Do you have piles of papers lying around? Maybe you have folders stuffed with any important paperwork. Or perhaps the papers have taken over a portion of your kitchen counter. Nothing makes me crazier than piles of papers. Except for maybe not being able to find a paper that I need in the piles of papers. I created a filing system for all of the important paperwork in our home. I’m going to teach you how to set up a home filing system too!
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The Dreaded Paper Pile
When I lived at home, there was a basket that held the important papers that had not been filed yet. When the basket would overflow, my mom would dump it out and sort through the papers. Some would get filed and most would get trashed. The paper basket made me crazy when I would go looking for something. Though I did not often need to go digging through the basket, when I did it made me nuts.
When I was older I kept my important papers in a folder. They all fit in a single folder, which fit nicely in my desk drawer. This worked fine until I got married, bought a home, and got a real job. Suddenly there was the dreaded paper pile accumulating on my kitchen counter. I moved it to my desk to get it out of the way. It kept growing and eventually was in the way there too. Something had to change or I was going to lose my mind.
We bought a filing cabinet, some hanging files, and some file folders. I sat down with the label maker one weekend determined to tackle the paper pile once and for all. It worked great for a little while. But things were still hard to find when I needed them. The categories I had picked made it hard to pinpoint which file the paper might be in. So it was back to the drawing board…errr label maker.
Eventually I figured it out. I found categories that worked and subcategories that made finding specific papers a breeze. The dreaded paper pile has since disappeared never to return now that we set up a home filing system.
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How to Set Up a Home Filing System
Pick Big Categories
The first step to set up a home filing system is to pick the big categories. These will be the hanging files. We have jobs, kitchen, taxes for each year, cars, home, animals, manuals, school, investments, banks, and credit cards. These are the general categories that everything must fit into. Although this is what works for us, it may not be what you need. If you have kids, obviously you will need files for them and their needs too.
Pick Specific Subcategories
Next you will divide each big category into a smaller subcategory. These will be the file folders that go inside of the hanging files. We keep files for each of our jobs and cars, colleges we attended, banks we use, and credit cards. There is a file for personal property taxes and tax return papers. In the home file we divide our files into loans, repairs, insurance, and taxes. The manuals are divided by type including power tools, appliances, and electronics. We gave the kitchen its own file because there’s so many manuals so it has an appliances file and a gadgets file. Once again divide as much or a little as needed for your specific situation. I am telling you how to set up a home filing system, but you will have to make it work for you.
Label the Folders
Then it is time to label your file and folders. I love to use my label maker for this, but you can write it on the tabs if you prefer. Just make sure things are clearly labeled, so that when you need your personal property tax receipt from 2005 it is easily located.
Sort the Papers
Last is sorting the papers. This is my least favorite part and the most time consuming. As you sort, it may become apparent that you need more files or more folders. When I’m sorting I like to listen to my favorite podcasts or crank up some music.
Purge Annually
Although you have sorted and labeled all of the papers currently in the house, there will inevitably be more. Make sure to sort as they arrive and remember to purge annually. There’s no need to keep a manual for a product you no longer own.
How to Store a Home Filing System
We keep our home filing system in a filing cabinet. Or at least we did until we moved. Before we can move our offices, we must first complete the office space. So I bought a filing tub. It not only made moving our files pretty easy, but it made the transition time easier. Life continued on and papers were still needed during the move. The filing tub made it easy to find what we needed. It’s currently still holding everything until the office space is completed.
My husband likes to keep all of his work files in a portable filing box. It has a handle and is smaller than the big tub. Since he works out of town once a month, it makes taking the files back and forth easy for him.
As a teacher, I have tons of paperwork. Tracking data on 20+ kids throughout the year means that there is plenty of paperwork. I put my school files in filing crates. This allows me to stack them up and even turn them into chairs.
Find what fits your space. Don’t be afraid to scrap something and try something different. The goal is to have filing papers simple enough that you can do it often.
How to Maintain a Home Filing System
The key to maintaining a home filing system is to continue to change it. As jobs change or cars are purchased, clean out the file or create a new one. Don’t create a pile of papers to deal with later. Later is not a date on the calendar. Keep on top of it, so that you don’t end up with the dreaded paper pile that hides all of the important stuff.
The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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