Your paperwork filing system?

[Wayne02]

Ok, I know this is a simple thing, but I am cleaning up some paperwork and reorganizing our filing system today, and wondered how others handle their filing system.

When you have, say for example, a file for cable bills, do you file it under "cable", or under the provider, "comcast"?

Or, you have a file for life insurance which is provided by your company (company xyz). Do you file it under the generic term "life insurance", or under "xyz life insurance"?

[Ravenlost]

I prefer the more generic "cable" and "life insurance".

[RoseGarden]

I don't have multiples of anything (life insurance, utilities, or anything else) so I would probably just file under 'life ins' 'cable' 'water' 'electric' etc. Credit card bills would be by company/creditor name, or multiples of insurance (life, homeowners, auto, healthcare) would also be by name of company.

I also file front to back, meaning that the most recent bills are at the front of the file, oldest at the back.

I am pretty meticulous when it comes to my filing system.

[heather]

Originally Posted by RoseGarden

I also file front to back, meaning that the most recent bills are at the front of the file, oldest at the back.

I do that too

Some of my system is specific
ie Penn Power, Verizon, Vanguard, etc.

While other is general
ie Car, Life Insurance, Bank Statements

I don't put my files in alphabetical order -
I used to do that at work, but at home I put the most frequently used files in front & the ones I barely use toward the back.

I use hanging files with manila inserts that are pockets

I also have a fire-proof box safe that very important documents are kept in (ie bonds, SS cards, passports)

[Rory]

My husband uses the lots-of-piles filing system, where I'm an alphabetizer. As a compromise, we have manila folders with generic labels. And we write "shortcut" information on the front, like phone numbers, customer service rep's name or account numbers for easy access.

[Selena]

I found this book at the library and it had some good ideas for taming the paper tiger:

Home Filing Made Easy! (Paperback)
by Mary Martin (Author), J. Michael Martin (Author)

[KathyJ]

Bank statements get hole-punched and "filed" in a binder.

everything else gets filed generally. at the end of the year, will staple 12 months of one company together. that's usually when everything gets properly filed. right now, I just throw everything into a plastic bin with lid and go through it every now and again. the file I use is an accordian with 21 pockets (I think) as I sometimes need to take it with me. holds both personal and hubby's business. have a two-drawer small file cabinet for those items that don't change - mortgage papers, insurance (tho not the monthly bill), etc.