
Did you know filing away those loose papers actually has some great benefits like:
- making it easier to find things
- avoiding risks of tripping and falling
- reducing germs around the home and surfaces where dust collects
- creating more space and enjoy better looking interiors for your home or apartment
Is it any wonder that they thought to dedicate a whole week to organizing files with Organize your files week?
No, we're not kidding you, this actually exists – it's the third week of each April every year and it's dedicated to organizing files! Maybe this week is a good opportunity to help you stop wasting hours looking for that one important piece of paper, or just meant to connect with your spring cleaning jamboree! We'll never know, but however this started, it's a great time to start getting our home organized and our papers filed away, whether at home, office or in schools.
1. Don’t Skimp on the Storage
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Image from Theen Moy |
The important thing is that there is a place in the house allocated for all the bills, receipts, letters and other documents. That old adage, a place for everything and everything in its place, very much applies here.
2. Sort Your Papers
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Sort your papers into piles (Image via Ninnlane) |
Tip: Clear a large area on a table or the carpet or bed and make three piles: Action, Reference and Trash. If there is a bill to be paid or a letter to be replied to, it goes into the action pile. If there is an invoice you have to keep (for the warranty, date of purchase proof and so on) it goes into the reference pile. Similarly, bank and investment records, letters you want to keep, birth certificates, passports, all go into the reference pile.
And then all the supermarket checks, brochures, bills, flyers, very old records you no longer need; bin them or shred them. Be a little ruthless; particularly if you're prone to hording – bin anything that you know you're no longer going to need.
3. The Action Basket
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Planner for you action basket list (Image via Harpsicello) |
4. Start Filing
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Tip: Use color coded binders or folders (Image via Rudloph Vclek) |
- Personal records such as social security info, passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate Educational records, degree certificates,
- Bank records, investments, credit card numbers, PIN numbers
- Property deeds, mortgage papers, loan agreements
- Insurance papers – personal, medical, auto, house, pet and other insurance
- Invoices, important receipts, warranties and bills for big purchases
- Medical records – it makes sense to have a separate folder for each member of the family, otherwise you're likely to get your records really muddled
- Wills and other testamentary papers
- Tax records
- Personal letters, greetings or invites that you want to preserve, and other papers of sentimental value
- Leisure records – places you visited or plan to visit, entertaining, décor ideas,
- Special recipes
- Hobbies related items
5. A Few More Tips
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Tip: Make filing a habit (Image via Rudolf Vclek) |
So here’s wishing you a busy and fruitful (if not happy) Organize your files week! If you have some paper organization tips you'd like to share, we’d love to hear from you.