File Clean Up

January, 2012

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Welcome to 2012!  What a great opportunity to start fresh, create new habits, start organizing and creating a life that is less stressful and simpler! 

This month, which is officially GO (Get Organized) Month is the perfect time to start cleaning out those file cabinets. 

Did you know that an average 4 drawer file cabinet holds up to 18,000 pieces of paper and that 80% of what you keep you never look at again. 

This is a big topic because there is a lot of paper floating around in our lives so we will take this topic and break it down over the next two newsletters. 

In this edition, we will take a look at sorting the paper, what to keep, and what to purge. 

In February's newsletter we will talk about how to set up your files so you can file smarter in 2012,  because who wants to go through 18,000 pieces of paper to find the paper you need! 

 In March we will discuss organizing medical records and bills. 

       The first step in any filing system is sorting through all the paper! 

 Don't try and do this all in one sitting.  Set aside a realistic period of time and attack what you can during that time.   Sometimes you even have to schedule the time like you would a doctor's appointment.  SET ASIDE THE TIME.

Take a stack at a time and one piece of paper at a time.  Decide what to do with each piece of paper before moving to the next piece of paper. 

Take a look at each piece of paper and decide if you are holding on to this piece of paper out of fear, habit, indecision or lack of knowledge about whether or not to keep it.

Then ask yourself these questions about the paper:

Is the information outdated?

Is there another way I can easily obtain this information?

Is the information still relevant to my current life?

What is the worst thing that will happen if I get rid of it?

(Creel - 2009)

Unless you need these for tax deduction purposes, I suggest getting rid of monthly bills after they have been paid or after you receive the next bill to confirm receipt of payment. 

Monthly bills can include: Utility, Cable, Power, Gas, Phone, Lawn Maintenance Services (except for landscaping improvements), or Exterminator Services.  Should you need any information, it can be obtained through the computer or a phone call.  

I have been doing this for several years and have only had one reason to call someone about some information that I needed and it was all taken care of very easily by phone. 

You can also purge a lot of receipts.  Purge those grocery sales receipts and sales receipts for items you can no longer take back or the warranty has expired.

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I hope this helps to clear up how to sort through your paper and decide what to keep and what can go.   Next month we will talk about filing the hopefully much smaller stack of paper you need to file. 

If you have a question about a particular piece of paper or document, that I did not address, feel free to e-mail me or call me and I will get your question answered. 

Be patient, do a little at a time and you will suddenly be in control of your files instead of them controlling you! 

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

St. Francis of Assisi

Happy De-Cluttering!

Peggy

phone: 252.670.2951