Why I�ll never have a Filing pile again.
This post is going to be short & sweet, as a grocery list is staring at me & the school pickup is also looming. Being self-employed means sneaking into the supermarket BEFORE pickup, so as not to drag two kids through it afterwards & it take ten times longer. But hey, if Seth Godin can write short daily posts, so can I (just don�t expect them daily)!
A business expert once said �do your filing once, each week�. Another business expert said �never handle a piece of paper more than 3 times�. I tried the former, and ended up with a pile called �Filing� that NEVER got emptied, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that it was the perfect Friday job with some great music playing loudly.
So, I got rid of my Filing tray. And now, it doesn�t stare at me every day. Yippee!
Step 1: Clean out your vertical files. Only keep stuff relevant to that financial year (like current insurance certificates). Yes, you can scan them & keep them electronically if you�d prefer.
Step 2: Place everything else in archive storage boxes. Shred box contents of expired financial years (keep the last 7 years).
Step 3: Make sure your vertical files are organised & labelled.
Step 4: Use Ring Binders for A4 receipts with monthly tabs (split into half-year if necessary) and ring binders for bank statements & BAS return paperwork (worksheet & reports).
Step 5: FILE AS YOU GO. Yes, once a piece of paper has been dealt with & no longer needs your attention, throw it straight into your vertical suspension file or ring binder. Filing done at the cost of an extra minute.
This works for me because I hate seeing papers on my desk. The only things on my desk are things that need my attention or need putting into a reminder system so I remember to do them later (eg bills get entered into financial software & paper copies thrown into a red Bills to be paid manila folder on my desktop vertical file holder.
Getting rid of my filing pile was one of the best things I�ve ever done as it makes me feel in control. How do you handle the filing of your paperwork? Do you scan, save & shred everything or do you have a pile of unfiled papers like I used to?
-SCuffy
(not really being a short post at all!)
