Paper Is Harmless

Vintage Vertical File Drawers are Neat as a Pin

We all know (or should) that clutter is simply delayed decision making. Almost everyone can relate to this in terms of their closets. They become filled with clothes that we are undecided about…are we going to lose weight to get back into them, are we ever going to find the perfect top to wear with that skirt bought on sale, are we ever going to wear those shoes enough so they are comfortable? I could go on and on. Our closets are important; don’t get me wrong, but where the decision dilemmas matter most is in regards to our papers.
And so it is with paper… Counters, desks, file cabinets, and storage containers fill up with paper because we’re unwilling to make the time or decision to toss, shred, recycle, or digitize.
In reality, however, the problem is really not the paper. The problem is what the paper represents. Paper represents our intentions, our dreams, and our fears—our past, present and future. It’s often very easy to help someone else clean up their paper, but very difficult to clean up our own, because we don’t want to face our own emotions.

Keeping paper is a practical issue. You can keep everything you want if you are willing to pay the price—the price of time, space, money, and energy. We should want to make decisions regarding our paper and a small impetus is usually all that is required to start the ball rolling. A good therapist, coach, or professional organizer can help you determine the price you are paying for your paper.

In the meantime, if you struggle with paper, sort into the following categories
a. Action required
b. Pay
c. File
d. Decide Later
e. Trash/Recycle

It is also prudent to also include a Tax file. These few files (NOT piles) will help take the sting out of your paper situation.

Paper is harmless in itself, the only power it has over you is what you give it.

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder, CPO
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RevivalSmith/103076066434388#!/pages/RevivalSmith/103076066434388

The Monster in the Mailbox

You know what they are…they arrive virtually every day delivered right to your house by the courier dressed in blue and driving the queer square vehicle. They elicit a sense of dread upon contact and sometimes the dread increases after the initial contact. That’s right, I’m talking about bills! Bills for the phone, electricity, homeowners association, insurance, and an ever widening variety of other things and services…Bills, Invoices, and Statements…
We all have them and there is no getting away from them. They come in the form of paper or email, both of which prove to be very stressful for most people. Although they are the bane of existence for most normal folks, they will never go away and it is best to pay them as soon as they come in to avoid forgetting them. If cash flow prevents paying bills right away then a good method for managing them is in order.

If bill cannot be paid right away, I would recommend at the very least keeping up with a calendar or document where you can enter the due date to prevent missing it. An electronic calendar whether on your computer or smart phone is best so you can program it to send you reminders. This one small step could possibly save you thousands in late fees.

Here is how I recommend you handle those pesky bills once and for all…

1. Check your mail every day! I understand this can be a daunting task but fortunately the USPS gives you a day to recuperate on Sundays!
2. Remove all of the extraneous information included in the envelope – this includes the original mailing envelope. If you mail your payments, keep the return envelope and statement only.
3. Note the due date in your calendar then file in a ToBePaid file. This file should be easily accessible and look strikingly different than other files.
4. As soon as possible pay your bills! Pay them in order of their due date and if that is not feasible, pay them in order of importance.

If you receive electronic statements and make all payments online, use a similar process in your email inbox. The most important thing to remember is to flag these items in your inbox and keep unnecessary items out. Unnecessary items include forwards with cute pictures and marketing emails.

There are many ways to keep up with your bills and this method is not intended as an all around crowd pleaser. Use this as an inspiration to come up with a fool-proof system that works for you and remember, try to pay your bills as soon as they arrive!

Have a Neat day!
Jennifer Snyder
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
http://www.neatasapin.net
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Twitter: @neatasapin

Photo Credit: bellesreveries.com