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Eliminate the Paper Chase

Want a home that’s truly organized?  While you’re in the spring cleaning mode, look beyond what meets the eye to the way you sort and store important records.  Household papers – from coupons, receipts, and immunization records to deeds and insurance policies – should be at your fingertips, although not in plain view.  Here are tips for keeping up with the paperwork.

Simplify bill paying:

Create an inbox: Open bills as soon as you receive them and make a mental note of the amount and due date.  Then put every bill into a bill basket or container specified for that purpose – a wicker basket on a bookshelf, the top drawer of a desk or foyer table, and a three ring binder in the kitchen or home office.  Whatever container you choose, the key is that it is easy to stuff bills into.

Designate a Work Surface:  Devote a certain area as the bill-paying station.  Stock this area with pens, a calculator, envelops, stamps, return address labels, calendar and wastebasket.

Pay and Record:  Now you’re ready to establish a routine for paying bills.  For example, plan to pay bills on the same day or date every week or month, such as every Saturday morning, or on the 10th and 25th of every month (so bills due on the 15th and 1st of every month arrive on time).  Record each check you write in your checkbook, and if any bills are automatically deducted, make sure you remember to enter those payments in your checkbook too. 

Track expenses effortlessly:

Filing: Establish a container for receipts, statements and records of bills paid, with an eye to tax time and family budgeting.  You can set up a basket or drawer as a temporary weigh station, but try to get in the habit of regularly filing these items in jumbo envelopes, folders or shopping bags labeled by major category (auto, house, children, retirement funds, etc.)  A file cabinet drawer is ideal for holding household records, but you can also use a storage box tucked away beneath a skirted table.  Tracking: to track where your money is going, tally each category monthly and record those numbers in a budget journal or on a computer spreadsheet.

Store documents safely:

Important Papers: If you don’t have a bank safe deposit box, a fireproof lockbox (available at office-supply stores) will help safeguard important documents at home.  These documents may include passports, birth certificates, social security cards, stock certificates, mortgage or lease papers, deed titles, marriage certificate, wills, insurance policies and children’s school and immunization records. 

Inventory of Household Goods:  Keep an up-to-date inventory of household possessions for any insurance claims that may arise.  To begin, ask your insurance company what type of inventory it prefers – a written list accompanied by photographs of every room or a videotaped record of your belongings that you could make yourself.  If you own expensive, one of a kind items, such as artwork or jewelry, have them appraised and consider adding an insurance rider to your homeowner’s policy.

 


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