Paper Clutter the Sequel

Paper clutter the sequel

So I have been talking about how to control the paper monster for some time now. Today I want to share the feedback I have received in the past from some of my clients.

Dear Pamela:

• This has really helped me A LOT! I also have a flash drive on my keychain that actually looks like a key! All the bills have their own folder where I save a copy of my confirmation as a .pdf. An easy way to accomplish this is by downloading “PrimoPDF” and it’s FREE! This will allow you to “print” anything into a .pdf form! I also do this with the online bills that I no longer get paper bills for. I’m trying to ween myself off the paper thing!!!

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• I have files set up for each of them. But my biggest issue is, I NEVER file them the way I had intended to! So I saw this “calendar/book” at a dollar store recently that gave me an idea to take a different approach and possibly allow me to actually FILE THEM and save time, paper, and patience!!! It was a book that had a calendar and folder for each month. The folder was for putting the bills in for that month! So I have about 27 items on my spreadsheet that I keep up with every month. So instead of having 27 files to deal with, I could potentially have 1, yes, ONE folder for the WHOLE YEAR!!!! I’m so excited! But frugal as I am, I will probably make my own folder so I can customize it a bit! I’m thinking legal file folders, folded, and bound together, and a printable calendar on sticker paper should do the trick!

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• I have filed in an over the door plastic shoe holder for years. It helps me to see what I actually have instead of hidden in a folder. Once the pocket gets full I usually realize I don’t really need most of the papers I keep and put them through the shredder. I do have a filing cabinet for car titles and important stuff, but the monthly bills etc., it’s easy to just stuff them in the pocket. This saves me from the stacks of papers on the counter, the table, basically any flat surface I happen to be standing by when I open the mail (haha). At first, I labeled the pockets with post-it notes, but then those that I used for a while got a real label with large magic marker writing so I could easily identify each pocket.

• The idea of color coding for a visual clue as to when things are due. When I sort through papers I have three bins: trash, recycle and shred.

The point of sharing other people’s solutions is to stress that there are lots of options.  You will have to find the one that works for you.

I know this was a lot, but if anyone can use any of it to help them, I’m just happy to share! I know that many of you have been struggling for a long time and the stress of being late on stuff to gets to you!!! So are any of you thinking of adopting some of the ideas above?

Thanks Pamela