Paper Problem …not only Bills
Although you may be able to, I
have never been good at setting a goal of getting rid of a set number of items,
such as 10 magazines, flyers, catalogues, newspapers, etc. per day or week or
month. I can only let things go as they
come in or tackle a month’s worth of mail in a big group.
If incoming paper mail and
catalogues are not in a designated spot in one room,
gather all paper/mail types
from all your rooms into one area. Then
sort properly into bins, totes, trashcans or pin to a bulletin board.
□ All (out-of place) Books
If books go into different areas, sort into
appropriate tagged room totes/bags/bin.
□ Bills, Envelopes, Notes [Backlog?
Sort by year, initially]
□ Recycle
□ Shred
□ Respond (Enter amounts into checkbook, pay)
□ File (action completed)
□ Bulletin board (action needed by date)
□ All magazines
□ Recycle all but latest 3, 2, or 1
□ Unsubscribe to magazines that are
no longer of "interest" in your daily life.
□ Reroute them to a local library,
senior center, women's group, etc.
□ All Sales Catalogues
□ Recycle all but latest, date it with large marker
□ Unsubscribe from hard copy catalogues,
most are available online anyway.
If you do not see the sales and "savings" coupons, it is
easier not to "shop."
□ All Flyers
□ Shred old/not-interested
□ Pin upcoming relevant flyers to board
□ Other mail: on all that mail offering you anything
with free return postage
□ Write "void, cancel, remove
from contact list" in the place for your signature
□ Drop it in the return mail
□ Repeat process until the incoming
mail stops
□ Or call the toll free number, and
ask to have your contact information
deleted
Combinations of the preceding steps will help keep
the clutter of paper down and additional paper clutter from entering the home.
You will have more free time for yourself, family, and friends.
The preceding actions worked for me. I no longer have incoming magazines for
myself. I recently talked hubby into unsubscribing
one of his incoming magazines.
PS: Now for my dirty little secret, I have six
bookcases, full of books. Yes, I know that
is a lot; however, the bookcases now contain the limits of what I allow myself
to keep. No more boxes of books on top
of the bookcases, or books three deep in the bookcases. No more books stacked on the floor or books scattered
into multiple rooms, etc.
That is not to say, that I have beaten my attraction
for books. Hubby bought me a Kindle a
couple of years ago--thousands of free books within the space of only one book.
This changed the location of my newest book additions to one that is more manageable.
In closing, create a home for your paperwork,
magazines, and books. Stay on top of
maintaining order as they come into your home.
Be sure to take reduction action at least once a month.
In
addition, if paper accumulation is not your weakness, create a home for your current
roaming “collection.” Maintain order as your
new treasures come into your home. Set
boundaries and limits. Your cleaning “genes”
will thank you!
☺
