How to Use Index Cards

Index cards have many purposes. They are easy to handle, easy to store and best of all, inexpensive. You can get 3x5 index cards, but they also come in other sizes, lined or unlined, colored or white, so you have multiple choices when you're choosing index cards. The following will give you some reasons to choose and use index cards.

Instructions

1. Decide what size and color index cards you want. How you plan to use the index cards will help you decide the first two factors. Most of the time 3x5 index cards are the best because they are so easy to use and store.

2. Write down messages on the index cards. Since index cards are so inexpensive you can use them instead of post-its that may fall off the surface you post them on. Index cards can be tacked on a board or put on a seat for the person who needs to get the message.

3. List your bills. You can put a lot of information on an index card. You can start by listing your bills by the date they are due, then the company you need to pay, the amount you owe, the date you actually pay the bill, and the check number of the check you used to pay the bill.

4. Use you index cards to keep track of your bills. This is different then Step 3. For this job you can use one index card for each company that you owe money to, including your regular bills such as gas and electric, cable and mortgage or rent. You would put the name of the company at the top of the card and then list the payment each month. There is enough room to put a year's worth of payments on one card.

5. Help your children learn by making flash cards out of your index cards. For this task colored index cards may be better in order to hold your child's attention. This can be a great way for children to learn math, reading, history, geography and numerous other subjects.

6. Put your index cards to use when doing homework. This can be accomplished in a few ways. You can make notes on the index cards as you are reading assignments, you can use them for bibliographies when writing research papers or you can use them in class when taking notes from your teachers. All of these tasks can be ways to use the index cards. Try to use colored ones so you can use them for different subjects.

7. Make an address book with your index cards. Buying a file box for your index cards and alphabet dividers will make setting up an address book simple. This way you have plenty of room to write on the card and updating it will be easy if you need to do this.

8. Organize your recipes. Many people collect recipes on anything they have handy at the moment. With index cards at the ready, you can write the recipes down on paper that will be easy to read later and file them in an index card box when you get home.

Tips & Warnings

• Index cards are simple and less expensive than some of the other organizational tools you may use.

• Buying index card boxes and dividers is a great way to organize your index cards.

Resources

• How to use index cards to write a novel outline.
• 24 things you can do with an index card
• Index card