A great paper organizing strategy is to create an area in your home where frequently used and current information is stored. This area can be as small as the corner of a kitchen counter or as large as a desk with drawers and wall shelving or cabinets. Most importantly, it should be in the most convenient area of the house.
This is the grand central location for the family calendar, a phone, the incoming paper box and the household notebook that were described in the previous blog posts. In it is kept the schedules, current mail, phone messages, and important contact information. Other inportant documents that are used often or needed in case of emergency should be included. Once established, everyone will know where the information they need is kept.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Organizing with Household Notebooks
In addition to having an incoming paper box for sorting as described in the last post, having a household notebook for frequently used information is a good idea. A 3 ring binder with subject tabs and clear protector pages is a great tool for keeping papers that need to be close at hand because of vital or frequently used information.
Some items that can be placed in it are frequently used addresses and phone numbers, school menus, sports calendars and schedules, field trip information, favorite recipes, birthday information, etc. Each notebook would be filled with items specifc to each family.
Ideally this notebook should be located in a central message area but because it is portable, it can be taken anywhere it is needed.
Some items that can be placed in it are frequently used addresses and phone numbers, school menus, sports calendars and schedules, field trip information, favorite recipes, birthday information, etc. Each notebook would be filled with items specifc to each family.
Ideally this notebook should be located in a central message area but because it is portable, it can be taken anywhere it is needed.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Organizing Incoming Papers
In our last posting, I stressed the importance of reducing the amount of paper you currently have in your home.
The papers that you must or want to keep should be sorted as soon as you come into the home with it. If it is mail, papers from a conference, notes from your child's school, the weekly church bulletin or notes you took from a phone conversation, you should give it a home where it can be located again quickly.
My favorite sorting tool for incoming papers is a hanging folder box with folders labeled with the categories that describe the papers that you normally keep. Most homes can have folders for bills, receipts, permanent items to be filed (such as insurance policies), items that need you to respond or do (invitations, reminders) coupons if you save them, items you want to read later such as newsletters. You may also need a folder for school, church, garden club, soccer team, etc. A sample picture of one is found in my book with more details on using it.
There are many very attractive boxes in several sizes available now that can be used for these folders. Of all the organizing strategies I have taught or used with my clients, this incoming box for sorting papers vertically is the one from which I get the most positive feedback. It can be a life changing tool.
The papers that you must or want to keep should be sorted as soon as you come into the home with it. If it is mail, papers from a conference, notes from your child's school, the weekly church bulletin or notes you took from a phone conversation, you should give it a home where it can be located again quickly.
My favorite sorting tool for incoming papers is a hanging folder box with folders labeled with the categories that describe the papers that you normally keep. Most homes can have folders for bills, receipts, permanent items to be filed (such as insurance policies), items that need you to respond or do (invitations, reminders) coupons if you save them, items you want to read later such as newsletters. You may also need a folder for school, church, garden club, soccer team, etc. A sample picture of one is found in my book with more details on using it.
There are many very attractive boxes in several sizes available now that can be used for these folders. Of all the organizing strategies I have taught or used with my clients, this incoming box for sorting papers vertically is the one from which I get the most positive feedback. It can be a life changing tool.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Organizing Paperwork--Reduce, Recycle
Today and in the following weeks I will explain the paper management strategies I think are good because they can be adapted to any organizing style and do not require specific systems to be purchased.
At once recycle or discard anything that does not have your name on it. If it is addressed to Occupant, Neighbor, Resident, etc. then don't bother to open it. Remove any catalogues you did not order. Remove any items that have been replaced with a more up to date issue such as magazines, insurance policies, membership information and cards, and anything not related to legal or financial accounts.
Check with the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/ for tax related documents that you may need to keep. Usually legal documents should be kept forever, and only keep end of the year financial and payroll statements unless there are errors that need to be documented.
If you have concerns or questions about any particular document, contact your accountant or financial advisor for specific advice. More detailed information on retention guidelines and other paper management are in my book, Orderly Places, which is available from my website and Amazon.com.
At once recycle or discard anything that does not have your name on it. If it is addressed to Occupant, Neighbor, Resident, etc. then don't bother to open it. Remove any catalogues you did not order. Remove any items that have been replaced with a more up to date issue such as magazines, insurance policies, membership information and cards, and anything not related to legal or financial accounts.
Check with the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/ for tax related documents that you may need to keep. Usually legal documents should be kept forever, and only keep end of the year financial and payroll statements unless there are errors that need to be documented.
If you have concerns or questions about any particular document, contact your accountant or financial advisor for specific advice. More detailed information on retention guidelines and other paper management are in my book, Orderly Places, which is available from my website and Amazon.com.
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