Household admin / paperwork - how do you do it?

Chappers27

How do you manage your household paperwork / filing?

I currently have 3 piles. One in the kitchen. One next to my computer and a load of really old files in a filing cabinet that's full up. I keep saying to myself I'll tackle it one day and do a proper filing system but never do Also, I have many different logins for many different suppliers. Tracking them all is tricky.

ThemeOne

I can't offer any advice with piles of paper as I'm one of the worst.

However, with logins, I've just started using LastPass password manager, and it really does make things easier. Give it, or another password manager, a try ...

McKneff

Tacckle the really old files first.

Get an ild oil drum. Set a fire in it empty each drawer into it at half hourly intervals

Have six piles in 6 x 1 year piles

trailingspouse

Make one big pile, and work through it. It really is that simple.

You need a file for each type of bill - gas, electric, council tax, TV licence etc etc etc. Then put everything into reverse date order (ie most recent at the top).

mrmajika

I can't help with what to do with the old stuff, but it might be an idea to go paperless going forward.
We've done that for the last 5 years or so where possible and its significantly cut the amount of paperwork we receive.

ThemeOne wrote: »

However, with logins, I've just started using LastPass password manager, and it really does make things easier. Give it, or another password manager, a try ...

I can second this. I thoroughly recommend LastPass.

TrustyOven

mrmajika wrote: »

I can second this. I thoroughly recommend LastPass.

But.... single point of failure?

meer53

I dont keep anything. I check bills when i receive them, if they're right i bin the bill. I keep receipts for stuff i've bought (electronics etc) in an envelope in the cupboard. Bank statements are online, check them weekly, gas elec and credit cards are online too, i get emails when they're ready to view, check them and forget about them. Why do you need to keep stuff ?

amanita

Can't you just use a lever arch folder? I use one for bank/credit card statements in alphabetical order, fills up annually (yes, I probably have too many accounts).

I'd strongly recommend against going paperless, as although current accounts go back several years online many credit cards do not, and you end up having to pay for statements to find a transaction for proof of purchase from only the year before!

Bills go in a separate folder of mine, but I do have online billing for gas/electricity/phones all together. Disclainer: I am a distributor, but it's my favourite thing about Utility Warehouse...

Chappers27

Thanks for the suggestions. I use Safari on Apple Mac, and it saves my passwords, so that's taken care of. As for keeping paperwork, I need to keep it incase I need to complain, or to get a refund, etc. Look at PPI. How many people kept records?