topic Re: Purging Paperwork in Community Chat

Purging Paperwork

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:43:16 GMT

I have a cabinet that s a stowaway for receipts, paid bills, and mail that I'll deal with later and never do. I was about to put the 2017 members in there but there was no space left for them.

So, I've begun to go through and shred everything 2015 and before.

I've found receipts for jewelry I don't remember buying and that's sent me on a search for it. Once found, it's sure to need cleaned.

Why is it that one task leads to another, then that other leads to yet to another. I should have just closed that door and stuffed the 2017 remains in a drawer somewhere or maybe a box under the bed in the guest room.

Are you organized or do you have a cabinet too?

Re: Purging Paperwork

mac116 — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:51:40 GMT

I always thought that I was fairly organized, but lately having to search for things makes me realize that I am not. My memory used to be great, but now not so much! When my mother-in-law passed away, we found shopping BAGS full of paperwork. We had to carefully go through each and every piece of it. That has motivated me to get our paperwork under control.

Re: Purging Paperwork

chrystaltree — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:51:43 GMT

In this day and age, I find that I don't have to hang on to the bits and pieces of paper for no reason. And I don't like clutter. So, while I am not the most organized person in the world. I don't live like that. It would drive me crazy.

Re: Purging Paperwork

gidgetgh — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:53:11 GMT

I think I’m extremely organized. Always have been. It’s one of my “things”.

We have one small Sterilite two drawer filing cabinet. In there, we only keep bank statements and social security information. By choice, we still opt to receive paper statements in the mail. I have hanging folders in there for each account and I file them in as the come. I keep two years worth. A few weeks ago, I shredded the ones that needed to come out.

On receipts (excluding major appliances and stuff like that) I shred the receipt once I’ve reconciled it against the credit card bill AND I’ve used the item (mostly clothes, shoes, purses. That kind of stuff).

Tax returns, we have 9 years worth. Two weeks ago, I shredded the oldest one because we’ll be adding the 2017 return soon. I’m considering going down to 7 years.

We’re not a drowning in paper family. I work hard to make sure we’re not.

Re: Purging Paperwork

Bri36 — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:57:32 GMT

I cannot deal with unnecessary receipts and other paper clutter. I get rid of it as soon as I can. I actually like e-receipts and get them whenever it's an option.

@gidgetgh has me beat in that area though. She sounds like the most organized person on the planet.

I hate stacks and piles of papers, bills, catalogs, etc. I get rid of it instantly...

Re: Purging Paperwork

Mominohio — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 20:03:11 GMT

For many years, I have had accordion style folders for all our important papers, one for taxes, one for insurance related things, and one for warranties and manuals to various things as well as home repairs etc.

I always went through them every year or two, to remove things that were no longer relevant etc. but one file lead to two, then to three then to four.

Last year I bought a nice two drawer wood file cabinet that looks good in the family room, right next to the desk, and I've only kept the paper work that will fit in there. I scaled back a lot of stuff like pay check stubs etc I'd been hanging on to for too many years.

Our very most important papers in are the safe now in case of fire (things like SS cards, deeds to property, marriage licence, life insurance policies etc.), and the cabinet holds things I need to access more frequently. I will continue to clean it out yearly and am serious about not keeping any paperwork that does not fit within that space.

Re: Purging Paperwork

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 20:04:45 GMT

I hate stacks of mail and the like too. That's the reason for the cabinet.

Re: Purging Paperwork

magicmoodz — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:01:20 GMT

In my next life I hope to be a professional organizer.😊

We have a large closet in our foyer that is outfitted by California Closets. We have built in file cabinets that house ALL our paperwork in Pendaflex folders in alphabetical order. Well, with the exception of a safe we also have in that closet for documents such as birth certificates, passports, some jewelry, etc.

And if you want to see how much I paid for a pair of shoes I purchased two years ago, give me 2 minutes tops, and I will have the receipt for you. Now obviously I only keep receipts that long for stores that will honor a return for that length of time should something go afoul.

Re: Purging Paperwork

Peaches McPhee — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:23:23 GMT

I am super organized. In my file cabinet I have all my tax returns back to 1976, the first year I worked, and the paperwork for houses we no longer live in. Yes, I gotta get in there and shred.

Re: Purging Paperwork

Skididdy — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:28:25 GMT

LOL @occasionalrain. I have been doing the same thing. I have at least 40 shoe boxes with stuff back from 2010 and some earlier. Its ridiculous. I saw a pizza hut receipt from 2006...REALLY ? I am ridiculous. And I also went and bought a shredder. Will shred my cancelled checks back from 2005 and ahead. I know Im ridiculous.

Re: Purging Paperwork

Snowpuppy — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:39:48 GMT

I have an oak 2 drawer filing cabinet that also serves as a stand for my printer. Only 1/2 of 1 drawer is used. All my bills but property taxes are by email.

I need a good story on how the IRS called you one day and asked for your 1970 tax return because they didn't have it 😉

Re: Purging Paperwork

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:41:26 GMT

wrote:
LOL @occasionalrain. I have been doing the same thing. I have at least 40 shoe boxes with stuff back from 2010 and some earlier. Its ridiculous. I saw a pizza hut receipt from 2006...REALLY ? I am ridiculous. And I also went and bought a shredder. Will shred my cancelled checks back from 2005 and ahead. I know Im ridiculous.

Thank you, so good to know I'm not alone. I found the paper work from a disputed water bill for a house I had 30 years ago. I'm finding it nostalgic.

Re: Purging Paperwork

SilleeMee — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:46:19 GMT

Most of my records are kept on flashdrives. Scanned receipts then toss them. But tax stuff, some medical papers and a few other important documents are on paper and placed in a fire box along with some other legal documents like birth certificate, ss card and titles of ownership.

Re: Purging Paperwork

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:46:28 GMT

wrote:
I am super organized. In my file cabinet I have all my tax returns back to 1976, the first year I worked, and the paperwork for houses we no longer live in. Yes, I gotta get in there and shred.

You have me beat, well so far, I haven't gotten to the back yet. When you do, you'll be reminded of people and times you'd not thought of in years. You may find yourself singing Sentimental Journey or Long Ago and Far Away.

Re: Purging Paperwork

viva923 — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 21:52:02 GMT

I have a very large file bin for all my reciepts and paperwork I don't want to shred just yet. It is about half full right now. Will let it go till it reaches the top then sit and go thru each reciept and paperwork,keep what I need to keep, shred what i need to dump

Re: Purging Paperwork

AuntG — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 22:32:21 GMT

Fairly organized. I know where the manuals are for all appliances and electronics. Our file drawers have labels for the things we want to keep. I keep receipts and the do an annual shredding of things we no longer need to retain.

Re: Purging Paperwork

Roni18 — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 22:45:19 GMT

I used to be very organized but I have really gotten bad over the last 5 years or so. This coincides with an increased work load and lots of changes at work paired with some health issues. The health issues are a biggie because some days I am just so tired that I can't seem to get anything done. I am trying to work on this because I have spent a lot of wasted time lately looking for things I know I have.

I really need to just go paperless.

Re: Purging Paperwork

Roni18 — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 22:47:39 GMT

wrote:

I need a good story on how the IRS called you one day and asked for your 1970 tax return because they didn't have it 😉

My job might do something like that. Twice they emailed or called me asking if I had some routine report/information from 4-5 years before because they didn't have it. The scary thing was that I had them!

Re: Purging Paperwork

Roni18 — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 22:49:55 GMT

I was reading again recently how cash register receipts are bad for your health so probably another reason we need to get rid of them!

Re: Purging Paperwork

GCR18 — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 00:07:02 GMT

Paperwork is in good shape here.