Organizing important papers

[MelissaRaeCake]

I am wondering what papers (financial, etc) you keep and how you keep them. We are moving in August, and I want to get rid of everything we don't need to take with us. That includes paper that we will never need, but for some reason have kept through the years.

As much as possible, I have gone digital with all my monthly bills, etc. And I have a scanner, so anything I think I might need to reference again I can scan and save.

Obviously, I want to keep my marriage license and birth certificates, and really important papers like that. But in this age of technology, is there really any paper that you cannot get a hard copy of if you ever really needed it?

Thanks for any input!

[Abbybob]

I have a family binder. I have a section where I keep our marriage license, and our birth certificates.

The Family Binder- staying organized saves you money « Cacoupondiva's Blog

[mom2lucas]

I like the family binder idea!

[motherofmolly]

i saw a really neat idea on one of those get your finances in order shows.

the square plastic totes (get them at office max/staples) they come with a lid. put file folders in there (hanging and manilla)...put tabs on them and label them
licenses, warranties, taxes, bank, life insurances, house loan & major upkeep, insurances etc

you could also do one for current taxes so you have a place to put it all.

i like it as it is all in one and an easy storage option.

as far as what to keep, taxes for 7 years. i would keep copies of at least the last two months bills (for reference in case you need to call and prove payment etc). depending on your moving situation, you might be able to right off some of that on your taxes (selling your house, moving for work etc), keep those papers.

the box system i described i plan on using that for dd's homeschooling. i plan on doing a day of work for every school day of the month. i will have everythign they need to work on for the day.

[cybilx10]

I am kinda old school. I have a 5 drawer filing cabinet in my office at home that I keep all my receipts, copies of bills, checking statements and warranty paperwork in. Plus the other drawer I keep all of my sons school work in it for the year so I can reference back if needed. The 3rd drawer has all of my couponing supplies in it, plus that is where I keep my binders 4th drawer is random things, 5th drawer is my stockpile of ink, paper, envelopes, plus a few other office supplies.

[abond0017]

I keep things like marriage licenses and birth certificates in a small fire safe.

For the rest of it, I have filing cabinets (2 two drawer). Since 2009 I have been scanning each new year's worth of important documents into my comp. In another few years when I don't think I need to hang onto the stuff in the cabinets anymore, I figure I'll have the entire contents shredded or burned. And after that, other than the birth certificates & etc., I will only have computer files.

If you do start keeping yours on your comp, be sure to back up your comp regularly or store it all on a separate external storage in case your comp crashes.

[thickbluebug]

We use a binder for bills.
Never know when a bill doesn't make it to you and then wham - you are hit with those high interest rates.

We went to a binder several years ago when we didn't get a bill.

We have categories like the date something is due and pouches to put the bills in it.


I think some of the companies now, just don't send them to try and catch someone late and raise the rates.
I know our cable bill and water company have a ridiculous late fee.

[reezz]

I like the plastic tote idea for DH. He owns his own biz. and is terrible organizing....come tax time hes running around trying to gather papers, receipts, etc.

Ill give it a try...Itll probably be easiest for him.

[tammyinwv]

[B][COLOR=blue]
I think some of the companies now, just don't send them to try and catch someone late and raise the rates.

We have noticed the same thing. A friend of ours was hit with a bill that had a huge amt of interest taxed on. They had bought a recliner with free interest as long as all payments made on time, otherwise ..one late payment, and the full amount is added back onto the loan. They hadnt missed a payment, but one month their bill arrived late, and it was paid immediately. Low and behold the next bill showed the full interest. They were angry and paid it in full. My son had the same thing with a certain credit card company, until we canceled them all when there was so many changes and allowed them to jack our interest rates up. My husband paid our bill for our latex bed, but noticed it wasnt cashed until almost 3 weeks after it was mailed. He is afraid they are going to play with his bill.
Tammy