Designate a Mail Zone Use an Inbox and Outbox Create an Entryway Catch-All Have a Main Bin Pay Bills Online Buy Mobile File Boxes Keep a Paper Shredder Don't Neglect Mail Do a Once-a-Year Purge Make a Mag Space
Fight back against clutter chaos with these ten simple strategies.
Make sure there's a garbage can nearby so you can chuck all of the unwanted stuff.
These can be wall pockets, a leather box, or a pouch that hangs off a knob on the back door. Your outbox is for what goes out with you the next day.
Place your keys, sunglasses, parking pass, subway pass, etc. here so they're reachable as you're heading out.
You can put your bills, stamps, checkbook, and a pen inside, and place it on a bookshelf for easy access. Pop the lid on when guests come by.
Download your credit card bills and bank statements and back them up on an external hard drive once a month to reduce the chance of identity theft.
They'll keep your paperwork organized and handy. When mail comes in, either file it away or shred it.
It insures safe disposal of paperwork with personal identification information.
Don't get overwhelmed every month -- look at your schedule and pick one day a week to spend half an hour going through it.
If you aren't sure about throwing away something, ask your accountant. The IRS has three years to audit you, so you can probably get rid of files older than that.
Forgo the sofa-side bin and go for a wall rack. Your favorite mags can be affordable wall art, and more importantly -- contained!