Permanent Paper Homes

Neatly aligned white binders on a wooden shelf exemplify organization and simplicity in storage solutions.

Moving Forward with Your Temporary Paper Homes

Now that your temporary paper homes are set up, let's discuss what to do after processing all the paper.

There are several factors to consider, but your organizing style is crucial! If you're a macro organizer, file cabinets might not suit you. Consider using categorized containers without lids to drop processed papers into. Everything will be in chronological order, making it easy to sift through and find what you need. If you're a micro organizer, a file cabinet or file box with categorized file folders may be more effective for organizing your papers.

When discussing organizing styles, we must consider whether you're visual or non-visual. The 'container' concepts mentioned above can be adapted to your visual preference. There are both clear and solid options available. Feel free to message me for more specific options to consider when setting up your permanent paper homes.

After determining which 'style' of system suits your team, the next step is to decide what you need to keep. With most information available online, this is an excellent opportunity to transition to a more electronic system and significantly reduce paper clutter. That said, if you're like me, having an actual piece of paper in hand can be calming in certain areas.

At Hopeful Headquarters, we use categories like paid bills, school, health/medical, taxes, and big-ticket purchases. Let's break down our systems.

1. One file box contains a 12-month, self-cleansing system, organized by month, for paid bills. When a month comes around the following year, the papers in the folder are removed and shredded, creating space for current year items. This box also holds copies of more permanent information files, such as past rentals, subscriptions, contracts, or agreements, and long-term health notes. I declutter these files annually, shredding anything three years or older after scanning them into an electronic format.

2. One file box is dedicated to education and school. It includes a file for Special Education, Pre-K, and each year from K through 12. This system organizes important school items like report cards, test results, or specific letters from teachers and staff. (Artwork has a separate box, set up similarly, to preserve those early years of creativity.)

3. As many of you know, we keep most 'need handy items' in our Home Management Binder. This includes information on health, family medical, current year school, checklists, etc. Details can be found in our store here. These can also be completed electronically and saved as a PDF.

4. Lastly, we have three poly folders in a container. One holds 7 years of tax returns. This is self-cleansing; when a new year comes, an old one gets shredded. (If unsure how many years to keep, consult your local government or a trusted accountant.) Another folder contains big-ticket purchases that remain with the house when selling (appliances, home repairs, etc.). This folder stays in the house or is passed to the next homeowner at closing. The last folder holds big-ticket items that move with us (furniture, large electronics, appliances, etc.). I staple purchase receipts to the user manuals.

Let's recap:

• What's your style?

• What categories will serve you?

• Are systems set up to self-cleanse, or are you scheduled to declutter on certain days throughout the year?

• Can paper items be transitioned to an electronic organization option?

If you’re ready to organize more than just on room, our library subscription walks you through all 7 rooms—your way, on your time.