Tip: If you’re working on sorting and filing a lot of paperwork, you may like this idea: Purchase several plastic file boxes - at least 4, possibly 6-8 if you are also sorting school papers for your children - and place them next to each other on a counter or worktable. Just like the tax box, I have a school memory box for each of my children that holds their school records, papers, and memorabilia. I have our tax returns for the past many years in digital format, so there is no reason to keep the paper copies. Then I remove the oldest file from the tax box and burn or shred everything inside the folder. For quick reference, I keep the current year and two previous years in my file cabinet.Įvery year after I’ve filed our taxes, I move the oldest one from the file cabinet to the tax box. Keeping tax files in this box makes my filing cabinet easier to use. I also have a plastic file box for tax records, stored from most-recent at the front to oldest at the rear. Yes, I do have a 2-drawer file cabinet… but I only need one drawer for files. However, instead of JUST a file cabinet OR a document box, I use a slightly different method, which I call a hybrid file system. Some also have locks if privacy is an issue. This stops you from toppling a stack of files if you have to go searching for a particular document.įiling cabinets and plastic document boxes are usually sturdy and secure, so they keep your important paperwork safe from most of the damage they might encounter just lying around the house. Every folder is kept upright, which makes it easy to go through them and insert or pull documents out without removing the entire folder. You don’t want your files scattered haphazardly around your home, so you need a place to keep your files safe, contained, and organized.Ī filing cabinet or a document box stores files in a way that you can access them efficiently. In fact, I recommend going as minimalist as possible when it comes to file storage. Also, you’ll require a smaller paper file storage solution. Less paper means it will be easier for you to find what you’re searching for when you need it.
However, try to keep most of the paper from migrating from those folders into your main files.ĭo as much as possible online, and store digital copies of important paperwork that doesn’t actually have to be in print. Those folders can hold ‘in-process’ paperwork. I recommend keeping a couple of decorative file folders in an upright box near where you open the mail and pay bills. Keeping an extensive filing system will discourage you from using it and actually knowing what’s in there because there’s.
Deal with and discard most of the papers that come into your home instead of filing every single thing in a bank of massive 4-drawer cabinets. The thing about long-term file storage is that you want to store as little as possible. Even if you have a filing cabinet stuffed full, now is a great time to go through all of those files, clean them out as much as possible, and begin fresh. Let’s say you’re organizing household papers from scratch. Here are the things you need to know and do for organized files… Tips for Organizing Paper Files Yes, this is just one part of a complete paper management system… and it’s one people often stress over much more than necessary.
The goal is to get to the point where maintaining your files takes little time and effort and you can always find what you need almost instantly.
#PAPER FILE STORAGE HOW TO#
Let’s discuss how to reduce that load, and then how you can keep your filing system structured and organized. If you tend to keep every incoming paper ‘for your records,’ then you absolutely WILL end up with many, many files. If you choose to purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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