My mailbox is literally filled with advertisements each day. Most of our information gets taken care of through emails, but not all.
There is a vast number of us who still feel secure getting hard copies of important papers, but how do you organize it all?
Here are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years:
Don’t allow junk mail to enter your home.
I have a recycle bin right outside my garage door. I recycle all unnecessary mail and only allow the important stuff to enter my house.
Purchase a box of file folders and a small file cabinet for items you are currently working on.
By having file folders close by you are more likely to use them. The small file holder is for projects you need to address within a few weeks. You are more likely to get your projects done by having all the appropriate paperwork in the file folder next to your desk.
Have a regular file cabinet somewhere in your home.
This file cabinet holds all other important files that are easily accessible, all my home purchase papers, car, renters and home insurance, medical information, etc. When I purchase any item, I make a file for it – you have no idea how helpful this is. I have it broken down by larger categories and then place my individual files within that.
Examples:
Home Improvement – Appliances, Outdoor Purchases, Furniture, Lighting, Bedding
Car – Registrations, Repairs, Titles
Birth Certificates
Social Security
When ever I purchase an item, I staple the card of the person I worked with on the outside of the file. Any time I talk or do business with them, I write down on the outside of the file what transpired in that conversation. Even if it’s a file with one receipt in it, the business card on the outside of the file, it’s good enough.
I can’t begin to tell you how helpful this has been when I’ve had to recover receipts for insurance purposes, warranty proof of purchase or estate planning.
Getting this mound of paperwork organized is not as hard as you think and maintaining it becomes a piece-oh-cake.
Good luck and start organizing.