Spring Cleaning, Part IV: Organizing Your Files

I feel like we just started the spring cleaning series, and yet here we are with September creeping up! If you missed Part I (intro), Part II (kitchen), or Part III (closets), make sure to go back and read them before reading about organizing your files. (P.S. This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission on any purchases made at no extra cost to you.)

Did August fly by for anyone else or was it just me?

We are coming up on the last component of the spring cleaning in fall series and I feel like I still have so much cleaning left to do! I got sidetracked the past week or so due to some exciting opportunities that have come my way recently (more on that in the weekly-ish email).

I managed to find time last weekend to finish up all of the closets at home except for one – which is on my to do list this week. Thankfully it’s the coat/game closet, so it should be a quick win.

Next up on our spring cleaning in fall to do list…

Paper is probably the most ignored mess in our home. I have a hanging wire basket where I keep our papers, and let me just say it has become a nightmare. I had such good intentions when I hung it up: the top half is for manuals and other paperwork “to keep”, the bottom half is for upcoming bills. But lately it’s just a bunch of loose papers, mail, and notebooks shoved in wherever they will fit. #yikes

This week we will focus on getting your paper under control and organizing your files.

Just like we did with the closets, we are going to follow a three-step method. This method is pretty similar to what we did last week.

Step One: Pull everything out.

Yes, we are going to make a giant pile of paper just like we did with the clothes. Only this time, instead of keeping only what sparks joy (shoutout Marie Kondo and the KonMari method) we are going to sort the piles a bit differently. After all, I know that your $200 electric bill certainly does not spark joy, but you have to pay it! Please don’t toss out any unpaid bills.

Step Two: Separate your papers into piles.

Five piles, to be exact.

1. Trash: Simply put, this is all of your junk mail, old grocery lists, expired coupons. Anything that has no value to you gets tossed.
2. Tax Documents: Any documents that are important to keep for your taxes such as pay stubs, bank statements, receipts, etc.
3. Instructions: If you are like me and keep the manuals on kitchen gadgets, warranty cards (if still valid), etc you’ll want to make a separate pile for these. Loose page recipes can be put in a sub-category pile to be added to your recipe books.
4. Unpaid bills: Obviously if you haven’t paid a bill yet, you don’t want to throw it out. Old bills that have been paid can be tossed unless you need to keep them for the account number or other purposes.
5. Personal Mementos: This would be items such as photos, greeting cards, letters, and the like. If it means something to you, keep it! But if it’s a picture of you and your ex, go ahead and burn that shit now and thank me later.

Step Three: Create a filing system.

Possibly the toughest part of sorting your paper clutter and organizing your files is to come up with a filing system that works for you. By that I mean one that makes sense for your brain, therefore making you want to use it regularly instead of building up clutter all over again.

I mentioned earlier that I half a two-tier hanging filing system. However, I have created folders to separate paperwork and make sure everything stays together for easier access. There is a folder for “Tax Documents,” “Pay Stubs,” and “Receipts.” I put all of our kitchen manuals in a gallon Ziploc bag in case I decide to store it elsewhere in the kitchen someday or when we move (i.e. under the sink, in the junk drawer, etc).

If your paper volume requires a larger storage solution, consider getting a filing cabinet and utilizing hanging folders for organization. The organization possibilities are endless – do what feels natural to you!

Bonus: Create a scrapbook!

I couldn’t tell you how many random photos I have floating around in storage bins, but I know it’s a lot. If you come across a slew of photos and other mementos while cleaning, plan a day this weekend to scrapbook! The kids will love having an art project to work on with you, and it will organize some of the loose items into a central location.

Scrapbooking not your thing? No worries! Buy some photo collage frames, stick photos in it, and hang it up for display. What’s the point in keeping photos if you never look at them anyway, right?

Did you find a ton of loose page recipes? Make a DIY recipe book. Better yet, ask your extended family for their favorite recipes and put together a family recipe book. My sister did this a few years back and it was a great Christmas gift for all the women in our family. It was low-cost for her (only had to pay for printing and binding materials) but very genuine and thoughtful.

Find anything interesting while organizing your files?

I found a checkbook I’ve been missing for months for my “secret” savings account. Not really secret, but I hide 5% of every paycheck in there so I don’t ever see the money and don’t spend it. Sometimes I forget I even have it, LOL. (Related: No Spend Month Challenge)

Also, prior to this challenge I went through old papers and found a matchmaking printout from Valentine’s Day fun in high school – so fun to reminisce. But I want to hear about your neat findings! Tell me about them in the comments below.