Tackle It Tuesday: Paper Piles

Each week in February, we're taking on a commonly avoided task with a Tackle It Tuesday assignment and encouraging our members to participate along with us.  Today, we're taking on those paper piles that accumulate around your house.

Most of the paper that comes into your home isn't necessary to keep.  To avoid paper piles, plan on attacking it at its point of entry.  Either toss, recycle, shred, or file everything the minute it comes into your home.  Recycle what you can:  use it for doodling, writing lists, or even printing coupons on the back.

Divide and conquer.  The key to avoiding paper piles is to have a specific spot for everything you have to keep.  Sort into the appropriate pile, and file away.  Here are some common trouble areas and possible solutions:

• Bills -Sign up for online bill-paying to avoid paper to begin with.   See how our members track bill paying HERE.

• Receipts – Store in an envelope with the month marked on the outside.  At the end of the month, toss the receipts you don't need to keep.   Place the envelope marked with the month into a larger envelope with the year marked on the outside.  For big purchases, you may keep the receipt with the instruction manual (see below).

• school Papers – Record any pertinent dates and times on a family calendar.  Fill out and return forms and permission slips immediately.  For artwork, keep only what fits inside a box marked with the child's grade level on the outside.

• Manuals – Store instruction booklets and manuals in a 3-ring binder or file cabinet.  Go through them once a year and toss what's no longer needed.

• Magazines – Keep in a basket until you have time to read them.  As you read them, cut out the recipes, ideas, and articles you want to keep.  File them by category in a 3-ring binder.

Related Forum Discussion:

• Do you shred your bills?
• Paper clutter: how do you organize it?
• School papers organization
• Where do you keep important papers?
• How do you organize and keep recipes, magazine clippings, etc?
• How do you keep track of your bills?

Join our Tackle It Tuesday project by linking to your own paper piles organization blog entry below.  We ask that as a courtesy you link back to mommysavers.com and only post links pertaining to this topic. Linking will be closed on Monday, February 28th.