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can't believe how fast it goes
Join Asha Dornfest of Parent Hacks to swap tips and tricks for organizing your home with a minimum of fuss, time and stress. We'll all learn from Asha, but, even better, we'll share our own best ideas. Come be inspired and learn new ways to get rid of the clutter and tidy up your home life!
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The Best Ideas For Getting Organized With Asha Dornfest Of Parent Hacks
Jan 23, 2012 Monday, 1:00pm EST - Add as Favorites
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Category:FAMILY,HOME AND FOOD
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Talk Host
- parenthacks 11 comments
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I'm hearing lots of frustration with how to manage paper without getting overwhelmed. The key (which I have yet to successfully pull off) is to chip away at the piles AND the inflow a little each day.
4 months ago
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- Becki 10 comments
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My big problem is paper: I can recycle the junk mail, but it's the bills, the school notices, the things that "something" needs to be done with, but not necessarily right this second. Sound familiar? Any ideas?
4 months ago
Becki
I LOVE the idea of clipboards!
4 months ago
Emily
Wow, Christine - the clipboard idea is GORGEOUS!!!
4 months ago
Featured Guest
Meagan Francis
I also have one inbox (for stuff that needs to be dealt with in the next week or so). Stuff has a way of congregating in that inbox whether I want it to or not, so I make a point of going through it daily to weed and re-weed. When I stay on top of it, it only takes a minute or two each day.
4 months ago
Featured Guest
Meagan Francis
I try to consolidate as much of that stuff as I can, right away. So, for example, instead of hanging on to the school notices, I enter the information into my calendar/notebook right way and then ditch it. For bills, I have two pockets that stick to the wall - one for "to pay" and one for "recently paid".
4 months ago
Featured Guest
Christine Koh
Becki -- I actually just bought clipboards to do this (see Pinterest link attached). Beautiful, simple, tames clutter! http://pinterest.com/pin/166914729909154126/
4 months ago
Erin O
What about using a few desk trays? This is something I've considered. Maybe labeled "bills" and "school notices" and "ready to file." At least they're contained somewhere that way!
4 months ago
Homa24
Punch holes in them, perhaps, and put them in a binder - that way you can flip to them when you need them without big stacks to flutter about.
4 months ago
Emily
Mine too, Becki!
4 months ago
Amy McCready
Very familiar! :)
4 months ago
Brandie
Totally familiar. I have no advice to help here. Other than I'm SO disorganized in this area.
4 months ago
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©The Motherhood 2012
SmartyPantsMama
@Becki - GREAT point! I'm thinking that medical, financial and mortgage statements are most important to keep. No need for the cable bill!
4 months agoEmily
Becki, that's a good reminder for all of us!
4 months agoSmartyPantsMama
Very good point! I think maybe just a year to hold on to
4 months agoBecki
The thing that woke me up is that when my husband and I went to apply for our mortgage, my credit score was much lower than it should have been because of two relatively small medical bills that were paid very late. My disorganization could have cost us a lot of money.
4 months agosaracarl
Smarty -- I throw away a whole lot more than most people do. What scenario do you think you're really going to need that electric bill?
4 months agoIf it's not tax related or if I can get it online in the event I need it, it goes.
SmartyPantsMama
How far back in years do you think it's necessary to keep, let's say the electric bill statement?
4 months agoTalk Host
parenthacks
Smartypantsmama: I promise you, the fear of "what's in there" is so much bigger than anything you'll find. I just went thru exactly that at the end of last year...tons of unfiled and unopened mail. Guess what: no nasty surprises and two checks!
4 months agoCarrie
My kids LOVE to draw and write. I save a sampling of the most precious pieces. The rest of the daily kid papers go into my recycling bin (a picnic basket in the pantry). If we really want it, we can get it back, but so far we have not reclaimed anything. Process not product for their art.
4 months agoHoma24
My husband calls my paper pile "kitchen mountain." It is just a time thing sometimes - get the paper away from the kids and get to it later...only "later" turns into "much later." I still have school assignments from undergrad, I just have trouble parting with paper. Too sentimental, but I need to drag the scanner out and convert it to digital clutter!
4 months agoFeatured Guest
Meagan Francis
Yes! If I take a couple of minutes each day to do this (part of my routine) it never gets out of control. I let it all back up over the holiday and I'm still digging out!
4 months agoSmartyPantsMama
I'm just scared of all the months of paperwork that I neatly put in a bag to file. Ok, I'll admit it -- it's over a year's of paper and several bags!
4 months ago