prolixia 704 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Pretty boring topic, but do you have an effective solution for filing household documents? The pile of assorted documents on my desk has again reached the height that requires me to sort through it to decide which documents to bin, which ones to keep and which ones to action (late). I can't help but think that there is maybe a better way. Do you have a simple system that keeps things organised and doesn't just bloat with receipts for things that broke years ago? If so, please share! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco + 651 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I have a coloured file for each area (bank, car insurance, house bills, credit card) and put documents in there. When a particular one gets quite full, I look to cull out the old stuff from it. A lot of stuff is now paperless anyway, so that's helped reduce the quantity of documents needed too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana Jones + 1,103 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I try and get everything I can into Evernote. Either it's a PDF and I save it, or I use my phone to capture it. You can add tags to search for things, and it's cross-platform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnsy2023 2,895 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I scan and shred everything I don't absolutely need the originals of. I then file it in a folder which is synced to the cloud and my home server to make sure I don't lose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotLass + 638 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 (edited) In my current job my payslips are emailed to me in PDF so that's one less thing to file. I also have paperless banking and billing for as much as I can. The rest of it - old documents and such - goes into a big metal filing box with a lock on it, and I have a different folder/section for each different account - banks, student loan, insurances, etc etc etc. I try and clear out every quarter or every six months. Edited April 8, 2015 by Mazza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Techie1 + 2,024 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I scan and shred everything I don't absolutely need the originals of. I then file it in a folder which is synced to the cloud and my home server to make sure I don't lose it. I do similar. As much as possible online, then scan and shred everything else. If I do keep the document I make a note that I've scanned it (on the document) so I can shred it next year (e.g. for council tax which is useful as a proof of address). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prolixia 704 Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 I like the idea of going paperless, but always worry that I'm going to shred the original of something that I might later need... With a paper-based system then the problem seems to be 'purging' the filing cabinet of old stuff that is no longer relevant. Maybe an annual spring clean is the answer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty McFly 658 Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) I have two lever arch folders that I keep split into various sections - Flat/Medical/Work/Specials/Bank/Credit Cards/Car/etc One is "current" second is "historical". So for example my current flat paperwork and my previous 3 months of bank statements will be in "current". When it moves beyond current it either gets shredded or moved to the historical folder. So anything like a 4 month old bank statement will get shredded, while anything important like my certificate of service after I left police scotland goes into the historical. I find this keeps everything to a minimum as I am continually trimming (removing old stuff when adding new bank statements/etc) and then I have to actually assess whether it's worth keeping now that it's not immediately relevant, makes it easier to keep a grip on. Edited April 9, 2015 by Marty McFly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaFoxtrotBravo + 12 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Paperless banking and pdf payslips like Mazza for me. Everything else gets ripped up and binned as soon as it comes through the door after a quick check to make sure I don't need it. Off the top of my head about the only bits of physical post I've kept in the last 6 months have been birthday cards, Christmas cards, and a few bits and bobs relating to my Specials medical and stuff. The latter just went in my "police envelope" which is where I've stuffed all police-related paperwork. Can't really be stuffed with filing at home if I'm honest, I waste enough time on it at work already! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParochialYokal 1,119 Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) I have put aside this week to continue with my efforts to migrate from 'system 1' to 'system 2', as per below. I am the last person to give any advice. I hate paper. But I have working my trough my piles of scanning and I am making progress. I tend to get excited about storage solutions, cupboards full of lever arch files (same make, colour and style) and perfectly printed labels. I also purchased some good filing thingies from Muji, which allow me to file things as they pop through the door and then I can permanently file and scan them every couple of months. This interim filing approach has been a lot better than 'system 1'. SYSTEM 1 SYSTEM 2 Edited April 12, 2015 by ParochialYokal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotLass + 638 Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I can't cope with the pictures from System 1. No no no no no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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