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For others who have files from work, storing them at your company’s headquarters might be a smart option. If you’ve had piles of papers collecting for years, this will be a big undertaking so work on small stacks at a time until you’ve worked your way through everything. I’ve found it helpful to color code labels so that each year is a different color.
To replace lost or destroyed insurance policies, contact the agent or company that provided you with the coverage. You may need to complete a form , pay a fee for duplicate copies, or both. Update your annual net worth statement to help you assess your progress in reaching financial goals. Keep financial documents that indicate when you make changes in investment accounts.
Home Office Organization, a Guide to Eliminate Paper Clutter
Any papers that need to be filed go into this file cabinet. Turning a messy office into an organized space may sound like a daunting task but when you break it down into steps you might just find it a bit easier to deal with. Setting up baskets and bins to hold things not to mention a neat and tidy filing system.
Use binder dividers to separate different assignments. Once your papers are organized, you can breathe a big sigh of relief knowing that you can easily access important papers when needed. Going forward, deal with papers immediately when they enter your home. Putting mail just anywhere is a bad habit that creates clutter. Regardless of how you choose to organize your files, labeling everything is absolutely critical.
How to Get Organized
If you decide to discard it instead, be sure to shred it or safely burn it if it includes sensitive information that could be misused by an identity thief. For your convenience, fill out the Record of Important Papers interactive form and save it to your computer’s hard drive. Be sure to update the information at least once a year. Your home office isn't just about functionality; it should also marry what's useful with what's aesthetically pleasing. And when thinking of aesthetics, it's hard to ignore Areaware. The set is practical and beautiful, designed by Magnus Pettersen, whose pieces most often reflect his Norwegian heritage.
I could easily get overwhelmed just thinking about the magnitude of this task. I do appreciate your helpful suggestions, however, I will have to come up with a system that works best for me. I do like the idea of scanning some records — those that are not legal, medical, major purchases or otherwise critical in nature. I definitely have my work cut out for me in this department. It’s very hard for me to let go of “hard copies” of most paper records.
– Dedicate a space for household papers
You can use canceled checks or electronic receipts as proof of payment. You can buy external hard drives at any store that sells computers, such as Simply Mac or Staples. Most external hard drives are compatible with Windows or Mac but are not interchangeable. If you store your Mac files on an external drive, you can't use it for a Windows PC or vice versa.Store your hard drive in a fireproof safe when you're finished backing up your files.
Make it a habit to review your important papers annually. It’s a good idea to set up the same time each year to do this — perhaps at tax time, during a holiday, or when you’re revising your annual net worth statement. You’ll want to add items to your household property inventory that you’ve purchased during the year and remove items that you’ve sold, transferred, or retired. Your attorney can help you decide if your estate plan needs updating. The birth of a child, marriage, death, and other significant changes also trigger the need to update important papers.
Paper Handling & Filing
Alright, time to grab the documents in your “Keep” piles and start the filing. You will want to shred papers you are not keeping that have sensitive and personal information on them. There are certain documents you will have to keep short and long term. DO NOT keep the documents you can easily access online. Now that we know where everything needs to go, its time for the HARD work.
A bin for office supplies or a basket to hold coupons, scissors, and shopping lists are a few examples of what you can use to set up a zone. This quick list should be enough to get you started. Depending on what you do in your office and in your home will determine what piles you will need when you sort. Make a few piles using index cards or post-it notes as labels.
So, for example, you can collect all the pens, pencils, markers, and other office supplies. For now, unless you have a designated area already, you can keep these items in a box until you can deal with them later. ”Dead storage” files — perhaps a box or old file cabinet located in your attic, basement, or closet — are for records that are very rarely used but that may be needed one day. Many people do not have the luxury of a separate room to serve as a home office. So, determine a location in your home that works for you and your household. Some people want their home work space to be in the mainstream of family activity, such as a family room or kitchen.
The ones that are irreplaceable or REALLY hard to replace. Prepare yourself, this post is COMPREHENSIVE and possibly one of the longest posts I have written.. What is the name of the cabinet you use for the filing. I”m working with someone on their home office this week so this was timely!
Update records of property improvements whenever those improvements are made; this information is needed when refinancing or selling your home and for tax purposes. Keep current insurance policies on file and review them for necessary or desirable changes, such as beneficiary designations. Photocopy items in your wallet or purse and keep the copies in a safe place at home. They will be useful if you need to replace any of the items and/or report identity theft.
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