Paper, paper everywhere. From the home office to your desk away from home, it’s tough to keep all of your paperwork organized.
If you’re looking for some methods for paper clutter organization, look no further.
This handy guide will give you some helpful tips to ensure that all of your old files and important documents don’t take over your office or your life.
Opt for Paperless Billing
In today’s modern world, practically every company out there offers a form of paperless billing. Rather than getting a paper bill mailed to you every month, you can choose to be notified via email, text, or both.
This simple change is not only better for the environment, but it can help you avoid excess bill-related clutter. Going paperless is easy, and most providers from your credit card to your cell phone company offer it.
Just make sure you set up some kind of calendar notification when all your bills are due so you don’t forget. Many companies include text reminders, too.
Have your credit holders and other companies send you a text a few days before the bill is due. When you combine that with a calendar reminder, you can easily avoid excess paper bills and still pay everything on time.
Practice the Minimalist Method
If you’re familiar with Marie Kondo, then you’re probably already aware of her brilliant decluttering methods. You can put this same concept into practice when it comes to paper clutter organization.
Go through all of your drawers and filing cabinets and remove all paper documents. Then, separate them into three piles, much like you would the clothing in your closet.
The piles should be things you want to keep, things you want to scan, and things you plan to recycle. Separate the piles and label them ahead of time so you don’t accidentally scrap the wrong items.
Once you’re done, re-file the items in your “keep” pile and make sure you separate them by type. For example, create file folders for home, work, or personal and organize each piece of paper accordingly.
For paperwork that you plan to scan, go ahead and scan each item either together as one file or individually. Store this information on your computer and assign each file the appropriate name.
Finally, you can take the remaining paper to your local recycling center. If you prefer, you can shred everything first. Shredding your papers is a good way to prevent problems like identity theft from coming back to haunt you.
Paper Clutter Organization: Newspapers and Magazines
If you’ve been sitting on an old pile of Good Housekeeping magazines that your mother gave you, maybe it’s time to cut ties. Even if you have a ton of reading material you know you’ll never read, it’s probably best to let it go.
It can be easy to let old magazines and newspapers pile up. In the grand scheme of things, all they’re doing is causing more stress and clutter.
If you don’t want to throw these items away, consider asking local doctor’s offices or women’s shelters if they’d like some magazine donations. For newspapers, you probably just need to toss them in the recycling bin.
Another great way to get rid of old newspapers is to ask people you know if they want to re-use them for shipping. Newspaper makes a great packing material, and someone might be able to utilize them if they sell and ship things to customers.
If you subscribe to the paper, place a handy recycling basket near your front door. Once you’re done reading the newspaper, toss it in the basket.
As soon as your recycling basket fills up, take it out with the curb pick up, or drop it off at your closest recycling center. This method will keep old newspapers all in one place, and you’ll have a quick reminder to take them out once you’re finished with them.
Be Smart with Paper Storage
From bills to coupons and recipes, there are some clever ways you can practice good paper clutter organization. First, put all of your clipped coupons in a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves.
This coupon book can be organized by item type to make it super-easy to find the coupons you need before you head to the store. Check expiration dates, and throw away old coupons as soon as they expire.
Store your favorite recipes in a small recipe box. If you have some that are printed on paper, write them on an index card and stash them with the others to keep all your recipes in one place on the kitchen counter.
For bills that are important or due very soon, clip them to a blackboard or corkboard. Put this board near the door or in the main family area so your spouse or roommates can see them, too. Feel free to add a note to let everyone know about the bill so you’re all on the same page.
Protect your private paperwork from prying eyes by keeping it in a locked file cabinet. This will help you get insured against fraud, identity theft, or other problems that can arise as a result of stolen or missing papers.
Paper Problems Solved
With these easy steps, paper clutter organization is super-easy. Remember to opt for paperless billing when possible, and recycle those old paper items you don’t plan to use again.
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