In Search of a Great Filing System...

It has to be "yours" - no one else's will work. I'm addicted to Real Simple and they can't give me a system I like. Start by writing down how you think. For me, I need to file "current paperwork", "annual paperwork", "recipes", "kids ideas", etc.

Current Paperwork turned into the top drawer of my filing cabinet with things like a file for each item like "cash receipts", "Visa", "401k", "Health insurance" and I file things that are monthly in there. I heard about making your inbox with a lid so that if you can't close it, you must file. I'm doing better, but looking to get one of those soon! I try to file as the papers come in or at least once a week.

The "Annual Paperwork" are files I access once a year, go in the bottom drawer, and those are things I need for reference (i.e. insurance papers, manuals for big ticket items, gift receipts, tax returns.

Recipes I used the other mom's idea - 3 ring binders. If I try a recipe and get one negative response at dinner, it gets tossed. Currently, I have 2 big binders and 1 for "kids" recipes.

The other ideas (mostly newspaper and magazine clippings) are in binders that I used about 2 days' worth of naptime to organize. All are in 3 rings and I used dividers. I'm very thrify, but splurged on good binders ($10 each?) as I know I'll access them over the years.

I'm not perfect, but that works for me!

2 moms found this helpful

Here's my filing "system": PITCH PITCH PITCH!!!! LOL

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.! I guess it all depends on what you are trying to organize.

You could buy "accordian" type files and label the outside of them with a master category like "taxes" and then within that file you can have subcategories like each year of a tax return or personal and business taxes or property taxes, etc. If you get letter size they should fit in your filing cabinet.

If you are trying to organize recipes, get a photo book or three ring binder and folders and put all cut out recipes in the book and label sections like appetizers, main courses, side dishes, etc.

Remember it always helps to go through and make piles, things you can never throw out, things to give away, things to throw away/shred. Hope this helps some.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.,

What do you need organized?

Just want to know more details.

D.

S.,
They sale labels at the dollar store and you can also make your own.
S.