Are you drowning in paper clutter? Is it multiplying before your eyes? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Countless people are in the same boat. The good news is this… there is a solution. Keep reading to learn some tips that will help you tame the paper clutter in your home today.
Just Say No to Paper Mailings
The easiest way to stop paper from piling up around your home is to stop it at its source. How do you do this? You can sign up for paperless billing when you can so you stop receiving bills in the mail. Not only will you receive less paper in the mail, but chances are you might even save a buck or two since many companies charge for paper billing. You can also cancel magazine subscriptions you don’t read or sign up for the digital versions to read on your Kindle or other device. Cancel any catalogs you currently receive that you are no longer interested in. These are simple tasks that will pay off big time and you’ll be surprised how your paper pile will stop accumulating immediately.
Gather Everything Together in One Place
For best results, the first thing you should do is gather all of your paper clutter and put it in one central area. The only thing worse than a big pile of paper to sort through is a bunch of small piles of paper spread all over the house. Designate a spot for all incoming mail and documents to be placed so you know exactly where to go when it’s time to sort. The location you choose should be big enough to sort things properly and out of the way enough that you can leave everything there until the job is completely finished.
Decide on a Simple Storage System
Obviously, you’re going to need a place to store all of the important paperwork you intend on keeping. You can invest in a filing cabinet or if money is tight you can always using a filing box for a more economic option. Cardboard and plastic options can be found at your local Walmart or Target and are affordable. Once you have your system, label the files according to your documents and start sorting. Separate items into piles to be filed, shredded or mailed out and tackle the piles one at a time. It may be overwhelming at first, but once you have everything taken care of it will be easier to keep it that way. Trust me!
Invest in a Paper Shredder
Personal paper shredders are quite affordable. You can sometimes even find them at your local thrift store or a garage sale. As you start to go through the piles, bins and boxes of paperwork, shred everything you’re going to toss. This may take a while. However, it’s the only way to ensure that no one ends up with your private information.
Start a New Habit
Once all of your paper clutter has been discarded or organized, it’s important that you don’t allow things to get out of hand like before. Make it a habit to take the few additional minutes it requires to shred and file your paperwork every day. Or you can designate a day of the week to sort through paper and do it religiously to keep your paper pile at a minimum. Decide what will work best for you and your family and stick with it.
These are just a few tips to help you combat the paper clutter in your home. No, it won’t disappear overnight. But, if you tackle a little bit every day, the clutter will disappear and you’ll be more organized before you know it.
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