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Your Guide to Lifelong Organization

Stay organized -- one day at a time -- with our easy-to-follow checklist.

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STAY ORGANIZED CHECKLIST: QUARTERLY

Clothing

  • Sort clothing and eliminate unworn items, items that don't fit or are out of style. Store, discard or donate as appropriate.

  • Purge children's outgrown clothing: donate or pass on. (Need help?)


    • Toys
  • Have a toy purging session with your children to eliminate items that are no longer age appropriate, as well as broken or unused toys. (Need help?)


    • Magazines and Catalogs
  • Review magazines and store the keepers in magazine boxes. Recycle the rest. (Need help?)

  • Go through catalog piles and other miscellaneous papers to determine the ones to file or to recycle.


    • STAY ORGANIZED CHECKLIST: YEARLY

    Important Papers
  • Review records for filing your tax return.

  • Check with your accountant to confirm which documents you need to hold on to. The rule is usually the current year's return and the past six years. Keep the supporting documentation for deductions with each year's returns.

  • Shred or discard records older than seven years.

  • If you use financial software to manage your finances (such as Quickbooks) be sure to have a backup copy of these yearly transactions.

  • Discard credit card statements, utility bills and auto insurance bills if they don't directly pertain to tax deductions. (Need help?)


    • Garage
  • Organize tools, gardening and seasonal items. (Need help?)

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