Setting up a Paper Clutter System THAT WORKS!!! Create an ACTION center & never miss a thing!

Today we talk about setting up a simple system for dealing with paper clutter that comes into our homes! Paper clutter can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. By creating a simple system for paper clutter, you'll never have random piles again :)
A F E W F A V O R I T E P R O D U C T S :
Label Maker: amzn.to/2QTh24v
Freedom Filer (for micro organizers): amzn.to/2u1LLmU
Wall File Organizer: amzn.to/388v2gK
Desktop File Organizer for Action Items: amzn.to/2NrdmES
Over the Door File Organizer: amzn.to/3afCAjJ
Plastic File Box: amzn.to/386uMyD
H O W L O N G D O W E N E E D T O K E E P P A P E R W O R K ?
Paid Bills: 2 years
Taxes: 7 years
Contracts & Investment Paperwork: Life of the contract or investment + 7 years (we put these in with our taxes the year they are terminated so that they are kept the correct amount of time)
Mortgage & Loan Satisfaction Statements: 3 years
Home Improvement Records: While you own the home + 3 years
Vehicle Maintenance Records: For as long as you own the vehicle
Home Title Documents: While you own the home + 3 years
F I L E F O L D E R C A T E G O R I E S W E U S E :
-Reference-
BILLS TO PAY
MEAL PLANNING WORKSHEETS
SCHOOL 2019-2020
-Records-
BILLS PAID 2020
TAXES 2020
PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS 2020
RECEIPTS & WARRANTIES 2020
VET RECORDS 2020
MEDICAL & FSA RECEIPTS 2020
TOM 2020
DAWN 2020
2010 YUKON
PRIUS CARS
-Other Possible Categories-
More detailed medical files
Retirement & Life Insurance
Education
Investments
R E L A T E D V I D E O S :
Previous Paper Clutter Video (Eradicate Paper Clutter -- scale of easy to hard to replace): • Eradicate Paper Clutte...
My Clipboard System: • ⏰My Visual Time Manage...
Decluttering Kids Artwork: • What to do with Kids' ...
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#minimalism #familyminimalism #minimalist
R E L A T E D :
Organize Paper Clutter Video Part 2: • Simple Paper Clutter O...
THE TRICK TO SIMPLIFY YOUR KITCHEN QUICKLY: • Simplify your Kitchen ...
KITCHEN TOUR : • Minimalist Kitchen Tou...
MY MEAL PLANNING SYSTEM VIDEO : • Simple Meal Planning y...
📷 INSTAGRAM: / the.minimal.mom
BLOG: www.TheMinimalMom.com
📺 P O P U L A R R E L A T E D:
Why I became a Minimalist: • Why I became a minimal...
The Best Place to Start with Minimalism: • Best Place to start wi...
What to do when You get STUCK: • Decluttering Sentiment...
Video FAQ: • FAQ from Previous Vide...
🖥 R E L A T E D P O S T S:
How I store and organize kids clothes: www.theminimalmom.com/how-i-st...
Baby Keepsakes- What we keep & how: www.theminimalmom.com/baby-boxes/
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[@TheMinimalMom]

THANK YOU for watching!!! You can find a few notes in the description about file categories & how long to keep things! And if you're looking for some more company while you declutter paper, check out this video by Erica Lucas working on the same thing!

[@jernabean]

I changed my titles from years to “last year‘s receipts”, “this year‘s receipts”, “last year‘s bills, “ this year‘s bills.” That way I just move the items and get rid of the contents and don’t have to make new labels!

[@m.maclean8911]

Most bills I pay online, write the reference code on it, scan it and shred it.

[@abshireinterpreting8443]

The art work I received from my great niece and cousins was overwhelming... I invested in a digital picture frame; I would display the art for a bit, then take a picture of it. It would then be added to the "frame". Also gave me the opportunity to see their talent grow!

[@faiths8385]

❤️ I just decluttered 9 years worth of paper clutter ..... Just from watching your previous video . Thank you ❤️ your videos ..your advice works !

[@WrightFarmhouse]

When we moved to the country we got a PO Box. Its been the best decision ever. We check our mail once, sometimes twice a week and take 5 minutes sorting at the post office. We get very little junk mail, we just rip off our names and addresses on the junk mail and put the rest in the recycle bin. We typically walk out with 2-3 pieces that we actually have to work on. All our other bills are automatically debited and statements are paperless, except for medical insurance related bills. At home we take care of those 2-3 pieces and file away within a few days. I used to get so much unwanted and unnecessary mail, and using the post office and paperless has no longer made it a dreaded task.

[@The-Ancestral-Cucina]

ARTWORK: Take photos of the kids artwork and compile into a book. The book can be printed via Staples or several online companies. The book(s) can be dated on the spine, eg.,

[@rebeccajacklin3976]

Dawn! I have been watching your videos since I graduated grad school (MSW) in August. Nothing has helped me like you have! You have a way of speaking about it that just makes sense to me and works for me, especially since I have 4 kids too! It makes a big difference in the minimalist world when you understand the realities of having multiple kids. Anyway, I didn't even realize how bad things actually were until I filled 15 boxes with STUFF, recycled 4-5 department store bags to the shoe /clothing drop-off, and filled our paper recycling with many pounds of paper!! I listened to you daily Sept-Oct 2019 for my daily pep talk so I could purge to prepare for getting a full-time job. YOU helped me so much, like a best friend. Your other videos about organization, meals and faith have been so inspiring too!!!! You have a gift that has blessed my life and my family's. Thank you!!!

[@jennaalce4016]

I grew up in a house where paper clutter was a huge issue. Parents owned a business. Dad was involved in town council. PAPER EVERYWHERE. Boxes and boxes shuffled around. I remember tax time being a nightmare. I vowed to not let this be me.

[@shirlenemcgowan3851]

Love how you say it doesn’t have to be perfect. Constantly working on mine.

[@glendaruff125]

I need things visible also. I have boxes and boxes of papers. I hope this will motivate me.

[@bitrudder3792]

FREEDOM FILER - you can use this product/concept for MACRO organizing as well as micro organizing; the rotating odd/even and purging cycle folders, remove-replace vs permanent folder concept is genius. They encourage a macro approach for all bills and receipts, besides tax-related ones. You just don’t need as many folders for a MACRO version - but you have fewer folders to create over time. And now they do a binder label system. You can DIY it. And you can use their coordinated colors to write on blank tabs to personalize it for your needs quickly.

[@kathleengarness1660]

I resonated with the Flylady binder system. Everything current is in there except for unpaid bills and my checkbook, which I keep in another place. I have a hanging file system (actually an IKEA cabinet) for reference materials, which doubles as my coffee table. If I need to look something up it's right there where I sit (when I sit down, that is). :)

[@angelarose9636]

Your paper clutter videos have been the most impactful for me in the journey to simplify things in my home. I always thought I was a micro filer because I love organizing bit papers have always been a problem for me. When you said in last year's video to just put all of the paper clutter in a box labeled 2018 "Just in case" I realized that it's more important to work on how to prioritize the new paper clutter coming into our homes rather than sort through all the past clutter. I actually am helping my mom with her enormous paper clutter and told her about your videos. I dont have a perfect system for us but I work hard at minimizing what paper stays in our house and that has made the most impact. Your videos are pure gold my dear!! ❤

[@katiegee5173]

I used to have a folder for everything! "Water Bill" "Power Bill" "Gas Bill" etc. But I realized over the years that I don't access those particular files...ever! So, I file like you now, "Bills Payed." I love it!

[@lb9549]

Great video!! :) One thing that is super helpful for me is to open mail right next to the recycle bin. We have our big one from the trash company right outside our door from the mudroom to garage. Also...I am diligent about emailing companies who send junk catalogs and get us off the mailing list. I mean really it takes seconds to send an email and saves clutter and the environment!!

[@mtmw53]

With art work I tell mine to keep favorites and give away the rest. It is the idea that you are throwing it away that is so hard. This also makes grandma happy! Nursing homes also like it when we deliver art to residents! ❤

[@crish.2819]

Your other paper clutter videos have been the best help I’ve ever gotten! Thank you and thank you so much for your Sunday posts. Your prayers for us are sincere and I truly appreciate them.

[@lordyandy]

Except for tax papers, I've started scanning in all of my important documents that come in. They are saved to an online account so I don't have to worry about my computer crashing and losing everything. We had to clean out my parents' house last year and there was SOOO much unnecessary paper! When we finished that, I purged everything in my house and even went through my filing cabinet and scanned old documents that I needed to keep somewhere so I could toss out the physical copy. As for kids' artwork, one neat idea I've seen online is similar to what you suggested, except they also snapped a picture of the child holding the art. That way, it's documented which child did it and you can roughly see the age. Or, instead of keeping any of it, they just did the photos and then put the pictures in the album. A 4x6 photo takes up way less space than many of the art projects my kids brought home from school.

[@mommalaquidara]

Thank you for sharing! This has been on my to do list since the new year!