All the Paper

There are many great ideas there but I wanted to add one more. I have a maginate easerable calander on my frig. I change it every two weeks so everyone knows what is coming up by looking on the frig. I have a real calender that I transfer the info from. Everyone has a different color. Now eventhough it is on my frig my husband still doesn't look at it but it works great for me.

Hi Denise,

I know exactly what you mean. It is a constant battle every day NOT to get swallowed up by the paper (poor trees! LOL).

I am no expert, by any means, but this is what I do and it works for me:

School stuff: Get a plastic bin and all completed school papers/sheets/projects etc go in there minus the ones you display. Go through when you can, sorting out the stuff not meant to be kept for posterity. When the school year s over that bin is that kids bin for that year--a final go-through and it can get stored.

Informational stuff for school/sports: I use large magnet clips to keep soccer info, lunch menus, etc that you may need to refer to frequently. I hang these either on my fridge or pantry door. Having it in an envelope or file folder doesn't work for me when I need to see it NOW!

Use a large calendar (mine is in my kitchen) and write all important dates and deadlines, sports schedules, etc on it immediately when you receive the info. If you are organized, you can copy into a pocket planner/PDA etc. Again, this is not me!

As for mail, I keep a brown grocery bag for paper recycling next to my trash can and all junk mail immediately goes in there every day. My hubby's bills get put on his desk and mine get put onto a shelf in my kitchen.

Again--not a perfect system but it works for me and keeps us from drowning in paper and keeps me pretty on top of things.

Good luck!

Regarding the mail and paperwork that comes into the house...I have a filing basket on my desk with file folders in it marked bills, shredding, to do, reference, to file, pass on, coupons, etc. I put the papers in the appropriate folders and deal with it when I have time to do so.

For longer term reference (ins policies, warranties, etc) I use a filing cabinet. If I don't get the papers in there when I get them they should be in the "to file" folder on my desk, which I empty once or twice a month.

Other longer term reference papers such as kids' school memos, karate class info, Sunday School info, etc goes into folders in a different drawer of the filing cabinet. Again, if I don't have time to put them away immediately, they go in the "to file" folder on my desk.

My kids are in preschool and pre-k so they have a lot of artwork and papers. I have 2 memo boards in the family room (the kind with the criss-crossed ribbons) where we display school papers. When they get filled we empty them and choose a few to keep. Those go into a plastic underbed storage box.

As far as remembering dates, deadlines, etc I write info in my planner as soon as I get the info. When possible, I also highlight the info on memo's etc so that if I need to reference it for some reason it will jump out at me on the paper. The memos and papers go in the appropriate folder in the filing cabinet. Hope this helps!

You sound very overwhelmed. Let's try to keep it simple. Make sure every year you buy a good size calendar for the wall with large boxes for each date so you can write in dates and appointments. Every time you get anything, including school papers, with important dates to remember, write them directly on the calendar. This is for the entire family to glance at every day, mainly me and hubby. Our 14 year old has ADD so he has his own calendar that is a small desk calendar. He has all of his daily chores written on it and other dates and appointments that pertain to him like his dentist appointment, picture day, exam days, days off school and half days, etc. He looks at that every day to know what is going on for just him.

I too have a stack of papers to keep info and phone numbers. I'm about to go through them and will jot down phone numbers that I truly need and will print out the list and put it on the fridge. The really important ones I already added to our house phones and cell phones. So those papers will be gone.

Manuals and booklets, only keep the ones you really need. If you can access the school handbook online, and are familiar enough with it, toss the paper one out. Think if you really need it. If you only need a few pages, rip them out and save them. Try using an accordion file for those. Go through the file at the end or beginning of every school year. If you have a file cabinet you can file things there. Go online and get all your bills and info to go paperless. Sign up for emails from all these places. It's more livable to have a full inbox the computer than a house full of papers, lol. Use a shoe box next to the door or refrigerator or something for all your mail so it's not loose falling all over. Do try to go through it as you get it but if not, keep it in the box. At least throw out the stuff you know if junk right away and then open your regular mail after the kids are in bed while watching TV or something. If you got paperless on most things you'll lower your amount of mail that comes in.

Buy some paper bins or folder for the kids papers. Go through it at the end of every week when they empty out their backpacks at the end of every week. If you're keeping papers because "what if" then toss them. If you really need them, keep them. Don't keep homework or artwork past a week or two on the fridge. If it ends up on the floor it means it's junk and toss it out. If it's something you really want for keep sake, buy a couple small plastic bins to keep them in for each child. At the end of the school year, have the child pick a few special ones to keep and the rest goes in the garbage. You can take pictures of some as well. Frame a favorite. Hooks are good to hang backpacks.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat
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don't worry you're not alone on this and i only have one child in school.

we have a calendar with big squares. as papers come in i write the events on the calendar. then i have a clip magnet and the (reference to later) papers get put in the clip and on the refrigerator. since everything is on the calendar, i can't reference the paper when needed and i go through the papers once a month at least when the next month calendar comes home from school.

as for the house hold paperwork, since i work, i have a tote bag that i bring back and forth to work and if i get to work early which is quite often, i'll sit in my car and go through the papers. i have 3 folders, shred, handle, and file. bills (and other handle paperwork) goes into a folder back into the tote bag for when i'm ready to do my bills (at that time i handle everything). and filing goes into another folder back into the tote bag. shredding i can take right into my office and shred.

the filing does get away from me, but i have a big designated desk draw that is filing ONLY.

so in a nutshell, i have a tote bag (and three file folders)for household stuff, and a calendar and a magnet clip for school stuff (more than one child then i would probably use 2 different colored clips and highlight the calendar in different colors) it's hard to find strong magnets too by the way... you have to make sure it's stong or it's pointless. oh yes, and the last thing is a drawer for filing.
This kind of website - http://www.usherfinancialgroup.com/shred - helped me learn how to file, like what to keep and for how long. it got me thinking straight, then i could shred the rest...

~this is not an easy task... so good luck in finding the methods that work for your situation.

S.

Buy a box of envelopes. As you sign the papers, fill out the forms, get the important dates, label each envelope for each week. You can use the big manilla ones and recycle by crossing off dates as they approach. It also keeps the papers/forms together - something that has to be sold - list it on the envelope - then sell away - it keeps things in order and only takes a few minutes when this stuff comes in.

All important events - write on a calendar - or in your computer's calendar. Myself i carry a cell phone with a calendar and a school year calendar. Our School District - does one thing right - it prints a yearly school year calendar - that list important school details (plays, concerts, prom, homecoming, testing, etc.) on the approaiate days. You just fill in other stuff as you get it or learn about it (my daughter is a senior - so I keep tabs on the school web-site to find out the latest details - she tells me it is hard to hear the announcements most days)
Hope this helps.

I find the papers a constant struggle, no matter what system I use, and I liked reading the comemnts of others.

One thing I'd like to add, regarding all the crafts and artwork the kids bring home. I keep the special ones, but after displaying others for a while, sometimes I take photos of the artwork, so we'll always have it in some form, and then disgard it.

When my oldest was little I kept EVERYTHING. Then I started disgarding along the way and it has been helpful. Now, at ages 10 and 14, they help me decide what to keep and what to photograph. My youngest actually is a lot better at these decision than I am!

Good luck!

Hi Denise! I am not a stay at home mom so I put all of the "important" dates on my desk calendar at work. Maybe get a calendar for your home and put important dates on it. Maybe even on your computer. Just do it some place that you look or check often! As far as the other papers go maybe just get baskets or bins and keep the papers you want to keep there!! I have a rather large file box that I keep all of my daughters art work in (the ones worth keeping). :)

Good luck!

Do you have an ipod or organizer? Perhaps even a small calender (for old-school moms like me)? As soon as the papers come in, trash (or recycle) the things you KNOW you don't need. Mark important dates and details in either the ipod or calendar, then trash those papers as well. File all the things you will have to use in the future.

Denise,
You need a small binder for all of the reference material ie class lists, early dismissal slips, lunch ticket slips. Use dividers 1 per kid for easy reference. You also need a calendar to write things on the minute the paper comes home. As far as the projects that come home display for a short time and then if you want to hold on to it get an archival quality box for long term storage. Then rotate the displayed artwork frequently. At the end of the year go through the box that you stored all projects in and pick the ones that you really want to keep. You will need 1 storage box per kid as well.

I hope this helps you out a little.
M. R

You might also try to get your address and email off the junk mail lists to minimize what you receive. Go to www.directmail.com and www.dmachoice.org. You can also cut down on phone calls by going to www.donotcall.gov. Some are free and some require a few dollars, but I figure time is money and it's worth a little money to save a lot of time--and trees. I also benefitted from reading the responses to your original question.

Denise,

Great question! I have 2 in elementary school and 1 in pre-school, so I struggle with it too and have loved reading other's suggestions.

I too go through school folders as soon as they get home. If it's something important for that week (bring in apples Friday) it goes on the refrigerator where I can't miss it. I also have a wipe-off calendar on the fridge that is updated every month.

I have the school calendar, soccer schedules, etc. on the side of the fridge for referencing during the year/season. I also have a multi-pocket file folder that I file stuff into. One pocket for each child, one for CCD papers, one for Girl Scout papers. I have learned to toss all but the most important school work/art work. I have a clear storage bin that I use for longer term storage. I go through the kid's folders once a month and toss or store the papers in there.

I also have learned that no matter how hard I try, once in a while I'm going to miss something. I've learned to forgive myself and get over it! That's one of the most important lessons I've learned as a Mom! Best of luck!

M.

Both of my girls have two 3 ring binders. I then put the clear sheet protectors in the binder, when a piece of art work comes home that I want to save it goes in their art binder. I also have a binder for report cards, certificates of completion (i.e. level 2 swimming lessons, level 1 gymnastics, talent show agendas (that show their name), piano recitals etc..)
I also keep 1 binder (with labeled tabs) near a 3 hole punch in my kitchen drawer to place bank statements, 401 statements, life / car insurance etc. For credit card statements I simply keep the statements with a rubber band securing the last 12 months of statement. The latest month statement goes on top of the pile and the bottom statement gets thrown out. (I have 2 credit cards) Good luck getting organized. I always feel so much better and less stressed when everything is in its proper place.

I was overwhelmed when my oldest daughter started school too. Here is what I learned to do.

School paperwork:
1. I go through the paperwork as soon as it is brought home. It only takes a few minutes.
2. Sort through and separate schoolwork from informational papers
3. Place schoolwork that doesn't have to be returned to school in a file folder to be gone through at the end of the year. I keep completed school work until the end of the year in case there is a problem that we need to refer back to old papers. At the end of the school year, I throw away/recycle all school work. I only really keep report cards, awards and a handful of artwork. The artwork is placed in a large plastic storage container and placed in the attic. The report cards and any other papers I wish to keep, such as award certificates, are placed in a binder for keeping. Use a separate container and binder for each child.
4. Any papers that have to be signed and returned are done immediately and put right back in my daughter's school folder
5. I mark down any dates to remember immediately in my PDA cell phone and post those papers on the cork board which is located in my kitchen.

Daily Mail
1. First thing I did is set up all of my bills on paperless billing. This greatly reduced the amount of paper I was getting in the mail. Now I get the bills in my email. This way I can choose whether or not the bills need to be printed out.
2. When I get the mail each day, I quickly go through the mail and place any junk mail, including envelopes, in a paper grocery bag for recycling.
3. Everything else is placed on a neat pile to be gone through that evening after the kids are in bed.
4. Any dates of interest are immediately placed in my PDA cell phone.

I hope this helps you. Remember, you are not the only one who gets overwhelmed with paperwork.

Hi Denise,
You are certainly not alone. I think we all suffer with this problem. I have three calendards. I have a big wall calendar with big blocks. I haev an At A Glance calendar which is fabulous. It is monthy, weekly has a place in the
back for all kinds of information-addresses, children's info,etc. Both of these calendars I get at Staples or Office Depot. I also have a nice monthly calendar that I
got at the Christmas Tree Store which fits nicely into my
handbag. Maybe you could cross referencethe calendars with
the portable file. I hope you find these suggestions useful. If you find out any other way to organize, I would
love to hear about it. My e-mail is ____@____.com
Thanks. Good Luck M.

Hey denise I have trouble getting organized myself For preschool if he or she has to work on letters or colors then do it right when you pick them up if before lunch then feed them and check their folder while they eat, if afternoon then do it right after they get home. Usually preschools send home a calender of what the month I put that on the frig. Elementary I have a 1st and 3rd grader so after school I get them a little snack and make them do homework immediately or they don't go out look at their folder right away put reminders on the frig cause we always open that can't miss them. or I check the school calender as well for 1/2 days or off days teachers are good about sending reminders on everything just do it as soon as they walk in. Don't beat yourself up we are only human and as moms we are intitled to a few mistakes we can't be perfect everyday. If you find a mom who is I would sure like to meet her. LOL Hoped that helps!

Denise,
Get a flylady calendar. You may think this silly but check it out on flylady.net
She has the best tools for many things.
Barbara

Here's what I do. I have 1 cabinet in my home that is mine (my husband has a whole office, but that is for another time). When the papers come home they are sorted right away- 1 pile is on the top shelf of things that must be filled and returned soon (I do not wait for the due date, get it done and out); 1 pile is future reference and does end up in a portable file when I get to it (I have a pocket for each child's school and 1 each for other activities); 1 pile is art and papers (I let a lot accumulate in this pile and sort it out when they're not around so they don't see their hard work going into the recycling bin. While I do this, my calendar is nearby so I can write important dates down as I go. In addition, I sort mail before it even comes into the house. All junk mail goes straight to recycling, catalogs in a bin, bills to my husband : ). It is a LOT and very overwhelming at times. To stay sane remember this: ASAP (always say a prayer). Blessings.

Try getting a calendar and writing the important events on there as the papers come in....maybe that will help.

Suggest you make in-boxes for each of the kids. Each day when the kids come in put all of their bring home papers in their in-boxes and continue with the other million things that need to be done between homework, dinner, baths and bed. After the kids go to bed, sort through the papers and address anything that needs immediate attention like signature requests. Return these documents to the backpacks. On follow-up items, note the due dates in the top right corner in red ink and place them back in the in-box so that you see them again each night when you review new papers. Create a three ring binder that is divided in two sections (one for each child). Place all reference items such teacher contact info, class lists and school year calendars in this binder and review every month to update any documents as necessary. Sounds detailed, but believe me as a mom of three (elementary, middle and High school) it works! Best thing about doing it this way is that the info is easily accessilbe to my husband and kids in the event I'm away or out of commission. Good luck!

Hi Denise, My "trick" for staying on top and going through the mounds of paperwork from school to junk mail started when my oldest was in Kindergarden. Here's my "method to the maddness"...I put everything (except bills, they go into the bill holder as soon as they come through the door) in a pile on the dinning table. Then durring homework time (in our house right after they get home from school before anything else happens) I go through it all every day. I have a binder and hole punch for papers I need to keep for school, a "12 month at a glance" calandar that I hang on the refridge and a trash can for the junk. I also have a file folder for each of my girls that I put "keeper" stuff that I will put in their memory boxes (I do those 2-3 times a year). Permission slips, forms to go back to school get signed etc right away and either put in backpacks for the next day or hung on the fridge (I have color coded clips like green for scouts, blue for music stuff, orange for sports etc). I also color code my calandar with hilighters...with no school days, dr appointments, rehersals, scouting events, special school events & my work schedule etc etc etc... I know it sounds a bit complicated, but once you get started it works really well and everyone knows what's going on when! In our house if it's not on the calandar it doesn't happen! Keeping a house running effectively as well as managing your kids events, schooling, etc really is a full-time job! My girls are teens now so some things are easier (like keeping things for school) now, but as they get older they get involved in more and more activities and honestly if we have one night a week when no one has to go or do anything it really is a blessing! So get organized now....your just beginning! Have fun!

Hi, Denise:

First of all, get you collection collection area.
That is all yours. This is your receiving and sorting area.

Secondly, Have a trash can there.

Thirdly, Go to an office store and purchase two square
box crates. One crate for home and one for the children's stuff.

Fourthly, Purchase file holders and manila folders.

Fifthly, Go home and set up your filing systems, one for your home and one for your children's school work.
Label your manila folders.

Sixthly, Go through your stuff and file either in your home crate, your children's crate or the trash.

Seventh, Your bills to pay are set aside in a separate place that can be seen and paid as needed.

Lastly, Get an appointment book with the number of columns as people in your household and write down everyone's appointments and things to do so you can keep up with everything in that area of your life also.

Good luck. Hope this helps. D.

I have 3 kids in preschool. I find marking everything on a calendar and then filing all the info in a file so I know where it is seems to work. If there is something I need to do soon but don't have the time at that moment (eg. fill in forms to be sent back to school) I put this in a certain tray that I know has to be completed soon (along with other stuff that needs to be done soon, like paying bills).

Google Calender! I use it for EVERYTHING! You can color code each child, I even put all my bill due dates in. We have three children 7,8 and 9 years old, and run a business - the children are in a million activities and it is hard to keep everything straight.
I also have a refrigerator calender (that you tear off one week at a time) I update that on Sundays with important events and the dinner schedule. Because I know if we are going to be at Karate or Gymnastics or a PTO meeting we have to have a quicker dinner earlier - but if we have nothing going on I can make a nice big meal.

As far as the paperwork and clutter - I used to have HUGE problems with this and even lost some bills and other important things trying to save 'unimportant' things.
The school things for 'future reference' put in a binder. The cute pictures they draw I will post on the refrigerator for one week then toss it. Its hard sometimes - but really what good is it doing to keep it?? The SUPER Special things the kids give me I put in an album.
And go through your files every once in a while and purge things.

I found this website that I have been using for about a year now that is VERY helpful - flylady. Check it out, maybe it will be of some help to you!!

Good luck!!!

I think that the absolute best way to combat this is to dedicate a few minutes with a highlighter in hand, (red pen, whatever you will notice!) and circle dates, phone numbers whatever you need to take note of as you read the notices the FIRST time. Have a calendar handy (a large desk calendar works for us) to write the events, special dates, whatever is noteworthy. You have to hang the calendar somewhere where you will actually see it on a regular basis (tacky as it may seem) until you will remember to check it regularly =)

So highlight the events, fill permission slips out as soon as you get them, and when the kiddos are asleep, take a couple minutes to write on the calendar. You can set reminders on your cell phone or computer. The thing that has always worked for me is to go through that pile of mail every 1-3 days and open everything, ditch envelopes and junk mail (a lame task, but if done often, it isn't as overwhelming later!) Keep 3 little baskets, one for kids papers, your mail, junk mail. One pile is way overwhelming! It take two seconds to toss everything in as you walk in the door, and way less ominous to tackle when it comes time. 10 minutes or less a day. Good luck!!!

Hello Denise,
I'm one of those "organized moms." I now have two in elementary school, but in previous years, when my children where in different schools, I, too, found it overwhelming. Papers drive me nuts!

Mail/newspapers- I have a recycle basket right by my front door. When the mail comes, I do not put it down. It takes me 15 seconds or less to go through the mail. Junk mail that does not have personal information gets dropped right in. My shredder is hidden under my computer desk so I have a small pile next to it on a constant basis. All bills/important things go right on my desk. I have a bill organizer right behind my computer so the opened bills go there.

The outer envelopes of bills and the little papers that come inside them go immediately to the recycle basket. (I pay most of my bills online, so I have a pile of the return envelopes to use for other things.)

Newspapers-I only buy newspapers for the coupons. I don't have time to read it, but I want to recycle it. So, as soon as I have emptied the newspaper of the coupons, it, too, goes right into the recycle basket.

When this recycle bin is full, I take it to a location close to my home that has a paper retriever - http://www.paperretriever.com/ Most often they are at schools and churches and they are used as a fundraiser. You can find one close to you by looking here: http://www.paperretriever.com/form/search_us.asp?ID=267 I have found that I can easily just stick the recycle basket in my car as I am running different errands and I'm helping the environment. Everything that can be recycled gets recycled.

SCHOOL PAPERS!
I have found that if I empty their folders from school daily, it helps cut down on craziness.
Since the kitchen is the central part of our house, I have bins. One for each child. I know that I don't need 2 copies of things (they are at the same school) so most times I'm recycling things (in the recycle basket at my front door). I do not save everything, but want a place to put their awards, special drawings, etc.

At the end of the school year, I buy an under-the-bed plastic storage container (1 for both of the kids) and label it with their names, teachers, year and school with a sharpie. It eventually joins the others in the attic from previous years. I use one bin for both children to cut down on space.

As you can see, I'm a neat freak. :) I just want to make sure I save the important things they do. It helps me stay involved with their school activities, fundraisers, etc.

I know that most people would not do what I do, but it's the system that works for me. You could also do one bin for all the children and just sort them at the end of the year.

But when you sort your papers immediately, it does cut down on the chaos.

If I can help any further, please let me know!