HOME
PAGE
WHY USE THE CLUTTER WIZARD?
OVERVIEW
BEDROOMS
CLOSETS
KIDS' ROOMS
BATHROOMS
KITCHENS
GARAGES & ATTICS
STORAGE
OFFICE & WORK SPACES
HOUSEHOLD FILING
SYSTEM
KEEPING EMERGENCY FILES
PAPERWORK TIPS
DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
DONATING YOUR CLUTTER
LINKS TO RELATED SITES
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
HOME
PAGE
WHY USE THE CLUTTER WIZARD?
OVERVIEW
BEDROOMS
CLOSETS
KIDS' ROOMS
BATHROOMS
KITCHENS
GARAGES & ATTICS
STORAGE
OFFICE & WORK SPACES
HOUSEHOLD FILING
SYSTEM
KEEPING EMERGENCY FILES
PAPERWORK TIPS
DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
DONATING YOUR CLUTTER
LINKS TO RELATED SITES
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
HOME
PAGE
WHY USE THE CLUTTER WIZARD?
OVERVIEW
BEDROOMS
CLOSETS
KIDS' ROOMS
BATHROOMS
KITCHENS
GARAGES & ATTICS
STORAGE
OFFICE & WORK SPACES
HOUSEHOLD FILING
SYSTEM
KEEPING EMERGENCY FILES
PAPERWORK TIPS
DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
DONATING YOUR CLUTTER
LINKS TO RELATED SITES
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
HOME
PAGE
WHY USE THE CLUTTER WIZARD?
OVERVIEW
BEDROOMS
CLOSETS
KIDS' ROOMS
BATHROOMS
KITCHENS
GARAGES & ATTICS
STORAGE
OFFICE & WORK SPACES
HOUSEHOLD FILING
SYSTEM
KEEPING EMERGENCY FILES
PAPERWORK TIPS
DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
DONATING YOUR CLUTTER
LINKS TO RELATED SITES
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
HOME
PAGE
WHY USE THE CLUTTER WIZARD?
OVERVIEW
BEDROOMS
CLOSETS
KIDS' ROOMS
BATHROOMS
KITCHENS
GARAGES & ATTICS
STORAGE
OFFICE & WORK SPACES
HOUSEHOLD FILING
SYSTEM
KEEPING EMERGENCY FILES
PAPERWORK TIPS
DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
DONATING YOUR CLUTTER
LINKS TO RELATED SITES
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
|
PAPER MANAGEMENT TIPS
Piles of paper are often
the toughest type of clutter. Paper accumulates so quickly and there is
a never-ending stream ariving on our doorsteps from every area in our
lives. Here are some handy tips from
BOB FARKAS, THE CLUTTER WIZARD,
about how to keep your paperwork from getting out of control.
I've included tips about...
Files
---
Business Cards
---
Bills and Mail
---
Taxes
Check Registers
---
Bank Statements & Cancelled Checks
Home Business Receipts
---
Pictures
---
Scheduling Paperwork
Reducing Paper
---
Changing Your Paperwork Habits
FILES
-
Staple papers together
instead of using paper clips because paper clips often get caught on
other papers.
-
Never keep entire magazines
in a file. Look for any important articles, cut them out, staple the
pieces together and file them.
-
Store your valuable papers
in a safe deposit box or a fireproof safe.
-
Keep your filing system
updated regularly.
BUSINESS
CARDS
-
Get a Rolodex, wheel-type,
card file or a three-ring binder with clear plastic business card pages
to hold hundreds of business cards without taking up too
much desk or bookshelf space.
-
Try to categorize your
business cards by industry or profession if it makes sense for
your specific needs.
-
Writing the date down on
the back of each business card will help you decide about when it's
time to toss it.
BILLS
AND MAIL
-
File your mail and bills
right when they arrive so they don't get misplaced.
-
Check each bill and write
the total and the date you plan to schedule payment right on the
bill's original envelope.
-
Put the bill in a holding
area where you can see the date..
-
Schedule a regular time and
have a specific place to actively read through your mail and pay your bills.
-
Pay bills at the beginning
of each week for bills that are due that week. This way you'll never
have too many bills to pay at any one time and the process should be
relatively quick.
-
Toss those extra
advertising inserts that come with your bills.
-
File your bills immediately
after you pay them so you don't have to deal with them again.
TAXES
-
Store tax forms in a single
large pocket folder.
-
Categorize your bills and
invoices using envelopes. Make categories that are appropriate for
your situation.
-
Subcategorize things like
credit card bills into VISA bills, Mastercard bills, Discover bills,
American Express bills, etc. The more you subcategorize the easier it
is to find and to document later.
-
Label and date the outside
of all envelopes.
-
Put the pocket folder along
with all your envelopes into one larger manila envelope (remember to
label it with your name and the year) and submit it to your tax accountant.
-
When you get it all back,
file the large manila envelope with the most recent year first.
-
Most tax returns and
documentation only need to be kept for seven years. Some businesses
and professions need to maintain their records indefinitely. Check
this out before tossing your tax records.
CHECK
REGISTERS
-
Always date your check
registers with the range of dates it includes and the range of check
numbers it includes --- April 10, 1999 to September 12, 1999, check
numbers 1312 to 1418.
-
Change registers at the end
of each year even if there's room left in the register. It's just
easier to keep records by year than to mix years.
-
For tax documentation write
in who the check is to and what the check is for.
BANK
STATEMENTS AND CANCELED CHECKS
-
Reconcile your statement
every time you get one.
-
Make sure all ATM and
service fees are shown on each statement.
-
If you ever need to
document a payment by personal check
just ask your bank for a copy.
-
If you ever need to
document a payment by check just ask your bank for a copy.
-
If you do keep canceled
checks, keep them in a separate box in numerical order. Don't keep
them with the bank statements.
HOME
BUSINESS RECEIPTS
-
Keep your business expenses
/ receipts in a separate area from your household files. These might
include auto repair and maintenance, business entertaining, computer
equipment and supplies, continuing education, gasoline, office
supplies, parking, photocopying, professional membership fees,
publications, rent, telephone, etc.
-
Create separate folders or
envelopes for each category of business expense.
-
Place each receipt or bill
in its own folder or envelope immediately as it comes in.
-
Every time you put a paid
receipt or bill into its folder or envelope write down how much was
paid on the front of each envelope or folder.
-
For tax purposes simply add
up your business expenses which are listed on each folder or envelope.
-
Submit a list of expenses
to your tax accountant. You won't have to pay them to go through all
your receipts.
ORGANIZING
PHOTOS
-
Sort through boxes and
eliminate poor shots.
-
Give away or toss photos
that have little meaning to you.
-
Keep the negatives only if
you think you'll need them for additional copies.
-
Write a brief description
on the outside of the negatives' envelope.
-
Don't write directly on
pictures. Use an acid-free adhesive label instead.
-
Sort photos in chronological order
or by categories like "trips".
-
If you have many pictures
of one event you may want to write a brief description of the event
instead of labelling each individual picture.
-
Use albums with
acid-free paper.
-
Consider using three-ring
albums which allow you to add pages to them.
SCHEDULING
PAPERWORK
-
On a regular schedule, set
aside at least one private hour every week for paperwork. This way
you'll never get behind.
-
Prioritize. First do the
financial stuff. Pay your bills, balance your checkbooks, reconcile
any investment statements. Next do any paperwork that's left. Write a
note to a teacher, fill out an application form, etc.
-
File everything away
immediately so you don't have to deal with it again.
REDUCING
PAPER IN YOUR LIFE
-
Cut down on the number of
bank accounts you have.
-
Reduce the number of credit
cards you have to one card for personal use and one for business use.
-
Cancel some of your more
obscure magazine and newspaper subscriptions.
-
Pay any bills you can by
automatic deduction.
-
Write to the following
address and ask them to remove you from their direct mail lists: Mail
Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008,
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.
CHANGE
YOUR HABITS
-
Don't let even one day go
by without making time to put things into their proper places.
-
File or pay bills right
when you get them. Don't put them down to get lost in the shuffle.
-
Respond to invitations and
notices as they arrive and mark any dates on a calendar immediately.
-
Open your mail near the
trash can and toss what you don't need.
-
Keep making those tough
decisions about what to keep and what to throw away.
For an appointment please call
BOB FARKAS
661.298.9100
Serving the Santa Clarita Valley, The San Fernando Valley
and Los Angeles
or
e-mail
me
Back to the Top
Home Page -----
Why Use The Clutter Wizard?
Overview -----
Bedrooms -----
Closets -----
Kids' Rooms
Bathrooms -----
Kitchens -----
Garages & Attics
Storage -----
Office & Work Spaces
Household Filing System -----
Keeping Emergency Files
Paperwork Tips -----
Developing Good Habits -----
Time Management Tips
Donating Your Clutter -----
Links to Related Sites
What Clients Say -----
Locations Served
Member of
THE CLUTTER WIZARD website
copyright © Bob Farkas. All
Rights Reserved.
|