How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

cluelessbride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 10:23 AM

How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

I am a paper-clutter disaster! The table next to my bed has a pile of books and magazines and my dresser has a pile of mail. It drives FH nuts!

I try to shred what I don't need to keep, and file what I need, but I don't get around to filing until maybe once every two weeks.

What does everyone else do?

eogara Posted: Jun 30, 2004 10:45 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Sadly, the same thing.

nov04LIbride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 10:49 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Posted by eogara

Sadly, the same thing.

Me too! Even worse, I think silverfish are breeding in all the papers!

Jan05Bride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 10:55 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

When you pick up your mail each night, sort it - all junk goes directly into the garbabge. Open bills, take out the mailing envelope and the bill, throw the outer envelope away. Keep bill in an envelope or folder.

Once you pay the bill, put it in a different folder until you have time to file it. They sell those accordian files or even a manilla envelope would work. At least it would be organized.

cluelessbride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 10:57 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Posted by Jan05Bride

When you pick up your mail each night, sort it - all junk goes directly into the garbabge. Open bills, take out the mailing envelope and the bill, throw the outer envelope away. Keep bill in an envelope or folder.

Once you pay the bill, put it in a different folder until you have time to file it. They sell those accordian files or even a manilla envelope would work. At least it would be organized.

Thank you! I can def do that.

Jan05Bride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:01 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Posted by cluelessbride

Posted by Jan05Bride

When you pick up your mail each night, sort it - all junk goes directly into the garbabge. Open bills, take out the mailing envelope and the bill, throw the outer envelope away. Keep bill in an envelope or folder.

Once you pay the bill, put it in a different folder until you have time to file it. They sell those accordian files or even a manilla envelope would work. At least it would be organized.

Thank you! I can def do that.

That's what I do because I have no patience to constantly file/shred etc ... I have a folder for all unpaid bills and important paperwork that I need to follow up on. Then once I finish paying the bills, I have another folder which where everything will sit until I have a minute to file. I have a supermarket plastic bag for stuff I need to shred. It sits on the side of my filing cabinet until I am ready.

Another option is using a store bag - like coach, or tiffany, at least it'll look cute!

nov04LIbride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:01 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

The problem for me is, differenciating between junk and not junk. For example, I saw all the Joann's and Michael's ads with coupons in case I get there. So they sit on the table til they expire, usually later, and 99% of the time they go unused. But if I wanted them, they would be there!

BMD'sPeanut Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:04 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Posted by Jan05Bride

Another option is using a store bag - like coach, or tiffany, at least it'll look cute!

Designer maniac.

Jan05Bride Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:05 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Posted by nov04LIbride

The problem for me is, differenciating between junk and not junk. For example, I saw all the Joann's and Michael's ads with coupons in case I get there. So they sit on the table til they expire, usually later, and 99% of the time they go unused. But if I wanted them, they would be there!

Why not get a plain white envelope. Put all you coupons in the envelope as you get them and keep them in your pocketbook. That way they'll always be with you in case you are out shopping?

MizStinker Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:20 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

I keep my store coupons in my wallet - that way I have them when I am there not sitting in a drawer at my house.

I keep all my unpaid bills in a day planner that I use for work/personal. I pay most of my bills online so once I am done I rip the stub up and throw it out.

I keep all my magazines in a large mag basket in my LR (got at Pottery barn) once it is full I either give them to other people or throw them out. I also fold down pages of bridal mag and rip them out before I toss the whole thing, and store them in a wedding folder I have. Sectioned off into different categories. The only thing I havent been able to tackel are my books and pots /pan storage
I am working on it.

I am an organizational junkie.

Donna Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:26 AM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

Bills and mail that aren't junk go in a tray that I keep on the dining room chair. I also put invitations, etc in there. Once they are paid the bill gets filed in one of those accordion files.
As for magazines once they are read they are either given to someone or recycled for the garbage.

cocoa Posted: Jun 30, 2004 03:29 PM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

i also have a binder for bill paying. i keep track on online billing and confirmation numbers on one page, then i have my budget pages. the binder has a pocket so things go in there until i need to take care of them. when the binder can't close, it is time to file or shred.

Xelindrya Posted: Jun 30, 2004 03:52 PM

Re: How do you organize your bills, mail, magazines, etc?

I guess I pretty much do the same as Jan05Bride

I toss all junk mail first. I don’t need a loan, a credit card, or other junk offers.

I have an accordion file and it includes the following catagories:
Paychecks
Bank Statements (one for each bank)
Insurance related
Car related (title, lease agreement etc)
Personal data (Birth certificate, Marriage cert, etc)
Wedding slots (Photo/Video, Hall, Music, etc – each with it’s own slot)

For mail that comes in that falls into those categories listed I just dump the newest in the front of that slot. I don’t toss anything out. I store paychecks and bank statements annually with my tax returns. The car stuff is always updated and kept current as is the insurance, when a document becomes obsolete or replaced, the old one is destroyed.

Bills:
Like Jan05Bride, I open them up remove all the crap that comes with it and keep only the bill and the return envelope. I pay mostly online but sometimes with check. I shred the statements when the balance confirms payment. So this month I get a statement that shows my last payment and I can verify nothing suspicious has been charged then I destroy the old bill and replace it with the new one.

Mags:
Jim gets Maxium I get AAA & NAIW stuff. We keep no mag longer than two months. It’s tossed after that.

Books:
I have only a small shelf for books. I read as much as I can jam in there then Jim brings home a box and I catalog every book I read by author, title & genre then box them up and put them in the basement (since I live with the inlaws).