Understanding and Dealing with 

Household Paperwork

Also see:  [ Files ] [ Journals ] [ Photo Albums ] 

Almost more than any other issue, understanding how to handle paperwork in your home will bring greater order and more time to your life.  Let's start at the beginning, work through several different possibilities, and then conquer this problem once and for all.

     All papers which come into your home will need a place to stay temporarily.  This is best addressed by stacking "in/out" boxes, one per family member, in a convenient place on a kitchen or family room counter.  Each box is to be labeled with the name of the family member.  Use whatever method works for you to systemize the movement of papers, but have a system.  For instance, mom's box might go on top because she usually handles the most paperwork.  Other family member's boxes are below hers.  Homework, mail, magazines, phone messages go where they belong as soon as they enter the home.  When a family member is done with their homework and it needs Mom's review/correction, it goes in her box.  When she is done checking the homework, the papers go back in the child's box.  Spouse's mail goes in his box.  When it is time for filing or reading by the homemaker, the mail is transferred to her box.

    As she is able, the homemaker takes paperwork from her "in/out" box and puts it in the four "working" file folders she keeps in her desk.  The folders are labeled:  TO DO, PENDING, BILLS TO PAY, and TO FILE.  All paperwork for which she has stewardship can be kept in one of these files while she works through them.  Mail which need addressing later can be put in the "TO DO" file.  Any bills can be put in the "BILLS TO PAY" file for paying on bill-paying day.  Any paperwork which is in transition, such as wedding announcements, items for which you need an answer, or other unresolved matters can be put in the "PENDING" file.  Any paperwork which you feel has enough merit to be filed permanently should be put in the "TO FILE" folder.  The papers in this folder sit dormant for a month.  This gives the homemaker enough time and space to really understand the importance of these papers in her life.  Usually, on the monthly "filing" day, she will find that most of what was important at the time might NOT be so important to file away and keep.

    Some paperwork will be essential to the everyday working of the family for a considerable period of time.  These papers include soccer schedules, school class schedules, and work personnel information.  These papers should be 3-hold punched as soon as possible and put behind the appropriate dividers in the Information Binder for easy retrieval at a moment's notice.    

    Paperwork that the children bring home and which seems valuable to put away permanently might be kept systematically in journals which you have set up for each of your family members.

    Photos which you have had printed should also have a systematic for storage until you have time to put them into photo albums.  Even then, the albums should be such that you can keep the stored pictures in order.

    Monthly publications, like magazines and newspapers need their own special spot, probably in your family room.  The run of thumb for keeping them organized is to discard last month's (read or unread) when this month's publication arrives.  It is most unlikely that you will have time to review past unread issues.  Toss them!  After two or three months of doing this, you may want to consider canceling the subscription.  It is probably causing you more trouble than it is worth.

    Some magazines, like "National Geographic", are classical and worth keeping in your personal library.  When this month's magazine comes, remove last month's magazine from your family room for storage on your bookshelves.  

Find more helpful ideas in the "House of Order" Handbook.  Return to Home Office...