Paperwork - my nemesis ....

[BatshitCrazyWoman]

What to keep, for how long and how (folders, filing cabinets, electronically)

I deal with my adult disabled DCs stuff as well as mine, so have DWP paperwork (which I keep forever because I'm always needing it and don't trust them as far as I can throw them), bank, health, insurance, DoLs, supported living stuff etc etc

So how does everyone deal with this stuff?

It was fairly organised until I had DC3 and now it sits in an ever growing pile the thought of which keeps me awake at night. Not helpful but I shall watch this thread with interest.

Filing cabinet all the way for everything that is basically reference.

Car stuff - one file
Home insurance - one file
Ds health - as many files as helpful
Pension - one file

Divide into hanging files that are as small/unique as appropriate.

Then you can just files things as they come in.

Obviously you also need a 'to action' pile/file/folder/in tray and a 'pending' one too. I don't tend to keep those in the filing cabinet.

Op do you have any loft space? I put anything older than 5 years in a plastic box with a lid and label well, and up it goes.

That might help?

I might get myself a filing cabinet when I move - DCs stuff would easily fill a two drawer filing cabinet on its own mind you ...

CanI I'm assuming all your utilities and banking stuff is online?

I don't currently have loft space but will when I eventually move.

I deal with my mail as it comes in.
A file for bills
A file for insurance
As I put a new month bill/account in the file I throw away the one in the back so always have a year of accounts/bi.ls
Ikea have a wonderful range of storage boxes ... but many companies do similar
Box of all warranties, instructions

Little and often ...

Most things get scanned in using an app and then shred the originals. There are very few papers that I actually need the original for and they all fit in a corcestina folder which fits in a drawer.

I have a box. I dont have the time and energy to be more specific than "it goes in that box". There's two - both hard, lidded, with gaps to pick up. One box has the house stuff and one box has the personal stuff.

It probably goes back farther than needed, but the system has never failed as it's just so incredibly easy to put paperwork in the right place.

If I had to then sub file into dates or alphabetic order or whatever then it's be too big a job and the paperwork would get lost before I could sort it.

It's a simple, but effective, solution.

Bernadette I love your simple system!

Fruity the paperwork concerning disabled DC is a vast amount. It would be incredibly labour intensive and time consuming to scan and save at this point in time. And for some of it I definitely need hard copies.

Bank statements and utilities are all online.

And thank you Theknack.

I think I might repost on the SEN board as most of my my issues with paperwork is because of all the stuff concerning disabled adult DC - benefit, health, care plans etc etc