Is it possible to drown in paper???

Murtle · 14 April 2005 at 4:27PM

Please help, I am trying to master the art of home filing....office filing never had a problem with - home filing, I don't know what to keep, what I can throw - box files or lever arch files are best or those concertina (sp) files.....I used to manage, I don't know what happened

I bought a new place, moved in and paper is multiplying faster then I can shred/bin it.... :eek:

can anyone suggest methods that they use that have worked or not worked so I can take the bits I can work with.....

Please help before I drown....

Lillibet_2 · 14 April 2005 at 4:50PM

I use one of those concertina files for statements/bills/insurance docs/house stuff/pension stuff etc. I also put any pending holiday confrimation docs etc in there & the TV license. Passports & unused bank cards & long term investment bonds & the like are stored in a safe. When the concertina file gets too full to close I go through & get rid of documents over 2 years old. I don't think this would work if you are self employed etc & need to keep bank records for 7 years but it works for PAYE me!

MATH · 14 April 2005 at 5:33PM

I use a concertina file for utility bills, policies, salary/pension, holiday, receipts and then a second concertina file for current accounts, savings, investments, stoozing and credit tarting.

I then have a number of box files for achiving previous mortgages, 7 yrs bank statements and cheque books, passports, qualification certificates, kidz red health visitor books etc.

Don't underestimate how long you need to keep things. It isn't just beusinesses and self-employed who should keep a minimum of 7 yrs. I recently made a claim with the Insurance Ombudsman (I lost:mad: ) and had to supply documentation going back to 1986.

For the future I am considering a scanner to store all non paper essential documents cos I estimate a scanner to be cheaper than building an extension to my office.

System · 14 April 2005 at 5:40PM

I use a concertina type system too, but i need a bigger one unfortunately. However, i dont keep utility bills any longer than 12 months but i keep my bank statements 10 years (but i have a special reason for doing that).

I also have a cork pin board in the kitchen for loose paperwork - mainly school stuff.

Curry_Queen · 14 April 2005 at 6:22PM

I have a pile system ... a huge pile of stuff on my desk next to me that needs sorting out ... which then goes into separate piles for binning and filing ... which then go into piles for bills, statements, important letters etc ... which then go into piles ....

I think you get the drift LOL! ... yeah I need a proper filing system too!!!

I used to have everything filed perfectly and up to date when we had our businesses, and was very anal about keeping every bill and letter, but thankfully I'm managing to at least throw things away now, although all this talk of identity theft has put a halt to that for the moment while I look into buying a shredder.

Bogof_Babe · 14 April 2005 at 6:39PM

I have a ring binder with plastic inserts containing all the absolutely crucial "snatch first in the event of a fire" stuff. I only keep the most recent document of each type in there, and ruthlessly ditch the previous one every time a new one arrives.

Then I have two sideboard drawers with wallet files in - all labelled, but generally in need of a good sort out and update (and the loose stuff gets shoved on top of the pile until we can be bothered

). Everthing from the cat's vaccination certificates to the Denplan booklet goes in there - eventually!

I treated myself to a shredder last month, but after an initial blitz the novelty has worn off, so I now also have a carrier bag of stuff to be shredded when I get around to it.

Might as well admit, it's going to be a challenge whichever way you tackle it. Why do they have to send us so much stuff anyway?

Lyndsay_21 · 14 April 2005 at 7:48PM

never thought of having a snatch first (sounds rude!) folder. My parents recently had a fire so it has been on my mind but i think i will do this maybe with birth certs, insurance docs etc just to be on the safe side.

elona · 14 April 2005 at 8:15PM

We have metal filing cabinet and hubby did filing - at least he did until I discovered everything just stuffed in wrong place.

I now do it - have a "pending file" and when it gets too full I then file properly - we can find stuff now! Much to his surprise.:)

Luis · 14 April 2005 at 8:35PM

Brace yerself for the Luis organised approach:

I have two of those large briefcase type boxes - like the concertina ones, except more sturdy. They both have suspension files in rather than concertinas, which means that you can lift out a file if needed (v useful).

The metal one has files for bank (each year's worth of statements is in it's own platic pocket), car, phone, pets, personal (inc passport, birth cert type stuff), holidays, payslips. This is as this file is fireproof.

The plastic one has files for guarantees & receipts, catalogue, mail order, mortgage & insurance, gas, water, electricity, coucil tax.

As stuff arrives, I pay it straight away (if it isn't something on a DD), then when I have a small pile, I file it all away. Once in a while I do a de-coke.

Once you have your system up and running, it is easy to maintain. Even the OH now has his concertina filing system!

HTH

Bogof_Babe · 14 April 2005 at 8:57PM

Lyndsay_21 wrote:

never thought of having a snatch first (sounds rude!) folder.

You are so right, I should have said grab first

Magentasue · 14 April 2005 at 9:36PM

I have a 2 drawer filing cabinet. Top drawer has files for Birth Certificates etc/Car/House/School Reports/Holiday etc. Bottom drawer is Jan - Dec as soon as I get round to Jan again I empty last years, if you see what I mean. Then I have files Kitchen/Laundry/Garden/TV/Stereo/Computers etc for instruction booklets.

I also have a concertina file for receipts that I file under Asda/Argos/Currys etc.

When I get a statement, I balance it against Money and file it under this month, receipts go into their file ... but I always have a pile of paper that hasn't quite got there!

Our 'system' has evolved after years of not being able to find a receipt, P60 or MOT certificate when we needed it.

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Is it possible to drown in paper???

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