How to organize paper clutter?

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CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,271
1,429
113
#1
How do you organize your papers and keep them nice and neat?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,049
29,410
113
#2
Please excuse me for laughing at your question.
I only did so because paperwork/red tape is one of my nemeses :giggle:
I did buy a shredder recently to help me dispose of paid bills and
anything else which has personal information on it. Keeping such
things as rent receipts and pay stubs over the years seems redundant,
and therefore unnecessary, so they can now be shredded as well :D


A single box-type file folder to hold things like tax returns may be helpful :)
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,271
1,429
113
#3
Please excuse me for laughing at your question.
I only did so because paperwork/red tape is one of my nemeses :giggle:
I did buy a shredder recently to help me dispose of paid bills and
anything else which has personal information on it. Keeping such
things as rent receipts and pay stubs over the years seems redundant,
and therefore unnecessary, so they can now be shredded as well :D


A single box-type file folder to hold things like tax returns may be helpful :)
I thought this video was kinda cute. 😀

 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,889
1,958
113
Germany
#4
I just did last week...for hrs sorting school papers to have em cleaned up. I keep all my really important things in a folder. But the kinda important things become more and more until i cant stand it no more
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,049
29,410
113
#5
I thought this video was kinda cute. 😀

Thank you for sharing that video :) It was very cute! And I don't feel so all alone with my paper problem :giggle: One of the young women from church is coming over this evening to help me tackle my closeted paper monster :D
 
M

Miri

Guest
#6
If it’s worth keeping file it.
If it isn’t shred it or throw it depending how confidential it is.
Every now and again go through the filed stuff and shred the old stuff.

I have an alphabet system.

Ie banking stuff
Electric bills
Gas bills
Phone bills
Pension statements
Receipts
Rent payments etc etc

I’ve never lost anything I needed yet.
 
S

SpoonJuly

Guest
#9
Give them to the wife.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,450
5,398
113
#10
How do you organize your papers and keep them nice and neat?
Hi Cherie,

Fortunately, it seems like these days there are several ways to handle paper clutter, so maybe it would help to look up a few different methods (such as on blogs and YouTube) and pick some things that might work best for you.

I've read about some people who scan all their paper statements and receipts into digital files, and then shred all the paper copies, which sounds awesome, but I'm a little paranoid. :)

I personally like to keep the paper originals, so I organize all the hard copies like this:



I first buy folders with tabs, as you can see in the picture, so I can write a category on the tab: "Utilities", "Insurance", Taxes", etc. I really like Miri's idea of keeping everything alphabetically--I might do that myself--but I also Hi keep all the most-used files in the front or in a separate drawer.

I then sub-divide these folders by using individual colored folders (I stock up during back-to-school sales), and store them inside the folders with tabs, kind of like this:



In this picture, the large, tabbed folders are different colors too, but you can choose anything you like. So just picture each of these larger files having their own category, such as "Medical 2019," and then using colored individual school folders inside each one.

I try to use a similar "color coding" within each tabbed folder -- a green folder will hold receipts, a yellow folder is used for statements, orange is for information and policies, etc.

It's taken a lot of trial and error, but I've found that it's very helpful. When papers come in, I know exactly which tabbed file and folder it goes into, and when I'm looking for something, I have a good idea of where it will be.

Hope some of these ideas will help and that you'll find a method that works for you!

God bless, and keep us posted on what you find! :)
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,271
1,429
113
#11
Update:

My floor in my bedroom is much more cleared out. I was throwing out a lot of papers. I a considering getting some more folders. Next step is tops of dressers/table tops as well as pile of clothes.
 

Desdichado

Senior Member
Feb 9, 2014
8,768
838
113
#12
Scan the paper and put it on google drive.

Use drawers for candy.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
4,737
2,042
113
46
#13
Declutter your house every year.
Do some spring cleaning after Easter.
The house is the representation of your soul.
Then, bless the house with holy water and incense.