We are going to start the Home Office Organization Series with me giving you a sneak peek at my filing system.
I have a vast number of files for everything from warrantees, to instruction books, to EF papers, to homeschooling, to personal stuff. The files are not touched on a regular basis, but are needed. I keep them in the top drawer of my 4 drawer filing cabinet. You know, things like:
- Warrantees
- Home Info
- Insurance Papers
- Receipts needed for taxes
- Birth Certificates
Then, I have my second drawer that gets opened 9-million times a day. My daily paperwork gets stuffed in it. In is the perfect level for me to access comfortably while sitting in my chair. In fact, that drawer is usually open because I have something sitting on it that I am currently working on.
In that drawer I have the following files:
- Hot File – the stuff that I need to handle but couldn’t right away for what ever reason. Maybe I am awaiting a response from someone before I can continue with it. I go through this file weekly to update my To DO list or file anything no longer needed.
- School – This is where I keep Tripp’s printed school schedule, to do lists, print outs we will be using, etc.
- Blog – If I come across something that I want to reference in a blog post, or something that give me a blogging idea, it goes in this file.
- EF – If I am working with a student or a family, the pertinent info goes here.
Drawer three is currently housing all the Product Slicks and Press Kits that I collected while at the 2010 International Home and Housewares Show. I am planning to put these to use really soon when I do my Kitchen Series. 
Then, that drawer will be empty!
Drawer four holds all the books I have listed at Paperback Swap as well as packing tape, business cards, and envelopes.
Do you have a paperwork system that works well for you? If not, maybe you can adopt mine to help you out.
About Kelli
Great ideas for filing. I love th hot drawer idea. Do you ever have problems with forgetting things because they are filed? (you know – outta sight, outta mind)
.-= Melissa Papaj Photography´s last blog ..Weekend Getaway to Yellowstone National Park – Valentine’s 2010 =-.
Thanks for the info. Awesome! I love the hot drawer – especially for school because they send so much home. Do you have a problem with forgetting things because they are filed? (You know – outta sight, outta mind)
.-= Melissa Papaj Photography´s last blog ..Weekend Getaway to Yellowstone National Park – Valentine’s 2010 =-.
@Melissa Papaj Photography, Hi Melissa! Thanks so much for stopping by 3 Boys and a Dog!
Actually, I don’t tend to forget things in my files because the 2nd drawers things are things that I have to handle daily. That just keeps those things from cluttering my desk.
As for school papers, years ago I kept every paper that came home. Now, if it isn’t super special it goes in my shredder box. If it needs a response, I simply respond immediately as I am looking in the folder and put it right back in the folder. I handle that paper ONCE.