Avoid Paper Clutter

Avoid Paper Clutter

According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, paper is the number one clutter problem in American households. When you really think about it, that covers a lot of territory. There is mail, receipts, documents that record marriages, births, deaths, legal transactions and agreements. There are newspapers and periodicals and even reminder lists and post-it notes. We haven’t even considered the mounds of paper generated doing homework, creating white papers and documenting our thoughts for current readers and future generations. There are warrantees and receipts to keep track of. There are insurance policies and tax records to maintain. There is not one system that works for every one but here are a few hints to help keep things under control.

1. Minimize the paper you receive by contacting the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry to opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card and insurance offers from lists provided by Equifax, Experian, Innovis and Transunion (http://www.optoutprescreen.com)/. You can also contact Direct Marketing Association (http://www.dmaconsumers.org/) to discontinue receiving direct advertising from companies affiliated with DMA.
   
2. Sort mail as you receive it and retain only the documents you need to maintain your records.
   
3. Do not save newspapers and periodicals for an article you need for future use. Clip the needed material only and recycle the rest of the paper.
   
4. Keep warranty information clipped to appliance instructions and the purchase receipt in a file or three ring binder for handy reference.
   
5. Find a home for the paper you keep and them keep the volume under control by setting limits that meet your personal needs. Examples include:

• No more magazines than the magazine rack can hold
• No receipts over a year old other than those for tax and warranty purposes.
• Only insurance policies that remain in force

If you are currently overwhelmed by the paper in your life, start with one area and work on it until you get it organized. It may be culling the magazines or managing the mail. Just pick a place and start. Then keep your solutions simple and make sure they fit the way YOU live.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net