The KonMarie method

Softstuff

I got rid of the paper copies of instruction manuals a while back, but as a backup, downloaded and saved the digital copy or scanned a copy if a digital one wasn't available. I have used manuals now and then for repairs or so forth and sometimes keep an appliance so long that the online version isn't available.

emg

I have all my credit card statements for the last 10 years. I havent spent a penny on that card since 2010, basically I have 4 years worth of identical statements saying I have a zero balance. MK is right, the purpose of the statement is for you to check everything is as expected and there are no mistakes. Why have I kept them all when I only really need the most recent (if that!)?? This is the kind of paperwork that needs to go!

bunbun2

It is only in the last 6 months that my paperwork has been organised enough to have everything sorted and in files. I was so impressed when my dad asked a question about our microwave and I knew exactly where the instruction manual was

I may have a fight on my hands if I suggest throwing the manuals away as OH will probably say we need to keep them, although he does use google so maybe not...

Quasar

One thing I'll do is to photograph and store documents that needn't be in original form, on computer/memory stick. Hmmm... come to think of it, perhaps decluttering the computer and digital storage stuff would be a great last category to tackle. But I'm getting faaaar too carried away, and I ain't even started yet! :rotfl:

Rainy-Days

I_want_a_baby wrote: »

I've been avidly reading this thread and have done the dead and bought the book.

I've read the whole book today and will go back and read it again to help it sink in.

I can't really do clothes at the moment as I'm heavily pregnant and so my normal clothes are in the attic at the moment.

I do have two questions for you all:
1 - how do you store paperwork?
I current have 6 expanding files. Approx 5 lever arch files and many stacks and wallets and piles! I'm thinking of buying a suspension file box and purging it all so all my paperwork fits into one box, every single piece and it's easy to file too. But the book says you should not buy storage? Hmm
2. Do you sell your unwanted items or just get it gone to charity?

Yours,

Fellow Konvert (awaiting husbands reaction when he finds carrier bags have been samosa'd :rotfl:)

I have a big leather inlaid mahogany desk and on the left hand side at the bottom is a double drawer for the filing. In that I have suspensions files with tabs marked along the top and each relevant piece of paperwork goes in there. Bank statements, Car stuff (insurance, service docs etc) Home insurance has a separate file, legal file, utility bills current for that year is in there as well.

As Quasar said there is just stuff that you cannot get rid of. Legally, HMRC can go back seven years, (not sure if this has changed recently but that was the time frame two years ago) so dependent upon on what you do and what returns you submit you need to be thinking of keeping things like that for a good period of time. I have a covered lidded 'Curver' type box. In that is paperwork from the house sale and purchase, guarantees and things that we are never going to use on a weekly basis like my late parents and brothers death certificates and that lives up in the loft. I don't need to produce those certificates, but they need to be held by me as next of kin.

It's also not cluttering our everyday life in the study - I am not coming across stuff that reminds me of a difficult time- but if we ever need to have to refer to it, then it can come down from up there. That is not to say the loft is rammed it is not, just that documents that have long term legal relevance to them are out of the way but safe in the event they are ever needed. Only other boxes up there are two for the Christmas decorations and thats it! Oh and the fan! because it's not cluttering the bedroom when we don't chuffing well need it due to the weather :rotfl:

I have not got the book but kind of got 'into' it from on here and reading on the net and Amazon. I like the ethos and maybe I should get the book, but from what I have done and undertaken these last couple of days has been really good. The car will 'thank' me tomorrow when I relieve it of it's CS duty

Oh and I will admit I do talk to my car and tell it I love it. I keep saying that a clean car is a happy car and everybody thinks I am bonkers for it but cars do have energy!

Ches

As most instruction manuals are in several different languages these days which make them very bulky, couldn't you take out the pages of the instruction manuals which are in the language of your choice and put them in envelopes clearly marked with the item they refer to.

Quasar

Ches wrote: »

As most instruction manuals are in several different languages these days which make them very bulky, couldn't you take out the pages of the instruction manuals which are in the language of your choice and put them in envelopes clearly marked with the item they refer to.

That's a very good alternative.

System

Ooh, kondo'd clothes, plus quilts and cats. Lovely, all of them. Who knew that people would be sharing the pix of the inside of their clothing drawers with complete strangers on the web.
:rotfl: I know! I Surprise myself sometimes. And thanks

Don't worry I wouldn't dream of kondoing the cats - they may be giving me asthma but they're not leaving!

Right. Books, CDs and DVDs finished. Another box awaiting the trip to Zapper, and another 3 bags ready for the chazzer. And... Drumroll please... DD thinks she might start on her books on her day off this week! I am stunned, but not holding my breath :rotfl:

maryb

My husband was a trustee of the pension scheme where he worked at one time and one of their roles was to rule on what people were entitled to in the case of any dispute. Lots of people have worked for compay which have been taken over at some point and pension schemes merged or there have been changes to the rules. Having contemporary evidence of what their rights were was often very important because administrators change and details get lost. Very often one bit of paper made all the difference. So ever since we have kept EVERY bit of paper to do with pensions

This paid off for me recently when I was able to prove that I had some preserved rights that the administrators did not have a record of.

So please don't chuck anything to do with pensions, you may not know till years later that it was important

VfM4meplse

Welcome the to thread, Q!

I_want_a_baby wrote: »

I've been avidly reading this thread and have done the dead and bought the book.

Its great that you've grasped the nettle but murder is a touch extreme

I_want_a_baby wrote: »

I've read the whole book today and will go back and read it again to help it sink in.

Thats the weird thing....I read it, "got it" and did nothing about it, until the next time I felt a bit stressed out (within a couple of days ), which is when I start tidying to restore a bit of order around me, a behaviour that KonMarie recognises. So I applied the Kondo principals and then just couldn't stop! It was easy and a joyful process.

Its really odd the way a bit of Kondo-ing clears away the cobwebs! Am well ahead of schedule: going to get stuck into my paperwork now, and am incredibly looking forward to it. If I carry on at this rate I should have my study (the last bastion of mess in my home) sorted by Sunday!