Community Chat

[occasionalrain]

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?

[mac116]

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.

[chrystaltree]

 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.  

[gidgetgh]

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. 

[Bri36]

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...

[Mominohio]

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.

[occasionalrain]

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

[magicmoodz]

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.

[Peaches McPhee]

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. 

[Skididdy]

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.