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Paper is one of those things that always seems to overflow
in any home. Piles of mail, piles of schoolwork, piles of
magazines, piles of receipts, piles, piles everywhere. So
how do you get these piles under control? A few home
organization tools can rescue you from your overflowing
paper problem.
A desktop filer is one of the home organization tools that
can really help with your mail problems. This one has become
a lifesaver for me and has worked with my home organization
clients as well. It works great for keeping my bills and
mail organized. Some files that might help you get started:
action (bills that need immediate attention), to read
(magazines, letters, newsletters), to file (bills that have
been paid, magazine articles you want to keep, financial
statements). Those are some of the basic files that can at
least help you get started.
You know what kind of mail you get and what you need to do
with it. Just keep logical groupings in mind as you create
your files. Word of warning though: do not make too many or
you will have a hard time figuring out where things need to
go. The goal here with this home organization tool is to
help you simplify, not complicate things.
A mailbox station is another one of those great
home organization
tools that can help you tame your paper problem.
Create a “mailbox” for every person in your family. This can
be as simple or elaborate as you want to make it. If you
want to get the whole family involved (and hopefully get
their buy-in to use it), have them make their own mailbox or
decorate their own mailbox.
A paper sorter, shoeboxes, a plastic container with drawers
are all excellent home organization tools to use for this.
In this mailbox put whatever mail the person receives, notes
for them, reminders, even money now and then as an incentive
to be sure to check it. This can work great for your kids
too because they can put permission slips in your mailbox
and you can put the signed ones back in their mailbox. Just
be sure to make it a house rule that everyone checks their
mailbox at least once a day. This only works as a home
organization tool if you get everyone in your house to
actually use it.
Finding home organization tools to deal with your paper
clutter does not need to be difficult. Just think about the
paper problems you have and try different solutions until
you land on one that works.
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