You may not realize that there are a lot of different ways to file paper... If your files are bursting and you find that once a year or so you have to spend hours cleaning it out, maybe it’s time to re-think your system.
Read MorePaper Clutter Part 2 - Creating an 'Action Station'
Paper comes in through the mailbox, from your kids backpack, from work, the HOA, all kinds of places. Create an action station to help you stay on top of it. That location – be it the kitchen, the foyer, or your home office, should be a place it is both convenient to ‘dump’ stuff, and also a place where it
won’t get forgotten. Sorting that file will help you stay on top of your business.
Read MorePaper Clutter Part 1 - Bar the Gate!
Even in this digital age, paper has an incredible way of taking over our lives. Without proper maintenance your paper and digital stuff will overwhelm you. So let’s work on this this month.
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How about you make it EASIER this year?
Tax day is still over two months away, but Jan/Feb is the time when all those important pieces of paper you’ll need to do your taxes start showing up. Take a little time now to create a system to get your papers organized so that when it’s time to give it to the accountant, or sit down and prepare them you can be a little less stressed.Read More
The GO File
There have been heart-wrenching stories coming out of California recently, of families being forced to evacuate their homes in a hurry as fire spread across their beautiful wine country neighborhoods. Emergencies like this are rare, but do happen, and that’s why I have a go-file, and you should too.
We’ve just finished National Preparedness month, and while it is good time to stock up on batteries and candles, fresh water and other emergency supplies, the go-file is an essential element for emergency preparedness that is often overlooked.
So what’s a go-file? Well it’s a file that’s ready to go, of course. A single container to keep your most important documents that you can grab as you leave the house in an emergency. It can be a file box or a binder (I recommend a nice standout red one) and it should have everything in it you would need to prove your identity, file an insurance claim, access your important accounts. Many people have fire/flood proof safe for some of these things, and this isn’t meant to replace that – the go-file can have copies in it. Life in Case* is a great product for this that makes it super easy to get this done.
Once you’ve gotten everything together, consider these additional steps & things to include: a flash drive or DVD with digital versions of the essential documents, and/or a drive or disk with your most precious family photos.
Lastly, consider having an additional backup in the cloud. SafelyFiled is an excellent easy to use online filing system with military level encryption.
The go-file is also an invaluable resource if the family member who manages the important paperwork is incapacitated or passes away suddenly.
Preparing for the worst is never fun. But being prepared when the worst happens makes all the difference.
Click here for a checklist of what should be in your go-file.