Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Paper Trail

A cozy corner still houses lots of storage


I have been off the grid, Christmas, school vacation, Vermont etc. It was a great time to catch up with the family and spend some quality together. Although these next few months may be my least favorite of the year, it is a great time to get down to business- face the projects you have been avoiding.  2012 will bring new challenges and goals- so when a quiet, winter afternoon leaves you inside- seize the moment!
Somewhere in your house there is a command center- a place where all the paperwork ends up and it may be turning into a mountain of mess. Better Homes and Gardens special publication entitled, Storage features an article that will guide you thru eliminating the paper pileup- One leading organizer breaks it down into 4 quick steps- I added in some of my own tricks to help you gain control!
1. Act on it!-Bills, invitations, coupons, schedules- all these need to be seen out in the open, easiest way to display them? bulletin board. If a board becomes too cluttered try  in-boxes or wall pockets- label one for each family member. Also- each day get the mail and throw out all the junk before you enter the house! Less paper to organize.
2. Delegate It! Hand off paper to the person who needs to respond to it. My husband only has time to look at his mail twice a week so a tray stores it for him to tackle when he has the time.
3. Trash or Shred It! Only keep what you need and get rid of the rest- this sentence can be applied to every space you want to organize! Add a trash can to the area you sort mail or pay bills.
4. File It! Creating filing systems is not a quick task so this is where extra time will be needed to set up files after the paper clutter is under control, (consider it phase 2). Start by organizing paper into categories (financial, insurance/cars, personal and home) Color coding these categories makes it easier to file and a cabinet or file box is a must to house these papers!
Your command center does not need to be a separate room- create a space near the entry way or kitchen- this is where most of life happens anyway.  Other important items you may want handy?  A calender- large enough to write on, desk supplies, stamps, envelopes, pens, scissors, etc and a bill tray that keeps them in view, put in order using the due date, (no late fees) Paper can be so overwhelming- don't let it pileup on you. Use these solutions to stay on top of the mountain!!


A kitchen desk is ideal and does not take up much space

Overhead storage is perfect for narrow spaces.