ORGANIZING
Tips for keeping your paperwork in order
Is your paperwork spilling out of drawers? Can you even see your kitchen counter anymore? Bills, bank statements, every type of receipt or warranty… it’s easy to find yourself buried beneath the documents of life. Here’s a guide on how to dig yourself out.
In theory, it would be great to live in an uncluttered, minimal space worthy of a design magazine. But—sorry Marie Kondo—in reality, our houses more often look like a category 5 tornado just blew through. “In terms of organization, paperwork is the crux of the problem,” says Mylène Houle Morency, a member of Professional Organizers in Canada. “If you don’t have a good system in place, all those papers will quickly take over.”
In the entryway console, all over the kitchen island, on the dining room table… any horizontal surface can become your random bits and bobs’ new resting place. The good news? Even if no one in your family has a particular penchant for paper management, we’re here to help you learn how to take control of your filing situation with a few smart solutions and the proper tools.
1 THE FAMILY BINDER
WHAT: An inch-and-a-half-wide binder, with dividers, that stays in the kitchen, where it’s visible but out of the way.
WHY: To keep information that might be needed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis so that it’s handy for everyone to access. Adapt this binder for the specific needs of your family and do a cleanup once or twice a year, such as right before school starts. Include the following:
Quick references. Birthday party invitations, restaurant takeout menus, emergency contacts, Wi-fi codes and important passwords.
Grocery lists. What’s for dinner? The age-old question gets sorted. Keep track of what you ate last week, grocery lists, family favourites, new recipes to try, things you need to buy.
School. Calendars, information about special activities, days off, class phone numbers, permission forms, cheque books, envelopes and stamps.
Contacts. Doctors, the dentist, veterinarian, hairdresser, babysitter, kid’s friends, neighbours, dog walker.
Maintenance. Snow removal services, landscaper, pool cleaner, electrician. Include the last bill or contract for reference but nothing more.
2 THE MURAL SYSTEM
WHAT: A file folder with pockets that can attach to the wall.
WHY: To find important things easily. Each week, set an alarm on your phone to remind you to deal with everything. This way you’ll avoid unpaid bills or important documents getting misplaced all over the house.
3 THE COMMAND CENTRE
WHAT: A whole wall or section of a wall with push pins and cork, a dry-erase board or chalkboard paint that becomes the epicentre of household information.
WHY: To mark important dates on a paper calendar, write down the week’s events with chalk or create visual reminders and list things to do. You can even add animated notes.
“Paperwork is the crux of the (organization) problem... if you don’t have a good system in place, all those papers will quickly take over.”
4 THE STORAGE BOX
WHAT: A mini filing system.
WHY: Divide your paperwork into four categories: to do, to file, to pay, to read. You can then do a document sweep every week or every month.
5 THE LITTLE ARTIST GALLERY
WHAT: In a frame? Too complicated. Blue tack? Not aesthetically pleasing. Houle Morency suggests using a stainless steel curtain wire instead. “It’s flexible, clean and ideal to hang artwork. Suspend it high enough to avoid accidents, and rotate the art.”
WHY: To display and promote the talents of your little Picassos-in-the-making. The Artkive app lets you take photos to document artwork that might not be kept, and the Keepy app lets you also film your kids explaining the meaning behind their work.