My apt is covered in 1 millions papers I tried advice but getting no where, help!?
Question:can't afford organiser
ps----------book are put away, bu the paper chase-filing----------over whelming---------I am not lazy, but I just beside myself.
Answers:
I am an accountant, and people dump stuff on my desk all day every day (invoices, PL, receiving reports, car files, etc) and it does get to a point where I am literally overwhelmed. All you can do is start at the top and work your way through, one page at a time...good luck!
Pile them in groups. Who said you need some fancy shmancy organiser
Get about 4 or 5 baskets of some type big enough to hold paper. Label each one something different like "bills" "to be filed" "personal papers" etc. Grab a handful at a time and sort them into the baskets. Do a few handfuls at a time so it doesn't get overwhelming. When baskets are full or all paper is sorted then start going through each basket a little at a time. After you get caught up leave the baskets in the places that get the most clutter -IE. have one by the front door for the mail. Go through them often so it doesn't get out of hand.
Sort through all the paperwork, getting rid of as much of it as possible. Sort by category and put in labeled file folders. Either store in a filing cabinet or a box.
Don't panic! Put all the papers in a big pile (or piles if it's too many for one pile) without thinking about classifying them in any way.
Then, grab a big stack from the pile (or the whole pile) and sit down and go through them. It will go faster than you think, and you'll be able to throw away most of it:
1. If it's a bill, pay it right away if you can. If you have to wait, put it aside in a pile that is just for bills, or if you do online banking, schedule a payment for later.
2. If it's something with someone's phone number on it, put the number in your cell phone or wherever you store numbers, and then throw the paper away.
3. If it's a newspaper, recycle or throw it away. Don't worry, you can find most of those articles online anyway.
4. If it's an important document, like a receipt for a large purchase, a car title, a pay stub, or something like that, file it appropriately. Don't have a file cabinet or box? Time to get one. You can start small, with just a plastic file box from Target.
5. There will of course be more categories but the point is to sit down and take action on this pile of twenty pieces of paper. It's sort of fun actually and you can do it while you watch TV or a movie.
It's not as bad as you think. Good luck!
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