Four Steps to Less Paper Clutter

Papers that you are keeping will fall into two categories: Active or Reference. Your storage solution will be different for each of these categories.

Active papers will need to be front and center on a desk or counter for easy access. Desktop filing boxes work well as you can assign a folder for each person in the household or file by action. Some of the actions may be:

• Bills to pay
  
• Cards to mail
  
• Phone calls to make/RSVP to invitations
  
• Papers to sign and return

Reference papers can be stored away from your desk in a file cabinet or some archival container that can be stored in another room, the basement or garage. They should be labeled by category and placed in alphabetical order so you can retrieve them quickly and easily. Some categories for reference papers might be:

• Tax papers
  
• Personal property
  
• Vehicle records
  
• Education records
  
• Insurance
  
• Health history