2016 Clean Home & Organizing Challenge Week 12 ~ Paper Organization

I got all caught up this last weekend so now I am ready to move on to the next area :) We're getting close to being done, the end is definitely in sight.

Week 12 ~ We're going to be working on organizing our paperwork. If you already have a system in place for how you organize your paper work, now is the time to streamline it. If you don't have an organizational system Jen, in the video linked below, has some good tips. I just use a little mail organizer on my desk for bills and things that need taken care of immediately, and an expandable file for receipts, warranties, insurance policies, titles, etc. They don't take up much room and it's perfect for our needs.

If you're just joining in, please read last week post here, where we cleaned our kids room/guest room. You can very easily catch up if you want to. Fifteen minutes a day is pretty manageable and when you set a timer and put a little "pressure" on yourself, you can get a lot done! We're still using #2016HowJenDoesItChallenge on Instagram, if you want to see every ones progress.

You can check out this weeks video from Jen, from HowJenDoesIt, here. For the next several weeks there will be a new challenge and video from Jen for different areas of the home. This seems extremely do-able. We can do it!!

This week will be a little different just try and spend 15 minutes each day Monday-Friday shredding, organizing and simplifying your paperwork. We are going to overcome those paper piles! Most importantly when you are done this week, you should be able to find anything you're looking for, and not have to scramble around all over the house looking for that car title or check stub ;) Another great thing is that you can save a little money and not have any more late fees on bills that you forgot about or found underneath a pile off papers, whoops!

Here is a great link from consumer reports that I found last year on how long you need to keep paperwork. If you own your own business, your needs maybe different, but this is just a guideline, do whatever your comfortable with and whatever works for you and your family.

*Here's a little chart from the website linked above...

Keep these documents at home

Documents	When to toss them
Bank deposit slips	After you reconcile your statements
Banking statements	After a calendar year; store with tax returns if they will be used to prove deductions
Brokerage, 401(k), IRA, Keogh, and other investment statements	Shred monthly and quarterly statements as new ones arrive; hold on to annual statements until you sell the investments
Credit-card bills	After you check and pay them, unless you need them to support tax filings
Employer defined-benefit plan communications	Never
Household warranties and receipts	After you no longer own the household items
Insurance policies	After you renew them
Investment purchase confirmations and 1099s	Hold until you sell the securities, then keep with your tax records for an additional seven years
Pay stubs	After you reconcile them with your W-2
Receipts	After you reconcile them with your credit-card or bank statement unless needed for a warranty
Safe-deposit box inventory	Never, but review and update annually
Savings bonds	Cash them in when they mature
Social Security statements	When you get a new statement, then shred the old one
Tax returns and supporting documents	After seven years

 

Keep these in a safe-deposit box

Documents	When to toss them
Birth and death certificates	Never
Estate-planning documents	Never
Life-insurance policies	Never, or when a term policy has ended
Loan documents	After you sell your home, automobile, boat, or whatever the loan was for
Marriage licenses and divorce decrees	Never
Military discharge papers	Never
Social Security cards	Never
Vehicle titles	After you sell the car, boat, motorcycle, or other vehicle

I want this to be quick, so it's not overwhelming, and 15 minutes a day seem reasonable. If you need more than 15 minutes in an area, then of course take the extra time. This is just an easy way to clean a little each day and at the end, you're entire house will be done!

I am excited to continue this the end is definitely in sight! Let me know if you plan on trying this too.