Wat's a good way to organize bills and mail and other miscellaneous papers?
Question:i need a way to organize bills and receipts and mail i have to keep for awhile in my home. whats a good way to organize it so that it doesn't end up on my bedroom or living room floor
Answers:
I bought a couple of accordian folders at my local dollar store, and I keep everything stored in them. One folder is for monthly bills. The other one is for important papers that come up occasionally, such as furnace maintenance and house insurance.
The folders even come with labels so that each compartment can be used for just one type of bill. Always add the newest bill to the front of the section.
You could also try keeping all UNPAID bills in one folder (make sure it is a prominant colour like red or yellow), and then switch them over to the other folder (in a calm colour like blue or green) when they are paid.
a small file cabnet
I think opening your mail every day and then sorting it right away is the best approach - even if it's a pain. I put all of my bills to be paid in a metal stand that I bought at Office Max. It has three sections to hold paperwork. I put the bills in the front and items like birthday cards that will need to be sent in the back. Then, I pay the bills every Saturday.
While going through the mail, I put the catalogs that I want to read in a magazine basket next to the couch (so that I can flip through them during commercials). And then I pitch the rest right away. There is usually more to pitch to keep unfortunately.
After I pay our bills, I file the stubs in our file cabinet. I have hanging file folders labeled with each utility name, credit card etc. After a year, I shred or burn them. I know some people throw them away but you never know when you might need to return something and you can't locate the receipt. At least the credit card statement will be there to help validate your purchase.
Good luck!!
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