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Paper - My biggest problem!

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Started 2 years ago by Claycat
Latest reply from Mimi
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Claycat
Member

Paper, in all of its manifestations, is my biggest problem. Photographs, cards, letters, memorabilia, receipts, old bills, tax stuff, etc. are a huge source of irritation. I have trouble making decisions, and I am very sentimental. I have gotten better about dealing with business type papers. However, the sentimental stuff is still a major problem. I have sorted it out into files pretty well. I just have to unclutter those files. Plus, I am an artist, so I have art paper, too. I also have a lot of books. However, I have to give myself credit. I have about half as many books as I used to have. I have become a regular patron at the library. So, I feel like I'm on my way, but I'm still a long way from the finish line. (I realize there will never completely be a finish, because paper keeps coming into our lives.)

I'm also forgetting that junk mail, too. I do have two paper recycling bins, and I take these to our recycling center regularly.

I've been reading the posts about scanning, which is a great idea. I can do some of that on my printer, but I can't afford a scanning service.

On top of my paper clutter, I have been having to deal with my MIL's clutter, because she has moved to assisted living. I got rid of a lot of her things in two estate sales, and I have some I'm planning to sell on ebay, but there are boxes of her paper memorabilia and old business papers. She has a ton of medical stuff, because she has so many medical problems. I am also taking care of her current bills, and her bank accounts.

EEEEEK!

Posted 2 years ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

Claycat - are you the only family member who can deal with your MIL's stuff? If there are other family members about, you may want to give them an ultimatum: "help with this stuff or I toss her memorabilia". That may sound harsh but as long as you will do it without asking for help you will be left in that position - it's the squeaky wheel syndrome.

Are the old business papers relevant to a venture that is still an on-going concern that may have tax (including audit) or other financial implications? If not, toss them.

If she still has her mental faculties and is in assisted living just for physical issues, let her know that this is what you intend to do. If she objects, let her know that she will have to pay for storage as your abode cannot cope with it.

In this case, you may like to take a box in to her at each visit so she can sort through it to toss unnecessary items before the next visit. Who knows, she may like this activity especially if she "intended" to do it years ago and now has the time (and is bored).

As adults we are responsible *to* other adults and family members; to bear our own loads and assist others with burdens. We are not responsible to carry our loads plus everyone else's loads. A load is something that can be born by one person; a burden is an excessive load.

I battle the paper wars too. I'm an engineer (having trouble letting go of uni notes from 13+ years ago), a Creative Memories consultant (so lots of photo related items) and a TAFE (community college) student. I must be insane. :-)

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Laetitia, thanks for such good advice. I told my sister-in-law that she and her sister and their mother would have to go through all of the paper memorabilia. You are right. They need to deal with that. That sister is willing to do it. We'll see about the other one. :)

To be fair, the one sister is a single mother. Her husband died two years ago, and she is having a hard time. That's why I do more to help. I've been doing my MIL's bank statement for awhile. I don't mind doing that.

Taking a box each time is a great idea! I guess I'm afraid she will want to keep it all, and she really doesn't have room. I will try it and see what happens.

As for the business papers, I will be ruthless! LOL I have been calling different businesses and asking how long we are expected to keep their papers. It is a shorter time than I would have imagined, in many cases. Cheryl Richardson says, "When in doubt, throw it out!" I will keep working on that.

Thanks!

Posted 2 years ago #
toberead
Member

I went through some of this with my Dad, and then with my own medical bills last year. Sometimes it seems like you're being covered with paper! What worked for me was a three ring binder for each subject, with heavy duty sheet protectors. This system was portable, so I could take the binder with me to doctors appointments or when I went to see my Dad. It was easy to add a bill or insurance paper to the right slot, just by sliding it into a sheet protector. The heavy duty multi-page sheet protectors will hold up to 50 sheets, so I could put all the items relating to one doctor in one protector, all the ones relating to another doctor in another one, etc. It took a little while to set it up the first time, but once I set up the binder, it didn't take much effort to add more items or keep it organized.

Eventually I plan to scan in the things I need to keep, but for papers that I needed to take with me and refer to frequently, the binder system worked really well.

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

I like the binder system, toberead. I will also scan some of her medicare and gap insurance papers, if we have to keep them. Great ideas! Thanks!

Posted 2 years ago #
needtocleanhouse
Member

This area will also be on the resolution list for 2011 ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
happymonkey
Member

It's on my list, too! I have six or eight bankers boxes in my office closet that need to be sorted/shredded/purged. I bought a ScanSnap scanner a few weeks ago, which will hopefully make the scanning part, at least, easier.

Now I just have to make myself get started!

Posted 1 year ago #
ElFish1
Member

Happymonkey, I've been using my ScanSnap for about a week and it's incredible. I think you're going to be pleased with it.

Posted 1 year ago #
Clutterbrain
Member

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask, but I am curious if anyone has tried the Wonderfile from the TV commercials? It looks like an inexpensive way to keep track of current papers.
I don't have an office, all of my papers are kept in an area in my bedroom.
I also take care of a family members' papers who is in a nursing facility but have not tackled that decluttering yet...a project for 2011.

Posted 1 year ago #
habithacker
Member

I use the ScanSnap with Evernote. It's fabulous. Still, the paper builds up. Get a good shredder and try to set aside one day a week for paper chores. It never ends!

Posted 1 year ago #
Mimi
Member

claycat, paper is the worst clutter, you are right. i need a lot of paper for my job, two and i am scanning a lot of it to reduce it. i use scanners at a copy shop- modern copier are also scanners and it´s not expensive to use them. but- first declutter the paper and then scan the rest, that makes it much easier ;o)

Posted 1 year ago #

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