This mess is my current filing system. Yep, I'm serious. Not kidding a bit. It's pretty pathetic, I know. Not to mention unsightly and embarrassing and honestly, it looks worse in person. I have to hope I have at least a half hour, preferably an hour if I need to find anything in that mess. The one plus to this lovely system... filing's a breeze, just dump it on the top of the heap....and tada, done! Ok, in all seriousness, this has got to change and soon. So here is my question, and PLEASE, I really, really want your input. What do you keep? How long do you keep it? In particular, how long do you keep the regular monthly bills, one month, two, a year? What about hospital and Doctor bills? Insurance stuff, statements and bills? Pay stubs? How about the kids school work?
I really used to do ok at this, but obviously not so much any more. The last time I truly cleaned out my files was just before Thanksgiving in 2005. We burned a bunch of stuff and started to get things in order. We had changed auto insurance a year or so earlier and we got rid of the older stuff from the previous company. I think that was on Wednesday, Thanksgiving was Thursday and Friday we just hung out at home. Anyway, long story short, Friday evening I was served with papers saying I was being sued because of an auto accident I was in, after almost 2 years had passed. So, what now? I had just barely burned all the information I needed? After many, many calls and much searching I finally found one policy I had missed with the numbers and information I needed. So, now you see why I have a hard time getting rid of papers? I know that really doesn't excuse my filing mess, there is no reason it should look like that. So tell me what works for you and what guidelines do you use when throwing things out? I've admitted that this is a problem and I'm ready to change! HELP ME!
12 nice, polite comments! (otherwise, don't bother!):
My kids school work goes in a tote under their bed. Then when it gets full I make them go through and pick just their very favorite or special ones and get rid of the rest. That way they get to keep what they want. Of course if there is something I want to keep I put it in my cedar chest. As for the bills and stuff...I am lucky and Jake takes care of all that stuff. =)
Looks better than my filing system. Mines all stuffed under the kitchen cupboard along with everything else. It drives Shawn crazy but I keep almost nothing I hate storing stuff and you would think I would learn because I've had a few times that I have needed important papers and have thrown them away and it's cost us money so maybe you could help me when you figure it out
My stuff looks worse than that, but my mom does a pretty good job at filing. She has 2 full-size filing cabinets and really, they are chuck full, but at least it's not out where people can see it (my dad)! I'm not sure how long she keeps those things, but I do know she has everything in there! Except our school papers...yeah they are still in boxes with each of our names to a box or two! Good luck with the filing and hopefully one day I'll be able to get it all together for myself!
Oh my friend. I keep coming back to your post, and trying to think of where to start. The organizing bug has officially hit, and I see that picture, and want to drive down there and help ya! YAY!
You know when I see something that needs to be organized, I turn into a FREAK! I LOVE IT!! Bring on any mess!!!
Ok. Too much to blog in your comments, so I will be brief.
Many banks now keep records ( like checks and such ) on file so you don't have to. There used to be a 7 year rule with most things, but now it is 2-5 years. ~ And that's for like taxes and etc..
I have so much more info to write, but I'll just tell you on the phone. It looks better in my case to not say too much here.
I am going to do some MEGA organizing posts after the holidays, and this one may be where I'll start. Paper is the most clutter that is brought into any house.. And it takes over quickly!!
Call me!!!!
Piles of paper drive me insane!!! I cannot do it! So this is what I do. Before, when we were moving and did not have a filing cabinet, I used a plastic tote that carries hanging folder files and labeled them with everything that I get on a monthly basis with bills. Then in the back I have files for bigger stuff that will stay for a while like taxes, insurance, medical documents etc. Bills get shredded once a year. Taxes, insurance and medical stay for 2-3 years and then are shredded. Taxes stay 7 years. I have a filing system for my personal stuff like Shae and Young Womens. I have Shae pick out 1 piece of art work she likes best for the week and I place it in a frame in the kitchen. The rest hits the trash. Then that work will go in her own filing place in the basement later. All of my old documents that need to be kept go into the filing system in the basement. I am keeping ALL YW stuff because those are priceless ideas that could be helpful in the future for me or someone else.
Biggest culprit is mail. Trash as much as you can before you bring it in the house. Mail is a plague of paper when it hits the home. Seriously, how many trees must die?
To stay on top of it, you have to file immediately after you are done with the document. If not, you will have a pile next to your filing system and what good is that? Good Luck! -Suzanne
I read somewhere that you should keep bank and credit card statements for 3 years. I keep utility bills for 1 year and I shred all of my paycheck stubs after 1 year except for the year end one (actually my work went paperless now so I don't have to worry about this, but I do print the last stub of the year for me and Jordan) Kids papers I keep until they forget about them, unless I really want to keep them.
I would listen more to Ann though cause she is much better at this then I am. Can't wait to see you next week!
Yeah, I would say some kind of filing cabinet (2 drawers should be enough). You should hang on to your taxes for 7 years (as mentioned) and other billing statements for 3 years. I have a little filing tote that holds my bills, insurance info, car repair receipts, check stubbs, etc for the current year so when I pay the bill or get info to file it's really handy, but not huge and then come January I remove all the files and put them in one of those filing boxes in the shed/garage and make new folders with labels for the new year. I haven't figured out the school work thing yet, but Kristen has the right idea. Good luck!
I'm not even going to go there on this one! I leave it all to the expert - aka Miss Ann! Good luck girlfriend, I feel your pain. I truly do.
I love the cards you made for Ann's Twilight party. They are beautiful. I am not even a Twilight fan.....but I want one.
=)
You did such a good job.
You are very talented.
I saw a great idea that I started doing when my kids were little. I always had a hard time throwing away their special drawings and papers so-I started saving a few of their extra special pieces that either went into their scrap books or into their own personal plastic tote. The rest... periodically, say around Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, mid term..... I would take a picture of them with all their masterpieces and then after it did it's time on the fridge, it went into the garbage, but I still had a photo for the scrap book. Works great, especially for us sentimental moms.
HEY ANN........
My address is 2082 N Boysenberry Drive in Saratoga Springs. I am home every day and your services are desperately needed!!!
(You sounded so eager to organize, thought I'd try it)
You wouldn't let a fellow classmate live in unorganized chaos would you?
Just teasing (sort of)
Man, I miss you guys!!! I am sooo
excited for December 6!!!!
Thanks for the b-day card!! It was so cute and thoughtful of you to remember me!!! Love ya!
I usually get the small file envolopes and I put the year on them and I file everything in that and when the year is over I put the enolope in storage. I think it is safe to throw things away after 5 years but I don't know.
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