A GON Reader Asked:
I would like some ideas on what I can do with an a pack of Avery A-Z dividers. At first, I was going to put my billing and other accounts under each section, i.e., so Chase credit card would go under letter C, but there are so many files I have that it became overwhelming.
-- Heather Driggs, Myrtle Beach, SC
Special interests: Ancestry, essential oils, and exercising.
Maria Gracia's Response:
Hi Heather,
Thank you for your question. I almost always suggest the types of dividers that
you can customize...those that allow you to write a more descriptive name on the tab, rather than A, B, C, etc. In most cases, you're not going to have a topic for every letter of the alphabet. When it comes to organizing...
1. Determine the need
2. Determine the tool that is going to meet that need
...always in that order.
So, if you didn't already have the dividers, I would suggest you not buy them for the purpose you mentioned.
HOWEVER, since you have the A to Z dividers, and I'm guessing the package was opened and they can't be returned, here are a few other uses:
1. Use for a Learn-a-Topic-a-Day binder. Every day, challenge yourself to learn about one new topic. Take notes on that topic on 3-hole punched loose leaf paper. Place the notes for that particular topic behind the appropriate index divider, like World War II behind
divider W or Dalmatians behind divider D.
2. Use for a Books-I-Read binder. When you read a book, type up a summary of that book, whether or not you enjoyed it, and perhaps some passages you want to remember. Print and three-hole-punch that paper, and file it by book title behind the appropriate divider letter.
3. Use it for a New-Word-a-Day binder. On 26 sheets of paper, label each with a letter of the alphabet, A, B C, etc. and place each sheet of paper behind its appropriate letter. Write a word a day on the lettered page that corresponds to the first letter of your new word, as well as the
meaning of that word. Once you've completely filled one of your lettered pages, make a new one and add that to that lettered divider section.
If you decide that you are not interested in any of the above ideas, don't keep those dividers. Bring them to your local donation center. I'm sure a student or business owner may be able to use them.
As far as your bill statements, I suggest you use my resource, My Oh-So-Organized Filing
System and get those paid bill statements filed into your home filing system!
Hope this helps!
