The end (and then first) of the year is a helpful, natural time to get caught up on papertaming. There are some specific paper-deadlines near the change-of-year. But, more important, the general nature of a lot of recordkeeping is annual. So we'll get extra satisfaction from our efforts if we can complete a well-documented paper-year of 2009, then start a new year with an easy-to-access, neat-looking paper-life. Time will be saved!
Paper, including filing/recordkeeping; billpaying/finance-planning; computer updating; social/correspondence upkeep; and just plain "stacks of indecision" is probably our most depressing organizational problem. Since it is tied up in every aspect of our lives, getting our papertaming in order can have a huge positive effect on our well being, with more control and less frustration.
Please post here any tips and ideas to help others, any recommendations of supplies or storage that have helped you. Feel free to ask questions about how long others keep documents, how they consolidate storage, how they keep on top of complicated tasks, ways to simplify correspondence - whatever advice will help you!
Smile, last year waiting to switch to a new thread a little later in the year for tax season worked pretty well (both US and Canada have individual tax return deadlines in April). But we can start it any time - a lot of folks are already getting taxes ready.
Recent Paper Taming decision for me:
All catalogs now go straight to the master bedroom here. They are not allowed in magazine-approved areas .
Here are my current goals for Paper Taming:
Switch our bills into a new checkfile
Switch my parents' bills into a new checkfile
Consolidate our 2009 financial life into a box
Consolidate my parents' 2009 financial life into a box
Begin a tax-form/papers file for us
Begin a tax-form/papers file for my parents
I need to get an antique photo of my great uncle restored.
A few people need correspondence - an aunt, a high-school friend.
Harriet ~ it really doesn't make any difference to me. Either way works for me. My brain was heading into the new year, and for some reason, it was important in the moment to post in the right place.
is probably our most depressing organizational problem. Since it is tied up in every aspect of our lives, getting our papertaming in order can have a huge positive effect on our well being, with more control and less frustration. 
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