1. Label binder
clips
Many of us have seen binder clips that snuggly secure a stack of papers together. Instead of having unlabeled stacks of paper around your home, use a removable label and a marker (or a label maker) to give each clip a designated role.
For example, if you have a stack of papers that require immediate attention, you can label it “Immediate.” If it’s banking-related, like a bunch of bills, it can be labelled “Pay.”
2. Slip it into a page protector
Whenever you have loose papers (party invitations, insurance papers that you need to read before filling out or filing, event tickets that you printed out, grandma's butter cake recipe, etc.), they can easily get
wrecked. The chances of a sheet of paper getting bent, wrinkled, or wet is even higher when you have children (or visiting grandkids) or pets.
Solve this problem by putting those papers
into page protectors. Then, to keep them organized, put them into a 3-ringed binder. Create section dividers and label the front of the binder. In doing so, your important papers will be safe and organized.
3. Designate two jars for receipts
You'll need two mason jars and removable labels. Label one with the current month and the month after (e.g. September/October). Label the second jar with the two months after that (e.g. November/December.)
Anytime you collect a receipt that you may need to hold onto (for a possible product return, or to work on your expense report, etc.), stick it into the appropriate jar: Sep/Oct if you purchased in Sep/Oct or Nov/Dec if you purchased in Nov/Dec.
By the time, January rolls around, you'll be able to get rid of all the receipts in your Sep/Oct jar. Most stores accept returns for up to 30 to 60 days after purchase...and it will be past that time period by then. You can then remove the label
from the Sep/Oct jar and name it Jan/Feb.
You can always dip into one of the jars if you need to locate a receipt.
Two exceptions (so you don't accidentally throw out a more important receipt:)
Any receipt for a purchase that's big, like a new refrigerator, should be kept in your filing cabinet if the item is under warranty for a specified period of time.
Any receipt that needs to be kept for tax-reasons should also be kept in your filing cabinet.
4. Create a family mail center
You will need stacking trays or wall trays. Designate one tray for each family member...label that person's tray. When the mail arrives, sort each person's mail into his or her designated tray.
When that person arrives home from work or school, all their mail will be in their tray and easy to grab.
5. Stop paper
shuffling
How many times have you gotten a piece of paper and didn't have time to do the necessary action (fill it out, read it, research the item displayed on it, etc.), so you cast the paper aside until later? Then maybe you found it a few days later, and once again cast it
aside.
We humans sometimes use up a lot of time paper shuffling.
To combat this, grab a red pen. When you pick up the paper once, make a red dot on it in the top left corner. Pick it up a second time, make another red dot. Pick it up a third time...and you'll notice it will begin to look like that paper has the measles.
Once it does, stop paper shuffling and take the necessary action.
