Utility bills and papers (make sure you’re negotiating the best rates on these bills).Medical – records (separate by person if necessary).Medical – bills (separate by person if necessary).Receipts and warranties – small purchases (I only keep receipts I might want to access later).Receipts and warranties– large purchases.I can file the remaining papers in a couple of minutes. I take the stack upstairs to the homeschool room where I keep a couple of plastic filing boxes ( like this). When the cubby gets full, it’s a signal to me to spend a couple minutes filing these papers away permanently. These papers have a temporary home in a cubby right in the kitchen. This includes paid bills, medical documents, receipts for large purchases, etc. Other papers need to be kept indefinitely. Other things get tucked inside my planner until I need them or can dispose of them (usually during my weekly review when I take a quick peek through all the papers in the planner). These kinds of things might get taped inside a cupboard (our fridge isn’t magnetic or I would hang them up there). Some papers need to be kept for a short time (a volunteer schedule, an invitation to a party, etc.) I differentiate between two types of filing – temporary and permanent. If I can do it in a minute or two, I’ll get it out of the way now.Īt this point, I’m left with just papers that need filing. I try to process any papers that need my attention immediately. This might be paying a small bill (via online bill pay), signing a permission slip, or entering a receipt into my budgeting software. If it’s a bill that isn’t due for a while, I’ll create a reminder in my Google calendar so I won’t forget.
I also usually jot a note on my running to-do list to attend to said item. (Tip: recycle the envelopes at this step, too, to cut down on the paper.)īills and other papers requiring my attention get clipped to the inside of my planner. Mail for my husband goes into a cubby reserved for him in the kitchen. (When in doubt, throw it out!) I don’t usually keep the stray catalogs that arrive. This takes just a couple minutes daily and this way, nothing is lost or forgotten until it’s too late. Incoming mail and papers are sorted as soon as they enter the house.
My priority is simplicity: simple to file, simple to retrieve. Sure, a pretty filing system or matching paper trays would be great, but it’s not a priority for me so I don’t let it bog me down. My planner may have too many papers clipped to it on any given day. I don’t really care if the paperwork is perfectly filed or all my files are color-coded. I know some people do well with a 100% paperless system, but it’s just not for me. I do pay most of our bills online and keep some “paperwork” online (more on that later), but I don’t spend time scanning in bills or receipts. Given these two goals, here is what my paperwork system is NOT: This paperwork system is NOT 100% electronic.
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