Home Organization Tips: Paper Clutter

Daily Mail
Every day a new pile of paper comes in, and doesn't it seem like half of it deserves to go right back out? Research shows that up to 80% of mail can immediately be discarded. Even if you don't reach that amount, you can still organize your mail quickly by putting every piece in one of three files as soon as you open it.

• The ACTION file: This is for items that need an immediate response. (See below for a special tip for handling bills.)
• The KEEP file: This is for mail you'll refer to but don't need right away. (Find a home for “keep” items at least once a week so they don't accumulate.)
• The CIRCULAR file: Also known as the trash can, this is your new best friend. Use it and/or your recycling bin.

All three files should be placed close to where you usually open your mail, so it's easy to put paper in its proper place, right away. Also throw out or recycle the envelopes and flyers that come with the mail you are keeping, they simply take up space.

 Bills 
Bills are so easy to lose track of, and companies include so many advertisements and flyers in them that it's hard to tell if it's trash or not. To get rid of the excess and still have a place to keep bills, purchase an inexpensive monthly bill organizer that has 31 slots, one for each day of the month. Place the bill in the slot that corresponds with seven days before it's due. Keep pens and stamps nearby so everything's handy when it's time to write the check and send it off. No more panic attacks over a disappearing phone bill!

Many companies also offer online billing and will allow you to choose a paper-less option. Simply mark a reminder date on your preferred calendar a few days before bills are due or set up automatic payments.

Magazines and Catalogs
What is it about magazines that allow them to spontaneously reproduce? If one magazine is on the floor today, in a week it will be three. If you're a magazine lover, here's how to get organized:

• Throw out the previous issue of a magazine when the current one comes in.
• If you read an article you want to keep, cut it out and save just the clipping, instead of the whole magazine.Designate a binder for magazine clippings and organize by month and year or by subject.
• If you can't stand tossing a perfectly good magazine, many local libraries and senior centers accept periodicals as donations.
• Get an attractive basket to store magazines in. If multiple members of your family receive magazines designate a different basket for each person. Make it their responsibility to clean out baskets once a month.
• As for catalogs, if you keep getting the same ones, use the magazine rule and replace the old ones. If you receive catalogs you don't want, do an internet search for companies that provide mail list removal services.

More Tips on Conquering Paper Clutter
Not all paper clutter comes through the mail. Be aware of secondary sources of paper intrusion, like school papers, business cards and flyers.

• For school age kids, label a three-ring binder with your child's name. Punch holes in important papers, such as midterm grades or A+ essays, and place inside the binder to keep them on hand for the school year. Place messages from school needing an immediate response in your ACTION file.
• A kitchen bulletin board is an excellent place for notes, coupons, and anything else that doesn't have an obvious home. Save room on the fridge for the important stuff—your child's artwork!
• Use an inexpensive address book to hold onto key names and numbers. Then get rid of all of those old flyers, business cards, or peoples' numbers on scraps of paper you've been hanging onto.
• Have an “Inbox” for everyone in the family to store their mail and papers. Make sure they keep this inbox cleaned out on a weekly basis.
• There are loads of simple, attractive options for storing papers: A decorative mail center is a great place to deposit the day's mail until you sort it. Color-coded file folders in file holders or office “in boxes” are also inexpensive storage solutions for everyday papers.

The best thing you can do to get organized is simply to make a decision. Once you've made up your mind to make even a few small changes, the end of the paper trail is in sight! Conquering clutter can create a more efficient, peaceful and happy home!