So I am trying to pick one thing that I really need to work on and my biggest problem is paper clutter! Give me all your tips from organizing to products that you use! I am in desperate need of help

What kind of paper clutter are we talking about...?

Dh and I use file trays or the cubbies above the desk in the kitchen for current mail, bills that need to be paid etc Otherwise, it gets filed in a appropriate file in the filing cabinet.

As far as school papers, I do keep all their schoolwork that comes home. I don't organize it though, I literally toss it in an empty drawer. It piles up all year long...LOL. I just keep it because there have been times we've had to produce graded/completed work that somehow didn't make it into the the teacher's gradebook. So it works for us!

Anything that has a date on it goes immediately into my Outlook Calendar and then I throw away the paper. I also use a bulletin board for certain things as well above my desk in the office.

One thing I like to use is a basket to store mail and papers I need to go over. I put it in a basket and once a week, usually when I am watching tv by myself, go through all the papers and decide what to do with them. My goal is to have an empty basket after that, so if I don't know what to do with it, I usually end up throwing it away. The basket helps to not have stacks and stacks all over.

I'm working on that myself right now. I just finished reading Getting Things Done and am trying to implement that in my house. It was a quick read and you may find some helpful ideas in it. I have issues remembering to do all of the things I need to do (esp the minor things).

__________________
Dottie

Mom to Michael 6, Matthew 4, Katherine 2, Ellen 1, and new baby EDD 10/29/08

I think paper clutter is everyone's biggest problem. My goal is to have it all go in the recycling. I've signed up for paperless billing from every company possible - I just have two bills I keep in my drawer. Coupons go in an envelope, messages and notes getting written on the calendar, important stuff (REALLY important, must keep, like birth certificates) gets filed in a filing box. Everything else = junk. If it's my husband's, he gets one day to take care of it, then it goes in his nightstand.
Oh, I am keeping receipts right now to get a handle on my spending and those go in a pocket of a hanging pocket thing inside my pantry.

I have system that really works for me. It might or might not for you. But I'll try to explain and not bore you! :D

When mail comes I stand over garbage and discard everything that I do not need. 90% of my mail! Then if its a bill, I put it in my checkbook, if its something to file I do it right away. If I am busy then I put it on my bed, so I have to before bed.

I do most of my bills online and opted out of the paper bills. So that cuts back on ALOT of paper!!

Kids school work I take care of when they are gone. I put all papers in pile and stand over garbage. Then the everyday work they have I usually toss unless its a great test, or art they draw. Then I put in tupperware for the year.

Reciepts and stuff for daycare I have in a manilla envelope with year on outside. Then I file in tupperware upstairs closet at end of year. Tax things get filed with them in the years folder.

All booklets and instruction manuals get filed in own file in cabinet. Gone through once a year to toss out things we do not need.

Hmmm..am i forgetting anything? Hope this helps!

__________________
http://mommysavers.com/boards/journa...wjournal&j=184
Amber

Here's what I do:

• Open the mail over the recycling bin and shredder. I NEVER set it down to do later!
• Receipts go in a check sized expanding file sorted by store. I redline the top of receipts with "big purchase" items. I'll weed through 1x/year.
• Bills go in my purse. I pay them in the carpool lane. I keep a pack of stamps in my checkbook.
• Coupons! I cut only the ones I'm sure to use the day I get them and put them in a snack size plastic ziplock that I keep in my purse.
• Magazines: I put them in a basket. If I find something I want to keep, I tear the page out immediately and place it in a plastic sleeve in a 3 ring binder. I recycle mags as soon as I'm finished reading them.
• Warranties/Instruction manuals: I place them with the receipt in a plastic sleeve in a 3 ring binder.
• Kids school/artwork: I've glued some of the masterpieces to the front of my plain manila filefolders. I've laminated some holiday artwork and store & display them during the appropriate seasons. My 4th grader gets a kick out of seeing his kindergarten Santa every year.