Tax return : 2013 – 2008 – separate folder for each year Retirement : person (separate file for each account) Paystubs : person (separate file for each account) Loan : loan name (separate file for each account) January-December – separate file for each month for the yearīank account : bank name (separate file for each account)Ĭredit card : credit card name (separate file for each account) My subcategories look like this (I’ll give examples of money and taxes – it’s very important to break everything down into specifics – each account gets its own folder: The thing that I love about how I filed these is that I alphabetized the subcategories but I kept each subcategory in line so if I add or take away it won’t mess up the system. Then I broke down the categories into specific SUBCATEGORIES. HOME + AUTO (together in the file cabinet, but separate subcategories)
But here are my categories and how I broke them down.
I have oodles of paper ideas on my organize: paper Pinterest page if you are interested in perusing that too. Used this label maker to make the folder labelsįiled, filed, filed, and filed some more. Wrote down all of the possible categories and subcategories and then narrowed and combined Here’s how I went from accordion files to grown up file cabinet (and you can too!):īought a large file cabinet – you might already have a file cabinet, I was using accordion files (gasp!) I’m sharing it today in case your brain processes like mine and it’s helpful for you. So after some careful consideration, list making and planning I came up with a simple system that works for us. Part of the reason this project took me so long is that I couldn’t decide on what categories I’d use and how I’d work the cabinet itself. I’m so excited to go into 2014 with a plan for the files, bills, and paper clutter. The timing is perfect – categorize, file, and shred. Your project might be something completely un-paper related, but if you have been wanting to create a grown-up file cabinet or file your 2013 papers, now is the time to do it. I’ve been working on and off on it for the last two months and finally finished it up yesterday and it feels so great to have it completed. NovemSimplify the Season : Organize Your PaperworkĪ great way to simplify things before life gets busy is to finish up any looming projects.