When I was married, I tried so hard to organize our paperwork. Every organizational method I researched and tried to implement, failed. I honestly believe that in order to make any organization work in a committed relationship, both people have to have access to what's being organized (i.e. bills) and they have to work out a system that works for both of them. Unfortunately in my relationship, I didn't have either one.
Now it's a different story and I was completely lost as to how to start with my own system. The system I have now is a beginning, and I hope to add to it and work out the kinks as time goes by. Here are the basics:
1. Small, shallow basket (from the dollar store) to house incoming bills, pen, checkbook, stamps, and address labels: After checking mail each day, bills to be paid go in the basket. I'm old school and not eco-friendly--the only bill I have deducted electronically is my car and renter's insurance. I get such a sense of accomplishment of sitting down each month, writing my checks, putting stamps on envelopes, and then mailing off my checks. Maybe one day I'll get around to e-bill pay, but right now I need to do it this way.
2. Hanging file folder system: I bought the one in the picture from Target. I divided mine in the following sections: Utilities, Insurance, Apartment, Car, Work, Bank, House and Food. Let me explain:
- Utilities: In this folder I have separate folders for each of my utilities which include: TV/Internet, Gas, Electricity, Cell Phone
- Insurance: Car/Renter's insurance (I'll probably separate these two, but for right now it works), Dentist (receipts), Doctor (receipts), Medical Insurance (explanation of benefit sheets)
- Apartment: Rental agreement and other important info
- Car: Payment notices, car payment contract, work done to car, etc.
- Work: paystubs and tax information
- Bank: monthly statements
- House (I'm still dealing with short sale stuff so I needed this folder): notices from mortgage companies
- Food: Recipes that I print off from the Internet
