What is the best way to file your personal papers?

Question

Do you use a yearly expandable file and file by month and get a new yearly expandable file for each year or how? Thanks

Answer 1

I use as few folders as possible, with very general headings.

I wouuld rather sort through a file named "Insurance" with 50 pieces of paper, knowing that my paper is in there somewhere, than sort through 5 or 10 different folders, not knowing whether i filed it  under "insurance" or "A" or "2008" or "Health insurance" or "Finance", etc  

Answer 2

do like we did. get a fire box and put all your important papers in it, then if there,s a fire,god forbit that happens,they will be safe.

Answer 3

~~I have a very simple system. Two manilla envelopes. One is for all the tax receipts I need at the end of the year, the other is for bank statements, and anything else I need which may be important to keep for a year. I mark them by year and a large tote box will hold tons of these. Inside my hall closet I put tacks up on the door and we marked a different envelope for receipts in case of warranties or returns.. I have  3 one is for personal, like clothes, shoes etc. One for anything outdoors-sprinklers, patio furniture BBQ, etc. and one for inside (bedding, kitchenware, etc.). It's super easy to find a receipt if I need it and takes no space up.I take all my manuals and place those in an old napkin holder and mark them with the date and store I purchased, so they are always at my fingertips. This has been an easy system that everyone is on board with-it's easy to drop them the stuff in the corrosponding envelope, and then everything is labeled by year.~~  

Answer 4

Seperate them into catagories; paycheck stubs, warrenties, receipts, due bills, way overdue bills, etc... Make as many as possible, take the extra time, youll thank yourself.