Bank Statements, Utility Bills, Important Documents-Birth Certificates

dannahaz

I scan everything and destroy the paper copies.

My computer filing is very organised so I can find anything really quickly.

And of course I back up m hard disk regularly.


For those (many) things where I don't have a paper copy, I use a printing programme which prints to a PDF file and store that. I don't like to rely on the bank/utility company, as many of them only keep the last x statements available.

Claudie

I am also a fan of the box files as they fit nicely at the bottom of my wardrobe. We have a box for each family member as well as one for insurances, one for receipts/guarantees etc, one for monthly bills and one for everything to do with the house and mortgage. I only keep the last paper copy of utilities etc and throw away the old one when I file the new. I never keep bank statements anymore, we bank online anyway - if I need them (which I can't see) I will pay a tenner under the DPA to get them all in one go.

Besides this, I have our NI numbers, passport numbers etc recorded separately and copied on to PC (and that is backed up). I also regularly back up my photos and my hard drive to disc (and photos to my Ipod as a back up back up ) A good friend lost every family photo just before Christmas as they had never backed up their harddrive!

Another good friend had her house burgled a few years ago and the cunning thieves walked off with their filing box and their small safe. The police told them the impt bits should never be left all together in a very easy to spot location. Easier said than done I guess but makes you think.

I go though the lot every few months for a clear out and find it surprisingly therapeutic.

katieowl_2

Claudie wrote: »

A good friend lost every family photo just before Christmas as they had never backed up their harddrive!

I heard a photographer on the radio a few months back, saying that this generation is going to be one that has not much in the way of archived material for historians of the future because of digital photography, and the tendancy for it all to be lost......

It really was food for thought and I went through our stuff and loaded a disc up and had it printed off. We only had a couple of recent years digitally stored, but as the kids had been playing about with the camera, I discovered lots I'd never actually seen, including some wonderful pictures of our dog who died last summer

Regards

Kate

crawley_girl

It's always nice to hear what other people do. I seem to keep everything that gets sent my way and maybe I need to get shredding.

I keep everything in a4 plastic files which then sit in a plastic box file thing that opens right out. Over the year this, this has grown from one plastic box into the plastic box for current things and 2 additional cardboard boxes for archived stuff. I must admit, it is taking over my bedroom and I think I will do a bit of shredding later. I really don't need 3 years worth of mobile bills!!!

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls

Three_Dancing_Dragons

Lakeland Ltd now do a hand-cranked shredder which I love and am using daily. It's my scots blood I guess. I didn't want to pay for batteries!

katieowl_2

Three_Dancing_Dragons wrote: »

Lakeland Ltd now do a hand-cranked shredder which I love and am using daily. It's my scots blood I guess. I didn't want to pay for batteries!

Mine broke, but I discovered I could attach it to the electric drill and it worked...have to hold on to it tight though!

Mostly I burn the stuff now - it's just easier.

ikkleosu

I'm with the folder filing system - a good tip is to have each different utility/company in a different folder (or display book) and on the cover print or write a sticker which has your account number and the phone number if you need to contact them. It saves going through things if you need to phone the comapny about a problem.

A good tip for vital stuff like insurance documents, is to create a set of copies and swap them with a family member, so that should you have a fire or flood or break in, you have a set of those documents safely in another house.

onredbull

I spent hours putting all my paperwork into folders and sorting out the stuff that was already in folders because i was sure there was a better way than how i was filing/storing it. And i felt slightly embarrassed & cheap when people asked what it was or saw my filing system.

Although after making the changes and reading everyones comments and other threads, i agree about the folders being a good idea for things that are put away and not used for months, however i should have shared and will explain my old system i used to have in place. (i have not got a clue where it came from)

I kept or had kept a lot of used A4 envelopes that any of my mail/post came in. These were in good condition and opened at the top (as they had been sealed)

I put a sticker over area that had been stamped and wrote what was info/documents was in the envelope,
For example: (Utility Company) - Gas.

Underneath was my account number & their tel no's (including free tel no's from helpful websites) and any other relevent info.

On the back of envelope would be the dates & times when i had contacted them with full written describtion of tel conversation on the relevent months bill inside.

All info was kept in date order, so i would always file at the back of envelope.

The envelopes were all put in alphabetical order in an old pampers nappy box and kept on the side.


When I needed something, i went over to box --> go through the envelopes alphabetly --> Pulled out envelope i required and there i have tel no that i ring (and account no on the front ready for when they answer)

While i am holding, i write date & time on back of envelope, then pull out relevent info needed or document i have recieved in post and write the following on it (or piece of paper i can then staple together)
The date :
The time :
Spoke To:
and
Enquired about :

Then filled it all in when someone answered or wrote No answer/cut off ect and when finished put it all away in envelope & box.

By doing this I really was :
Saving my money as now i have bought (cheap) folders & other stationary.
Saving my time as now i am not used to this way and seems to be very time consuming.


So I though i would share my "Real Saving Money Filing System" that was Very Useful to me Really !
But so are all the systems and tips and advise that everyone has contributed to my question - I am very grateful for posting your replies, and have made notes about what needs to be kept and for how long, Thank You.

Why do I always think there must be a better or easier way to do things !?!

rach

i have an expanding type file, its not metal, but i've had it for years. it has about 15 differently labelled sections. at the moment its quite full, i think i need to go through it again, and i probably need a seperate boxfile for instructions for things as these are the bulky things!

my OH is organised and he just has about 6 foolscap type cardboard folders which each have different bills etc in.