auto Loan Insurance Registration Maintenance Bill of Sale MISCELLANEOUS (GREY) Employment Memberships Retail Rewards Travel Rewards Pet/Vet Records Within certain hanging files (birth certificate, SS#, Passports), I will include a folder for each family member as well: You might notice that there are certain files that could could be included within more than one category. For example, an Auto Loan could obviously fit in "Automotive" or "Banking & Finance". Personally, I prefer to keep it in our "Automotive" section, but to each their own - do what makes sense to you. I'd also like to point out that not every file needs its own hanging file folder. For example, I broke our "Automotive" files into five different hanging files, but you could alternately have a single automotive hanging file with 5 individual folders. We just happen to have the space within the drawers, so rather than have it feel clustered, I decided to separate everything. So that's it! I am super happy to be able to cross this area off of my list of things to organize. The only item I'd still like to get is a fireproof document safe for our most important documents. Hope this post helps you guys get organized for 2017! xoxo, Mel
Closing on a home generates mountains of paperwork. Here's how to get organized so you can locate any important document you need in seconds.
How to organize important documents in a binder AND what important paperwork, documents and info you NEED in your In Case of Emergency binder. Paper clutter is no joke – SO …
Anyone here like doing taxes? Didn’t think so. We all have to do them; we all have to pay money to Uncle Sam (although some get away with paying much less than others). But as
One of my goals for 2017 is to document more of my organizational projects on the blog. Over the last couple of years (basically since I had Sami), I have been posting some of the 'after' shots on my Instagram, but I just never got around to taking photos & blogging about the process. So, the first area of our home I decided to tackle for 2017 was our office. More specifically - our paperwork & filing drawers. Since this is my absolute least favorite area to deal with, I figured it would be best if I got it done & out of the way first. Understandably, everyone has different amounts of available storage space within their home. Not everyone will have the exact footprint as our office, but hopefully you can implement some of these organizational ideas into your own space. We happen to have a desk with three dedicated file drawers. Fortunately, this allows for ample file storage, but it also means we can accumulate a lot of paperwork over time. Here's about two years of build up that I needed to purge & sort through: THE GAMEPLAN I had two main objectives with this project: sort all of our existing paperwork and modify/update our current filing system. To start, I like to clear a large space on the floor or countertop that I can use to sort everything. I typically refer to a cheat sheet when deciding on what & how long we should save certain documents. When possible, I always try to sort the paperwork & determine what needs to be recycled, shredded, or archived as I pull each file out one by one. Not surprisingly, this can become extremely time-consuming & overwhelming. Since I had not gone through our file drawers in so long, there was A LOT to go through and I ultimately felt like it was taking me foreeeeever just to finish sorting. So fairly early on, I decided to pull out all old paperwork that didn't belong in our file drawers & create a giant pile that I could go through in more detail at a later time. For me, this meant going through the pile over the course of a few evenings while we watched our shows...slowly but surely :) Once I eventually finished sorting & shredding, I filed away any of the remaining important paperwork in our IKEA KASSETT boxes: Some folks prefer to scan their old documents instead of holding onto the physical copies. This is a great idea, but is just too much extra work for me personally. Also, don't forget that you can also go paperless on your statements to help reduce the amount of paperwork that you'll need to deal with at the end of the year as well. Meanwhile, I began updating our filing system for 2017. Here's the final product: Here's how I did it..... CREATING FILING CATEGORIES There is no right or wrong way to file paperwork, it really just comes down to your personal preference and what works for you & your family. There are however, some general categories that work for most people & can be tweaked as needed. I recommend writing down a list of all the different types of documents you need to file & then figure out how to group them to your liking. I ended up with 6 main umbrella categories: HOUSEHOLD VITAL DOCUMENTS BANKING & FINANCE MEDICAL & HEALTH AUTOMOTIVE MISCELLANEOUS I designated an entire bottom drawer as our "Household/Home" drawer, which includes the following: HOUSEHOLD Mortgage statements Home insurance HOA Utilities (gas, electric, garbage, water, internet/cable, alarm system, phone (we do not have a landline, so I include our cell phone instead) Closing documents (and other documents like tax assessor, inspection) Maintenance (pest control, HVAC) Home improvements Manuals & warranties (permanent fixtures, small & large appliances, tools, electronics, baby gear, & furniture) Our desk drawers give us the option of hanging legal or letter sized file folders, so because our mortgage closing documents are legal sized, I decided to use legal sized folders for all of our paperwork in this particular drawer (the desk is the Bedford Desk from Pottery Barn). I also keep our "Home Decor & Design Binder" in this drawer. The purpose of the binder is to keep all of our paint, furniture, & home improvement project info all together in one spot: The remaining 5 categories all fit in the top drawer & are divided by color: Color coding is not essential of course, but I definitely think it helps make it a bit easier to find paperwork. Of course, the simplest way to color code is by using some basic multi-colored hanging files: Or, if you would prefer a more neutral color scheme, you can use plain hanging files folders & white folders: I ended up using the grey & while folders, and then chose to create my own multi colored tabs using washi tape. To make the washi tape labels, I stuck some colored washi tape right on the white paper labels & then placed a clear label on top of the tape. To save on label tape, you can type & print all your labels out at once and then them yourself: I also created a legend so we know exactly what type of files each colored section is composed of. It's pretty self explanatory, but a little extra organization never hurts: VITAL DOCUMENTS (YELLOW) Birth Certificate Social Security Card Marriage Certificate Passports Citizenship Drivers License Voter Registration Academic Transcripts & Diplomas Military Records BANKING & FINANCE (GREEN) Checking & Savings Accounts Credit Card Accounts Stocks, IRA's, Mutual Funds Life Insurance 401K, Pension Plan Loans Taxes MEDICAL & HEALTH (BLUE) PCP Dental Vision OBGYN Specialists (Dermatologist, Endocrinologist, etc) Pediatrician Health Insurance AUTOMOTIVE (CORAL) Auto Loan Insurance Registration Maintenance Bill of Sale MISCELLANEOUS (GREY) Employment Memberships Retail Rewards Travel Rewards Pet/Vet Records Within certain hanging files (birth certificate, SS#, Passports), I will include a folder for each family member as well: You might notice that there are certain files that could could be included within more than one category. For example, an Auto Loan could obviously fit in "Automotive" or "Banking & Finance". Personally, I prefer to keep it in our "Automotive" section, but to each their own - do what makes sense to you. I'd also like to point out that not every file needs its own hanging file folder. For example, I broke our "Automotive" files into five different hanging files, but you could alternately have a single automotive hanging file with 5 individual folders. We just happen to have the space within the drawers, so rather than have it feel clustered, I decided to separate everything. So that's it! I am super happy to be able to cross this area off of my list of things to organize. The only item I'd still like to get is a fireproof document safe for our most important documents. Hope this post helps you guys get organized for 2017! xoxo, Mel
Learn how to declutter, sort, store and maintain all your paperwork and documents using a variety of systems that work for you.
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
How to Organize Paperwork | The Process. This easy and systematic process will help you sort through and create order of all the paperwork in your home!
Clutter saps your time, energy and money, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Learn how to fight the clutter monster and reclaim your happiness!
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
When it comes to homeownership and home improvement there are lots of receipts, and manuals, and warranties, and documents, and maintenance reminders, and just stuff! Luckily, “organization” is my middle name, so you can bet I get a kick out of keeping that stuff in check. Here’s how I do it.
Organize paperwork with this easy filing system! Sort paper clutter using these categories and learn how to set up a paper organization system that works.
Paper Clutter Solutions For Your PILES Of Paper Clutter – Overwhelmed by paper clutter? Here’s your paperwork organization master plan to get rid of those paper piles for good! Here’s …
Paper Clutter Solutions For Your PILES Of Paper Clutter – Overwhelmed by paper clutter? Here’s your paperwork organization master plan to get rid of those paper piles for good! Here’s …
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
Tired of constantly organizing paperwork? Check out the simplest paperwork system for busy moms! This organization system only requires a few hours a year. Your sanity will thank you.
Learn how to declutter, sort, store and maintain all your paperwork and documents using a variety of systems that work for you.
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
Decluttering piles of paper can be intimidating and overwhelming. However, if you follow these simple tips, you can get organized and create a clutter-free home.
It's challenging to sort through all the stuff, and to be able to diagnose what's worth keeping and what you can let go of.
Free Printable Checklist with 60+ Important Papers and Documents to place in your home filing system as recommended by organization and financial experts!
Here is how to do Office Document Organization with paper file organization ideas office for Organizing paperwork, Document organization, file organization. The filling system, office filling system for office organization files, office paper organization can be used for home office, business paper organization too
Would you like to know how to get rid of paper clutter once and for all? It's easy! Just follow these 4 simple tricks to declutter paper and eliminate piles of paperwork for good!
One of my goals for 2017 is to document more of my organizational projects on the blog. Over the last couple of years (basically since I had Sami), I have been posting some of the 'after' shots on my Instagram, but I just never got around to taking photos & blogging about the process. So, the first area of our home I decided to tackle for 2017 was our office. More specifically - our paperwork & filing drawers. Since this is my absolute least favorite area to deal with, I figured it would be best if I got it done & out of the way first. Understandably, everyone has different amounts of available storage space within their home. Not everyone will have the exact footprint as our office, but hopefully you can implement some of these organizational ideas into your own space. We happen to have a desk with three dedicated file drawers. Fortunately, this allows for ample file storage, but it also means we can accumulate a lot of paperwork over time. Here's about two years of build up that I needed to purge & sort through: THE GAMEPLAN I had two main objectives with this project: sort all of our existing paperwork and modify/update our current filing system. To start, I like to clear a large space on the floor or countertop that I can use to sort everything. I typically refer to a cheat sheet when deciding on what & how long we should save certain documents. When possible, I always try to sort the paperwork & determine what needs to be recycled, shredded, or archived as I pull each file out one by one. Not surprisingly, this can become extremely time-consuming & overwhelming. Since I had not gone through our file drawers in so long, there was A LOT to go through and I ultimately felt like it was taking me foreeeeever just to finish sorting. So fairly early on, I decided to pull out all old paperwork that didn't belong in our file drawers & create a giant pile that I could go through in more detail at a later time. For me, this meant going through the pile over the course of a few evenings while we watched our shows...slowly but surely :) Once I eventually finished sorting & shredding, I filed away any of the remaining important paperwork in our IKEA KASSETT boxes: Some folks prefer to scan their old documents instead of holding onto the physical copies. This is a great idea, but is just too much extra work for me personally. Also, don't forget that you can also go paperless on your statements to help reduce the amount of paperwork that you'll need to deal with at the end of the year as well. Meanwhile, I began updating our filing system for 2017. Here's the final product: Here's how I did it..... CREATING FILING CATEGORIES There is no right or wrong way to file paperwork, it really just comes down to your personal preference and what works for you & your family. There are however, some general categories that work for most people & can be tweaked as needed. I recommend writing down a list of all the different types of documents you need to file & then figure out how to group them to your liking. I ended up with 6 main umbrella categories: HOUSEHOLD VITAL DOCUMENTS BANKING & FINANCE MEDICAL & HEALTH AUTOMOTIVE MISCELLANEOUS I designated an entire bottom drawer as our "Household/Home" drawer, which includes the following: HOUSEHOLD Mortgage statements Home insurance HOA Utilities (gas, electric, garbage, water, internet/cable, alarm system, phone (we do not have a landline, so I include our cell phone instead) Closing documents (and other documents like tax assessor, inspection) Maintenance (pest control, HVAC) Home improvements Manuals & warranties (permanent fixtures, small & large appliances, tools, electronics, baby gear, & furniture) Our desk drawers give us the option of hanging legal or letter sized file folders, so because our mortgage closing documents are legal sized, I decided to use legal sized folders for all of our paperwork in this particular drawer (the desk is the Bedford Desk from Pottery Barn). I also keep our "Home Decor & Design Binder" in this drawer. The purpose of the binder is to keep all of our paint, furniture, & home improvement project info all together in one spot: The remaining 5 categories all fit in the top drawer & are divided by color: Color coding is not essential of course, but I definitely think it helps make it a bit easier to find paperwork. Of course, the simplest way to color code is by using some basic multi-colored hanging files: Or, if you would prefer a more neutral color scheme, you can use plain hanging files folders & white folders: I ended up using the grey & while folders, and then chose to create my own multi colored tabs using washi tape. To make the washi tape labels, I stuck some colored washi tape right on the white paper labels & then placed a clear label on top of the tape. To save on label tape, you can type & print all your labels out at once and then them yourself: I also created a legend so we know exactly what type of files each colored section is composed of. It's pretty self explanatory, but a little extra organization never hurts: VITAL DOCUMENTS (YELLOW) Birth Certificate Social Security Card Marriage Certificate Passports Citizenship Drivers License Voter Registration Academic Transcripts & Diplomas Military Records BANKING & FINANCE (GREEN) Checking & Savings Accounts Credit Card Accounts Stocks, IRA's, Mutual Funds Life Insurance 401K, Pension Plan Loans Taxes MEDICAL & HEALTH (BLUE) PCP Dental Vision OBGYN Specialists (Dermatologist, Endocrinologist, etc) Pediatrician Health Insurance AUTOMOTIVE (CORAL) Auto Loan Insurance Registration Maintenance Bill of Sale MISCELLANEOUS (GREY) Employment Memberships Retail Rewards Travel Rewards Pet/Vet Records Within certain hanging files (birth certificate, SS#, Passports), I will include a folder for each family member as well: You might notice that there are certain files that could could be included within more than one category. For example, an Auto Loan could obviously fit in "Automotive" or "Banking & Finance". Personally, I prefer to keep it in our "Automotive" section, but to each their own - do what makes sense to you. I'd also like to point out that not every file needs its own hanging file folder. For example, I broke our "Automotive" files into five different hanging files, but you could alternately have a single automotive hanging file with 5 individual folders. We just happen to have the space within the drawers, so rather than have it feel clustered, I decided to separate everything. So that's it! I am super happy to be able to cross this area off of my list of things to organize. The only item I'd still like to get is a fireproof document safe for our most important documents. Hope this post helps you guys get organized for 2017! xoxo, Mel
How to organize important documents in a binder AND what important paperwork, documents and info you NEED in your In Case of Emergency binder. Paper clutter is no joke – SO …
One of my goals for 2017 is to document more of my organizational projects on the blog. Over the last couple of years (basically since I had Sami), I have been posting some of the 'after' shots on my Instagram, but I just never got around to taking photos & blogging about the process. So, the first area of our home I decided to tackle for 2017 was our office. More specifically - our paperwork & filing drawers. Since this is my absolute least favorite area to deal with, I figured it would be best if I got it done & out of the way first. Understandably, everyone has different amounts of available storage space within their home. Not everyone will have the exact footprint as our office, but hopefully you can implement some of these organizational ideas into your own space. We happen to have a desk with three dedicated file drawers. Fortunately, this allows for ample file storage, but it also means we can accumulate a lot of paperwork over time. Here's about two years of build up that I needed to purge & sort through: THE GAMEPLAN I had two main objectives with this project: sort all of our existing paperwork and modify/update our current filing system. To start, I like to clear a large space on the floor or countertop that I can use to sort everything. I typically refer to a cheat sheet when deciding on what & how long we should save certain documents. When possible, I always try to sort the paperwork & determine what needs to be recycled, shredded, or archived as I pull each file out one by one. Not surprisingly, this can become extremely time-consuming & overwhelming. Since I had not gone through our file drawers in so long, there was A LOT to go through and I ultimately felt like it was taking me foreeeeever just to finish sorting. So fairly early on, I decided to pull out all old paperwork that didn't belong in our file drawers & create a giant pile that I could go through in more detail at a later time. For me, this meant going through the pile over the course of a few evenings while we watched our shows...slowly but surely :) Once I eventually finished sorting & shredding, I filed away any of the remaining important paperwork in our IKEA KASSETT boxes: Some folks prefer to scan their old documents instead of holding onto the physical copies. This is a great idea, but is just too much extra work for me personally. Also, don't forget that you can also go paperless on your statements to help reduce the amount of paperwork that you'll need to deal with at the end of the year as well. Meanwhile, I began updating our filing system for 2017. Here's the final product: Here's how I did it..... CREATING FILING CATEGORIES There is no right or wrong way to file paperwork, it really just comes down to your personal preference and what works for you & your family. There are however, some general categories that work for most people & can be tweaked as needed. I recommend writing down a list of all the different types of documents you need to file & then figure out how to group them to your liking. I ended up with 6 main umbrella categories: HOUSEHOLD VITAL DOCUMENTS BANKING & FINANCE MEDICAL & HEALTH AUTOMOTIVE MISCELLANEOUS I designated an entire bottom drawer as our "Household/Home" drawer, which includes the following: HOUSEHOLD Mortgage statements Home insurance HOA Utilities (gas, electric, garbage, water, internet/cable, alarm system, phone (we do not have a landline, so I include our cell phone instead) Closing documents (and other documents like tax assessor, inspection) Maintenance (pest control, HVAC) Home improvements Manuals & warranties (permanent fixtures, small & large appliances, tools, electronics, baby gear, & furniture) Our desk drawers give us the option of hanging legal or letter sized file folders, so because our mortgage closing documents are legal sized, I decided to use legal sized folders for all of our paperwork in this particular drawer (the desk is the Bedford Desk from Pottery Barn). I also keep our "Home Decor & Design Binder" in this drawer. The purpose of the binder is to keep all of our paint, furniture, & home improvement project info all together in one spot: The remaining 5 categories all fit in the top drawer & are divided by color: Color coding is not essential of course, but I definitely think it helps make it a bit easier to find paperwork. Of course, the simplest way to color code is by using some basic multi-colored hanging files: Or, if you would prefer a more neutral color scheme, you can use plain hanging files folders & white folders: I ended up using the grey & while folders, and then chose to create my own multi colored tabs using washi tape. To make the washi tape labels, I stuck some colored washi tape right on the white paper labels & then placed a clear label on top of the tape. To save on label tape, you can type & print all your labels out at once and then them yourself: I also created a legend so we know exactly what type of files each colored section is composed of. It's pretty self explanatory, but a little extra organization never hurts: VITAL DOCUMENTS (YELLOW) Birth Certificate Social Security Card Marriage Certificate Passports Citizenship Drivers License Voter Registration Academic Transcripts & Diplomas Military Records BANKING & FINANCE (GREEN) Checking & Savings Accounts Credit Card Accounts Stocks, IRA's, Mutual Funds Life Insurance 401K, Pension Plan Loans Taxes MEDICAL & HEALTH (BLUE) PCP Dental Vision OBGYN Specialists (Dermatologist, Endocrinologist, etc) Pediatrician Health Insurance AUTOMOTIVE (CORAL) Auto Loan Insurance Registration Maintenance Bill of Sale MISCELLANEOUS (GREY) Employment Memberships Retail Rewards Travel Rewards Pet/Vet Records Within certain hanging files (birth certificate, SS#, Passports), I will include a folder for each family member as well: You might notice that there are certain files that could could be included within more than one category. For example, an Auto Loan could obviously fit in "Automotive" or "Banking & Finance". Personally, I prefer to keep it in our "Automotive" section, but to each their own - do what makes sense to you. I'd also like to point out that not every file needs its own hanging file folder. For example, I broke our "Automotive" files into five different hanging files, but you could alternately have a single automotive hanging file with 5 individual folders. We just happen to have the space within the drawers, so rather than have it feel clustered, I decided to separate everything. So that's it! I am super happy to be able to cross this area off of my list of things to organize. The only item I'd still like to get is a fireproof document safe for our most important documents. Hope this post helps you guys get organized for 2017! xoxo, Mel
Paper decluttering, organizing important paperwork, documents and MUST HAVE Emergency details in a binder is a big project when you’re surrounded by piles and piles of paper clutter – but I tackled it, did it…and...
Saturday organizing time! Wahoo! I must admit I love to organize things! They may not stay that way for very long (hahaha) but I love to go through the process of it all. Today we are going to tackle, are you ready? RECEIPTS!! Ahhhh!!!! Those dreaded little pieces of paper that we keep for budgeting purposes, tax purposes, warranty purposes, etc. etc. And the worst thing about them is they come in all shapes and sizes!! This is what makes it so hard to manage them! Well have no fear!! Kyliegh is here! =) I have been using this system for several months now (like 6 months) and it is working SO well for me! Ready to see it? [...] So first of all, if you have tons of receipts like the picture above then you need to sort them. I find the date (that is always like going on a treasure hunt to find because of the small print!) and then I print the month and day at the top large enough that I can see it easily. Once I do this to ALL of the receipts I have in my "rat nest" of receipts. I then put them in order by date. Once they are in order I bind them with a binder clip. Now if you have alot of receipts from being backed way up, you can stop the process here. At least they are organized and manageable now. However, I highly highly recommend going on- and here is why! They will be "contained" in a book and it will be much less likely for them to get pulled apart. Here is how I organize mine! I take a regular one subject notebook and I start marking the top right hand corner of the page with numbers- 1-31. Then on the front of the book I label what month and year it is. Here you can see what I am talking about. This particular page was the 18th of December but you notice there is no receipts on this day. (Do you see the little bitty 18 in the top right hand corner?) Some days you will not have anything to tape down. But then other days you will pack on the receipts! (Now here is a little side note- I tried stapling them but if you ever need to take the receipts off they tare. Taping them does much better.) Now some people make fun of me for doing this but that is okay. I actually keep ALL receipts- even fast food receipts. I keep cash and credit receipts as well! I do so because I actually enter ALL my information into budget software. If you are way behind it does take some time to do it this way but if you come home everyday and tape them down it only takes a few seconds. Let me give you some pros and cons and you can decide for yourself if you want to do yours this way. Cons: * It takes a little while to do this if you are way behind on receipts. * It takes discipline to make yourself do this every day. Pros: * If you ever need to return anything- you always have the receipt to do it with. For returns I take my whole book in with the receipt still taped to it! They do their marking on my receipt and then I shut my book and off I go- with my refund money in hand! ;) * It makes budgeting easier because you can actually see where you are spending your money. If at the end of the month you flip through and see nothing but fast food receipts, there is where your money is going! * At tax time this method makes things A BREEZE!! (I personally do this for my business. I put a little yellow flag on any and all pages that have a receipt I need to deduct for tax purposes.) * Warranty information IS ALWAYS easy to find! ( I put a little red flag on the pages that have a recipt that has warranty information attached to it.) * You can dispute any false charges to your bank or credit card. I personally had this happen just recently and when I went to dispute the charge they wanted to give me some grief like they were questioning if I had "overlooked" it. Once I pulled out all my books with these receipts- they immediately helped me with getting my money back. They said as organized as my receipts were- I would KNOW if something was wrong!
Organizing your finances and the associated paperwork can be confusing. Check out this post for some of my best tips as a daily money manager.
Would you like to know how to get rid of paper clutter once and for all? It's easy! Just follow these 4 simple tricks to declutter paper and eliminate piles of paperwork for good!
Learn how to declutter, sort, store and maintain all your paperwork and documents using a variety of systems that work for you.
Getting your house organized will go a long way in maximizing efficiency. Follow our easy steps to make every room orderly.
Organize and file household paperwork with these smart paper Filing Strategies. Get ready to cut through the clutter and create a system that really works!
Conquer paper chaos and transform your space with our comprehensive guide. Sort, categorize, and create a streamlined filing system. Organize like a pro today!
Organize paperwork with this easy filing system! Sort paper clutter using these categories and learn how to set up a paper organization system that works.
Check out these top solutions for organizing paperwork that will help you tame paper clutter for good! Organize household paper, kid papers, receipts and more
Learn how to declutter, sort, store and maintain all your paperwork and documents using a variety of systems that work for you.
Organize and file household paperwork with these smart paper Filing Strategies. Get ready to cut through the clutter and create a system that really works!
Overwhelmed by paper clutter? You don't need a massive filing cabinet to stay organized! Here’s how to organize papers without a filing cabinet.
![[PODCAST 31]: How to Painlessly Process Your Inbox](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/62/7b/50/627b5093a705ea9c5cd2ae72f38b0c59.png)
If you've ever ignored a pile of papers because the idea of processing everything felt overwhelming, today's podcast is your lifeline. Come see examples, photos, and a step-by-step process you can replicate today!
A simple guide to help you organize important paperwork, documents, and records. How to know which important papers you need to keep, and which ones you can get rid of. Includes a free printable cheat sheet to use while you're organizing your important files.
Organize all your personal identification documents into a Personal Documents Binder so they are quick and easy to find while remaining safe and secure!
