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Housekeeping

Storage for paperwork, short and long term

15 replies

Cupoteap · 07/10/2018 19:43

Ok I'm trying to get organised but have no ideas about paperwork- have normal bills etc but also legal stuff and I need to keep and sometimes access ie divorce/child arrangements.

Hit me with your best solutions please Smile

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OhHolyJesus · 07/10/2018 19:52

An in tray for stuff that need dealing with (ours is on top of the microwave but I'm not sure that's the best space) and lever arch files for medical/legal/financial stuff and we have superset folders for product guarantees and insurance.

It's a nightmare, I hate it, it never seems to end and I will be watching this's thread for other suggestions x

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Cupoteap · 07/10/2018 20:14

Thanks @OhHolyJesus glad I'm not the only one Grin

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GatheringHerBrows · 07/10/2018 20:59

I keep all of mine in a huge pile on my dining room table 😄.

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MothershipG · 07/10/2018 22:01

I need ideas as well, I'm on the verge of getting a filing cabinet which seems ridiculous, but I have mislaid bioethics certificate and I need it!

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Cyw2018 · 07/10/2018 22:15

Photograph anything that doesn't need to be an original document and set up folders on computer or phone for them (don't forget to back things up) and switch to e bills/statements. Then shred the originals, then small box file should be enough for the rest (birth, marriage certificates, passports etc).

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Cupoteap · 09/10/2018 06:28

Thanks all.

My pile is in the kitchen usually and I defo feel like I need a filing cabinet Grin
Photographing everything feels risky. I do need to get rid of old bills etc so that may work. But there is still 4 years of legal stuff to organise and keep.

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NeverKeepANameTooLong · 09/10/2018 06:47

Legal stuff. Keep the judgements. And witness / professional position docs. Shove all the docs leading up to the judgements in a box in the loft they are meaningless except to you

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StealthNinjaMum · 09/10/2018 13:36

I have decluttered lots of stuff and shredded lots of utility bills, bank statements, credit card statements.

I use ring binders but have stuck important documents in this plastic box that holds hanging files. It will go in the loft.

www.amazon.co.uk/Really-Useful-Storage-Litre-Clear/dp/B004JFQQZU/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=plastic%20box%20hanging%20files&ie=UTF8&qid=1539088150&sr=8-5&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I also have a clipboard with storage a bit like the one below to temporarily keep in bits of post that have come in and I need to deal with. Currently it contains a few things to file and stuff like letters saying dds need to have their eye checkups

www.amazon.co.uk/OFFIDIX-Clipboard-Storage-Transparent-Plastic/dp/B071KNR8L8/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=clipboard%20with%20storage&ie=UTF8&qid=1539088302&sr=8-10&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I am by no means organised and still have too many papers and paper on my dining table and postage table. Following for more ideas.

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TwoGinScentedTears · 09/10/2018 13:39

We have a wall mounted document holder thing in the hall where each child has a slot as well as each adult and an ongoing slot.

Once dealt with they get put in the paperwork cupboard in the correct file. Until I get sick of it all and stop doing it and it all sits in a collapsible crate waiting for me to file it all in one mammoth session!

Part of the asnswer is actually putting it somewhere, the moving of around. Someone has to do that. That's where mine goes wrong anyway!

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DyslexicNotThick · 09/10/2018 21:09

After years of having a permanent paper mountain, I am happy with how I now manage the paper in this house. It might not work for everyone but there might be elements of it that help you out. I cannot get to grips with using electronic diaries, or photographing documents etc. I work best with paper.

When paper comes into the house it goes in one of three trays that sit on top of each other. 1)to do, 2) keep for reference 3) file. If it's for the bin, it goes straight in the bin.

To do: If it's a form to be filled in or a bill to be paid that isn't set up on direct debit, (eg variable childcare), car insurance reminder, etc I do it when I get a chance, usually once a week.
Keep for reference: is usually information that I will need but won't retain right now eg school trip info, so that goes in a folder set out with dividers for months and 1-30 for the days. I put it in the correct month and then when that month rolls around it gets put into the right date. I have 3 children at 3 different schools and they all do a lot of outside school clubs so there is a lot of paperwork from them.
The file tray builds up and when I'm in the mood I file it. Some of it is kids certificates, school reports etc. I have a ring binder for each child and file in date order. That will be given to them when they get their own place, I don't have a mountain of kids paperwork in the attic.
I have a box file for appliance manuals and guarantees. Go this maybe once a year and chuck ones that are no longer needed.

Essential hard to replace stuff like birth certs and passports are kept in a metal fireproof cash tin. This tin basically contains what I don't want to burn if we have a fire.

Aside from this I have a piece of furniture that is a filing cabinet but doesn't look like one. In there I keep things like medical reports, inland revenue paperwork, annual bank statements, legal documents like my will, local takeaway menus, car docs, etc etc etc.

It doesn't take much time to keep on top of once I got my system going. We all know where to look for a specific piece of paper and find it within minutes. It also stops the "I'm sure my car insurance is due but can't remember when or find the paperwork" panic. That is worth all the setting up time imho.

Oh another thing I do...Important receipts that aren't emailed are stapled into a week to view diary in the relevant week. This way I can return stuff if it breaks before reasonable use. Prior to my system I would have given up hunting in the paper mountain after a couple of hours.

Reading this back it sounds more faffy than it really is. 😖 But it works for us.

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CurlyWurlyTwirly · 13/10/2018 17:46

Just moved. Turned spare room into an office. (Ie, table chair, bags & piles of boxes so the rest of the house is protected from paperwork.)

Following for ideas on how to organise as I know this will be the last room I sort out

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trinitybleu · 13/10/2018 20:00

I have 7 box files and then some A4 drawers. All papers go into the drawers and once a year into the box file. Oldest box file gets shredded. Easy.

Otherwise, there's a fire proof box for birth certificates, passports, etc.

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DeadZed · 14/10/2018 08:01

I have a concertina file which gathers stuff during the year this is then emptied at the end of every year into a box file which is stored under the bed. Important documents like birth certificates are kept in last section so don't get put into the long term storage.

I also have a notice board for school and health appointments.

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gingergiraffe · 16/10/2018 15:10

We have a two drawer filing cabinet under the stairs. Separate filing sections for everything. A mound of paperwork often builds up on a kitchen work surface until I get husband to sort it out as it’s usually his stuff. At least then we can find things in a hurry such as an appliance receipt or instructions.

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florriepeck · 18/10/2018 20:24

Short term things to keep, eg receipts, bills, bank statements, I keep after attending to in a document wallet for the year- for everything.
I used to have separate wallets for separate categories, and rarely get round to filing things away properly.
They can easily be whizzed through after a couple of years, and most of it thrown away.
It was a MN tip.

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