How to Keep Important Documents Organized and in One Place

Keep the important papers neatly organized so you can find them easily.

When you need documents, having to spend time searching through drawers or files can be exceedingly frustrating. If you cannot lay your hands on financial or personal documents within a few moments of needing them, your organizational methods may need some improvement. Keep important documents organized and in one place to simplify and streamline your organization and place everything you need at your fingertips.

Things You'll Need

• File cabinet
• Hanging files
• Manila files

Instructions

1. Designate one or two drawers in a file cabinet for storing all of your important documents. The number of drawers you require depends on the amount of documents you need to store.

2. Create a hanging file for your various documents. For example, you might need a hanging file for investments, insurance, bank accounts, credit cards, tax returns, health care, child-related records, automotive, purchase warranties and receipts. Place each hanging file into the file drawers.

3. Make folders to subdivide each hanging file. For example, in the "investment" hanging file, make a separate folder for each investment; in the "insurance" hanging file, you might need a "health insurance," "auto insurance," "life insurance" and "professional insurance" folder. In the "bank accounts" hanging file, make a separate folder for each bank account you own. Make similar folders for each credit card account you have and place these in the "credit card" hanging file. Make a folder for each calendar year, and place these folders in the "tax return" hanging file. Make a folder for every person covered under your health insurance and place these folders in the "health care" folder. Make a folder for each of your children and place these folders in the "child-related records" hanging file. Make a folder for each car you own and place these folders in the "automotive" hanging file. Create folders for different purchases you make, such as "appliances," "electronics," "furniture" and "tools," and place these folders in the "purchase warranties" hanging file.

4. File all of your documents into the folders. This includes all legal, financial, tax and insurance documents. Whenever you receive documents, file them immediately in the correct folder so you do not misplace them.

References

• Consumer Reports; Conquer the Paper Piles; March 2010