Hello all! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! It was absolutely FREEZING here. Ugh – spring is such a tease. :) I guess the planting will have to wait till next weekend. (Crossing fingers.)
If you remember a couple of months ago, I showed you how I was starting to get control over the paper in our house – once and for all. I had let it get waaay out of control, and it was time tame the paper monster around here.
It involved a lot of shredding – make that an INSANE amount of shredding:
But I prevailed people, I prevailed!! I have ridden (ridded?) our home of all the old paper that was creating clutter, found a home for the rest of it, and (pretty much) kept up with what has come into the house since then.
I think I’ve finally figured out a process that works for our house, so I wanted to share it with you. :)
The first couple of steps are total DUH moments, but they’re the ones that were the biggest issues for me in the past. Most days, I get our mail in the car – cause I’m lazy like that.
And that caused my first problem – the mail was piling up in my car daily. Cause I’m lazy. :) I littered my car with it and created a pile I had to catch up with when I did take it inside.
So my first tip for you – get control of how much mail you’re getting. Over the years we’ve changed many of our bills to paperless, so we get emails instead of mail.
I luuurve catalogs like you wouldn’t believe, but sometimes we start getting one we don’t care for and those add to the paper clutter quite a bit. About three years ago, I found a site called Catalog Choice, and so far we’ve unsubscribed from about six catalogs. Love. it. (Cause it works.)
One of my readers mentioned a site a couple of months ago that’s already made a huge difference – Opt Out Prescreen. It allows you to opt out from credit or insurance mail offers (that you have not initiated). It has really cut down on our junk mail, and it only took a couple of weeks for it to kick in.
My next step was to figure out a way to corral all that mail in the car, for the lazy days when I didn’t want to address it immediately. I grabbed an old laptop bag and now it sits next to me every day.
It’s not super large, so once it starts to get full, I know it’s time to address it and take it inside. It’s SO much better than having the paper strewn all over the front seat. My friends and hubby appreciate not having to move a pile of paper when they take a ride. ;)
The next step is to address as much as possible before I get in the house. I’ve had trash bins out in the garage for the mail for over a year now, but I wasn’t using them.
So I put our monster shredder out, next to the the bins:
Part of my paper issues were because I’m a bit of a freak about what we shred -- basically everything. :) I tear our address off of catalogs, prescriptions, junk mail with our address – everything.
So the shred pile was always HUGE. Now, I deal with it before I even walk in the door. It’s SO awesome to walk in with one piece of mail instead of five. ;)
Every Monday I empty the shredder and put the shredded paper and other to-be-recycled items and take them to our local recycling center.
I’m doing it!! I’m actually keeping up with the paper! WHOO HEW!
Next up is getting it taken care of inside. Anything that needs to be addressed but-I’m-not-going-to-address-right-now is put into a decorative box on top of the dresser in my office.
(Cutie little box was from HomeGoods!)
Right now it’s full cause I’m going through magazines and have a ton of inspiration pics to file. Normally, once it gets about half way full, I know it’s time to address it.
Anything left (invoices, utility bills, etc.) that I need to file goes into a bin in the top drawer to be filed in the basement:
But there’s always items I want to keep upstairs, easily accessible. I had tried wall mounted organization before, and they never worked for me. It all seemed to be just another “pile” of papers.
There were three different subjects I needed to keep organized – my inspiration pictures from magazines, stuff for the Bub (notices from school, game instructions, toy assembly) and general household stuff I didn’t want to keep downstairs (instruction manuals, phone numbers, receipts).
And when I saw the cover of Better Homes and Gardens a few months ago, it hit me. They had the prettiest, simplest binders and they were exactly what I had been looking for all my life.
Or at least what I had been looking for all of a few weeks. :)
I found them at Naked Binder and I LOVE. But they needed a little somethin’. Some honeysuckle blingity blang. I’ve been adding little touches of that beautiful pink color through the office here and there. Just a smidge. A skosh.
I wanted to label the binders without labeling the binders, you know what I mean? So I busted out my Silhouette and and made some cutie new tags.
I picked out some paint chips in the pretty pink color and used my Silhouette to make images of a house (for the house binder), an idea “cloud” for the inspiration binder (couldn’t decide between the cloud and a lightbulb, but thought the cloud was cuter), and an “E” for the Bub’s binder.
I just cut my tags out of the paint chips like I showed you here, and then glued two back to back, and put my little images (on vinyl) on top:
And they are just the cauuutest (free!) tags I ever did see!:
Precious! :)
The last step of my paper process is to take the to-be-filed box from the drawer downstairs every few weeks or so. I completely reorganized all of our hanging files after I went through all of the paper. Everything is filed by the most basic titles (credit – old credit thankyouverymuch), house, medical, etc.
I wanted to make sure the filing was as simple as possible – no standing there for five minutes trying to figure out where to put each piece of paper.
The hanging folders are organized alphabetically, the taxes by year.
I also have a couple magazine file holders on hubby’s desk down there, near the scanner. I keep the Bub’s artwork in those that I want to scan…eventually.
And finally…I’m DONE. Whew!! :)
Yes, it’s lots of steps. But it’s what works for me. I finally learned that I am NOT a get the mail, take it in, sort, shred, deal with, file it immediately kind of girl. I’m just not. When I was trying to force myself to be that, it didn’t work. I ended up with piles everywhere.
Now I still have piles everywhere, but they’re organized and they have a purpose. Solutions for taming the paper monster are different for everyone – so this may not work for you. But if you’re a procrastinator like me, it may work great. ;)
When I posted about my paper dilemma a couple of months ago, some fine folks from Sentry Safe contacted me about their Fire File:
Which was freaky weird, because while I was in the process of getting our paper under control, I was planning on purchasing this exact product.
We wanted a heavy duty safe for important files that would be fire safe and had a lock, and they read my mind!
They graciously sent me one to use, and I love it. It’s so heavy and sturdy, it’s fire safe up to half an hour, and it comes with a key for security:
If you keep your important documents like insurance info, birth certificates and social security cards at home, this is an ideal place to keep them.
The great news is the fine folks at Sentry Safe want one of you to have one as well!
All you have to do to enter for your own free Sentry Safe is leave a comment here – I’ll leave this open for the week, till Friday the 1st at noon. Remember, if you comment anonymously, please leave your email (write it out using “dot” and “com".)
Hope my crazy getting the paper under control process, or at least a part of it, helps some of you organize the paper insanity in your lives! If you’ve figured out what works for you, are you the git er done kind, or a break it into a million steps kind of chick like me?
I love hearing what works for you! (And it may help someone else!)
um i totally need one of these winning one would be even better
ReplyDeleteJust moved into a new house, and my paper mess is out of control! This would help in organizing my life...ok well just my paper! :)
ReplyDeleteWOW!! You are so organized . . .I love the binder idea!! Thanks for the inspiration . . .I have paper piles in several locations right now.
ReplyDeleteI think I need one of those also! Thanks for the chance to win one :)
ReplyDeleteLove all that you've done! I would love that fire safety box! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome ideas for paper clutter and fire proofing!! Love it and would love to win one because it looks COOL! Love the nekkid binders and ESP your cool non-label labels! <3
ReplyDeleteI desperately need one of these!! I would love a chance to win one! I love, love, LOVE what you did!
ReplyDeleteWe've been meaning to get a fire proof safe for a while now and still haven't gotten around to it!
ReplyDeleteslynnn41@yahoo.com
I am officially inspired!!! Gah! Paper clutter is my nemesis... thanks so much for the opportunity! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the binders and the tags! Sweet!
ReplyDeleteteresacline2001(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the inspiration! I need to tackle my paper and now have great ideas on how to start!
ReplyDeleteOh and that fire safe is a wonderful idea! Would definitely need/use one!
I'm pretty organized when it comes to paper, but I do love the notebook idea. I might need to craft up something like that for quick referrence stuff! And the paint chip tags...I never would have thunk it! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the safe too! We are currently talking about getting one.
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ReplyDeleteLove your blog...just found it recently and now I check it every day! We are in the market for that EXACT file right now!! Just got our very first passports and we need to protect those expensive babies!!! acpalmer25@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion! Love the binder tags--too cute!! Lawrence.Corrine@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love it! I'm actually filing papers right now :) I'd love a new safe - ours is too small now.
ReplyDeleteLove your post! I'm trying to get organized and would love a fire safe!!
ReplyDeleteI love the binders! I recently went through all my papers too, because, like you, I let them pile up. ;) It's such a chore but I feel so good when I get all that clutter out of the way.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the safe, that's something I actually hadn't thought about before, but now that I see you can use it for documents then I WANT ONE.
Great ideas. Can't wait to work on our office!
ReplyDeleteemdellagala@gmail.com
Inspirational! And thanks for the tip about the safe...we need to get one...I just have to work through my own stacks and get to that point!
ReplyDeleteWith 4 kiddos (two of which are twins that are 10 months old...) I find I just don't have time for paper clutter..... which is probably why my house is out of control with paper. I think I have about 20 piles (at least) to deal with right now. Sigh.... sometime I'll be awesome and get to it, until then, the piles make for great climbing structures for the babies. :D
ReplyDeleteI sure would like to win one of these! We dont have one. Just a week ago, we had done just what you did. I couldnt believe it that I had a black garbage bag full!TIA
ReplyDeleteI would love to win one of these!
ReplyDeleteI recently tamed the paper beast. I have to deal with it a lot sooner, because I'm too much of a procrastinator. If I don't do it now, I won't do it for MONTHS!
I have been working through our paper clutter too!!!!! :) YAY!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that safe idea. I've been wondering where to keep my important information. Honestly, write now, it's all in about three different places. This would be perfect to help me get it organized.
ReplyDeleteThank You!
I'd love one of these! And you've inspired me to put organizing our paperwork on my to-do list!
ReplyDeleteWhoops! I meant, "right" not "write." Been a long day! ;0)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway! Would LOVE to win one of these! Definitely need to do some of my own paper organizing!! :)
ReplyDeleteelisegeorgoussis at gmail dot com
I'm totally stealing this idea! Love your blog :) and would LOVEEE a fire safe. polagea(at)yahoo(dot)com or polagea@yahoo.con
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me with some ideas to get our paperwork under control. :)
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to have a fire proof place to store important documents. Great giveaway!
I am totally needing to get the paper in my home organized... I have a huge box of things to be filed. If you want to fly out to Phoenix and help me get organized, I'd love it (by the way did I mention it was 72 degrees today?).
ReplyDeleterachelsugden at gmail dot com
Thanks for the inspiration. I really need to get my papers in order around here too. All the papers my first grader brings home from school, bills, inspirations and recipes from magazines and from Thrifty Decor Chick too (yes, I write down paints to use, supplies to buy, etc.)
ReplyDeleteI need to purchase a file safe for all of our important documents, such as our Living Trust we just set up recently, house deed, birth certificates, etc.
Thanks for the motivation !
Love your blog, read it everyday, looking for a new post from you.
I have been wanting one of those things for ages! Especially since my chosen method of dealing with the paper is hiding it in random boxes and hoping it eventually sorts itself. Ooops.
ReplyDeleteI also have a paper problem. I wish I could blame it on my unorganized husband, but no, it's all me. i love your ideas. We have also been talking about getting a fireproof safe for a long time. I hope I win!
ReplyDeleteI too have been thinking we really need one lately. This would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis firesafe file thing is a stroke of genius! Here's hoping we get lucky :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! Going to get binders TOMORROW!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
carrie(dot)weaver(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm a steps girl too...I have my methods but they can be long and drawn out and messy in the process. Have you seen that mini scanner thing on the infomercial that let's you scan documents lickety split. It looks cool. I guess ideally we'd have all our docs. scanned and stored on a hard drive. In a perfect world!
ReplyDeleteYou have totally inspired me to tackle my paper piles!!! You have great ideas! Thanks for the opportunity to win the Sentry Safe! Love your blogs!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the binders and the tags you made! What an awesome way to file away important things that you still need to have at hand! Awesome! 2424jr(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! This same project is on my to-do list for next month. Now I can't wait to get started.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your ideas that work for you. Now let the process begin in my house....sigh. One step at a time, right? :)
ReplyDeleteUmm, the BEST thing about this post are your adorable taggies! I can't stop staring at them. :) Okay, and your amazing organizational skills are fantastic, as well.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE a Sentry safe! I've been feeling overwhelmed lately by all our paper clutter and know what I need to do. Thank you for sharing what works for you!
ReplyDeleteI love all your ideas! I am actually in the process of organzing and purging items as well so this has been so helpful! I really love the fire proof file and that it's secured!
ReplyDeleteOh! How awesome! I've been looking for a fireproof safe for awhile now!
ReplyDeleteI think you and I are a lot alike--except you have conquered your paper clutter and I have yet to! Still trying to find my system, but I'm liking lots of your ideas. I'm too indecisive to deal with all of it right when it comes in the door, and I am so sick of it! I'd love the safe (we don't have anything like that yet), and appreciate the motivation. I'm going to conquer that paper clutter (as soon as I get my pantry back together. :-)!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! The paper monster is the worst! I think I finally have a system for my paper work but the hubs has got to work on his, arg! :) And that fire box, such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteCatherinewardle at gmail dot com.
Thanks for the ideas. Love the binders :) I've pondered purchasing one of the safes as well.
ReplyDeleteThose binders and tags are awesome! I love the burlap or burlap look. Not sure which it is. And I would love to win this safe! We could really use one of those. Keep up the awesome posts! I just love your blog! It is always the first one I look at!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have talked about getting a fireproof safe several times but laziness and funds have held us back thus far. It's awesome to hear details about it that we wouldn't have known right off the bat - like that it's fireproof for up to 30 minutes. That's pretty great!
ReplyDeleteCurrently we use a clear storage container with a lid of about the same size. It's totally disorganized. Great job, you!
chelsealexander at hotmail
I'm not as freaky about shredding as you but I do come in and throw away the trash mail immediately. The rest goes in a basket on the kitchen counter. When it's full, I go through it. krissywoodruff@hotmaildotcom
ReplyDeleteNew to your blog and loving it! I found "Freedom Filer" a while back and it has been a GREAT tool for my home office to control the paper monster of home, kids/school, 2 businesses and a farm! But I have to admit that my important docs are still in a file cabinet - not a safe! Would LOVE a safe!!! porterfarms@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteomg, i thought i was the only one who had mail all over my car that had to be moved for others... i love your blog and have recommended it to many people. you are awesome! cherylcsl(at)msn(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this! Thanks for offering it!
ReplyDeletekatie.m.krell@gmail.com
We could definitely use this! Since having 2 kids our paperwork has quadrupled. (shouldn't it just double??)
ReplyDeleteGreat post - you have really organized your life this past year or so! So inspiring! And you do such a good job of laying it out for us - thanks for the resources!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I would love one of those safes.. coming from a mom that had to replace each of her children's birth certificates at least once..
This would make me happy! Super happy! Thanks for a chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you're a genius! You constantly inspire me! Secondly, great giveaway! I have one Sentry safe but it's very small and I have been looking for a bigger one for files - this is perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteI really NEED one!
ReplyDeleteI NEED a safe!! :)
ReplyDeleteI so needed to read this! I pile up mail in my car too and am terrible at organizing paper items, period! I need help!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your organization! It looks great. I would LOVE one of those safes!!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow did I not know that they made filing cabinet type safes? I bought a small safe a few years ago that I haven't used. Ever! I would love a safe like that ;0) my email is 1allyson (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI really struggle with the paper mess too...my front passenger is always littered with mail and the kids' school papers and there are more stacks in the house. We could really use a fire safe box like that because we do keep important docs at home.
ReplyDeleteI so struggle with paper so much. Thanks for the ideas.
ReplyDeleteI do want to win the fire resistant safe... I've needed to buy one for some time now, but it's just one of those things I don't usually have extra $ for...
ReplyDeletePlease pick me! (Or send my contact info to them and maybe they'll send me a free one too?!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah!!
Allison @ House of Hepworths
allison at houseofhepworths dot com
This is just what I need to finish my paper organization!
ReplyDeleteThat was a DUH moment for me. Really need that cool safe! During our last move a freind carried over a ziploc bag of our birth certificates, socail security cards etc. Didnt seem odd until I saw him holding it:) I thought I was pretty smart ot makje it water-proof:)
ReplyDeletelove the tags...and the safe is a great idea..
ReplyDeleteI totally need one of these. How clever to have a file safe. It is so organized.... thanks
ReplyDeleteI just moved and the paper is a bit unorganized because I'm still unpacking. It does seem like the mail is easier to deal with this round because all the stuff to process/ file are more in main living areas than before.
ReplyDelete-Stefanie
2ndChanceCreations.etsy.com
What a fantastic giveaway! I'm in :) This would be a great pre-graduation gift for a non-traditional student :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE this! I am going to put those binders on my wish list! I love the tags you used to label -- so creative and super cute!
ReplyDeleteWould love to win that safe -- I am trying to tackle the paper monster too. I have one bin down and several more to go through, ugh!
My name is Emily and my email is: amused by life at hotmail dot com
Seriously would be the best thing ever if i could get one of these! i have all our important papers sorted and labeled in binders... where they are easy to find. i need something good, locktight, and sturdy
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to have one of these! I love your paint chip tag idea, too!
ReplyDeleteMy email address is mpeterson518 at live dot com. Thank you!
I love shredding! We clean up all our papers a couple of months ago, I put alot of the shredded paper in our compost and the rest went under a layer of cane mulch in our garden beds.
ReplyDeleteI am also creating a household binder for all our daily paperworks needs, it also has info for housesitters. Your binders are so cute!
I would LOVE to get my paper organized like you! This seems like a PROJECT, to say the least. (I would also love to win the safe!) My email is lp23j at yahoo dot com. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE one of these! Everyone should have one -- so critical in the event of a fire to have all your important papers in a secure place... thanks so much for the fun chance to win! ;0)
ReplyDeleteAhhh I want!
ReplyDeleteI neeeeed one of those! twobroadsdesign at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas! The binders will work nicely for me too. We have been looking at a fire proof safe like this. How perfect to win one!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of the binders! Gonna do that right away.
ReplyDeleteEmbarrassed that I never thought about the vulnerability of birth/marriage certs...gonna need a fireproof safe, too!
Would love to win one - thanks!
ReplyDeleteI really need one of those! Just getting to the point of outgrowing our tiny file drawer too...
ReplyDeletekjlowe.rn@gmail.com
I've been reading your blog for awhile....love it! Been meaning to get a safe...just never got around to it.
ReplyDeleteKathi_marie@yahoo.com
Would love a Fire File! You can never keep these things too safe! :)
ReplyDeletePaper organization feels wonderful. I need to do it more often. I need one if those boxes!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea -- everyone needs one of these
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great system you have going there! I really need to get a handle on my paper, and a new shredder which always dies an early death!
ReplyDeleteA fire safe is something we've needed for ages.
Love those! We already have one for our important papers but I'd love one for our family movies and all the pictures that I've put on a CD. Would never want to lose those memories.
ReplyDeleteWe have been talking about getting one for a long time. I work from home, hubby drives over the road so we both have tons of paperwork.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips for organizing paper clutter - it takes over the kitchen island countertop! We certainly could use the fire safety box! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteBecki
Sorry this is a repeat. I just work up @_@...
ReplyDeleteWe have been talking about getting one for a long time. I work from home, hubby drives over the road so we both have tons of paperwork.
ariesbutterfly77@yahoo.com
Totally need one of those file fire-safe boxes!! We have a super tiny fire-safe box that we got about 18 years ago - but there are LOTS of important papers that need to be protected and we've run out of room in that box!
ReplyDeleteI've been putting off doing this same thing for years. This post is good motivation to get organized!
ReplyDeleteljyoung85 at gmail.com
Wow you've inspired me to work on my own paper clutter!! I was just thinking the other day how we need to get a fire box...
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I can't live without our shredder. We have a smaller fire safe box, so need this one as ours is crammed. We also put our back up discs of pictures in ours!
ReplyDeleteI need one of these, and someone to organize it all for me!!
ReplyDeleteAmsully at cox dot net
We had a limit on how much weight we could bring with us- the solid oak filing cabinet for my husband's office stayed behind and it's a royal pain to not have that here to file away papers!! Someone gifted us a similar safe when we got married- it's been wonderful. We keep our external hard drive in there, too.
ReplyDeleteAfter just finishing my taxes, organization was the word of the day. And after my brother's house burned to the ground in November, knowing a fire box is needed in the home really comes to the heart of the matter. (He HAD one and the fire men helped carry that out.) Thanks for the nudge. cburmanatmidriversdotcom
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! I need to put our important docs somewhere safer! Makes me want to organize!
ReplyDeleteI envy your new paper clutter free life...thanks for inspiring me to do a little decluttering of my own!
ReplyDeleteI would love one of these! I have a shelf in my kitchen where everything goes that I am not ready to deal with. I might get one of the cute boxes though. The binders look great!
ReplyDeleteYes! So inspirational once again! Paper is my nemesis ... I love your ideas, tho, and feel inspired to tackle our paper once again! :) Thanks! Oh ... and I'd seriously LOVE to win the Sentry Safe. Thanks for the chance. :)
ReplyDeleteKelley
kelleybinko(at)gmail(dot)com
I am so happy to read this post. I follow several blogs and they are all of the "do it now" philosophy. And that is great and all, but I have 3 kids 4yrs and under and I can't always do it now. I am glad to see a fellow procrastinator finding something that works!!! I LOVE your blog! Thanks for taking the time to write it!
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteWe have one of these and the lock just broke (think I had too much in it...LOL), so we have been looking for a new one to replace the old one, would LOVE to win one!
Thanks, love your blog and emails!
Denise
cdmm4@roadrunner.com
I'm the same way with my paper! Just yesterday I had to gather up our huge pile of paper...I realized we'd piled up bills, junk mail, ads, tax info, pay stubs, and other various items that really shouldn't all be just piled up on the table! All my "organize now" solutions have failed, so I'll need to try something like your set up. :) I don't mind lots of piles, either, as long as they're organized. ;) And I'd love to have a fire proof safe to put them in!
ReplyDelete-Rebecca
(GetWiredDesigns @ gmail. com)
I must admit we already have a Sentry Safe... and it has lovingly kept our files for the past 21 years. However it is time for an upgrade or a 2nd one. With our children getting older and all the great-grandparents having passed we seem to have accumulated more documents than will fit our little safe. (and they have been sorted but some things MUST be kept! ha ha!)
ReplyDeleteSo thank you for this opportunity and ALL the great ideas for conquering the paper monster! We have instituted some of these and I must say it is being beat into submission! ONce again thank you!
Ummm...I am so like you, we could have been twins. Cuz I'm the "break it into a million steps kind of chick like you." And oh yeah...I sure could use one of these handy-dandy Sentry safes to safeguard all of my important documents (heck, it would just be nice to have them filed in ONE place since I haven't done that yet!). Now, I don't think I'm anonymous, but gonna put my e-mail in here just in case. dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMobile Phone Recycling.Its all the paper work..
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how helpful that fire safe would be. We don't have safe deposit boxes where we live. Yikes!
ReplyDeletejjjgibson(at)gmail(dot)com
What an incredible timely post!
ReplyDeleteMy office looks like a paper bomb went off...I'm revamping our filing system and I've been rethinking what we actually need to keep in my cabinet. Now I need to get a shredder! I've got several boxes of papers that need shredding.
I've been contemplating which fire safe box to purchase as well! I hope there's a coupon code for those of us who aren't lucky enough to win one. ;-)
Great timing! I am in the process of organizing (aka shredding) our papers, too. I have had that little safe box on my amazon wishlist for a while! Hope I win :)
ReplyDeleteI really need one of these. I'm working on cleaning out my files rght now and I've been meaning to get a fire safe!
ReplyDeleteCount me in! I really need a fire-safe file. Love your organizing post.
ReplyDeletePaper is my nemesis too! Your post is ispiring me to find a better system for dealing with it.
ReplyDeleteWould love to have one! You have inspired me to get my paper under control! What a job!
ReplyDeleteWould love one of these!!!!!!
ReplyDeletetreetheshee@yahoo.com
Would love to win one!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the catalog reducing site! I think that will help me more than anything in taming MY paper issue. I already get bills by email but it's all the catalogs and other junk that I get sidetracked by. I hope I win the fire safe!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteCrishie2 at yahoo dot com
I have been thinking about purchasing a safe for years...maybe now I will win one!
ReplyDeleteVery exciting giveaway! I love items like this! Very practical!
ReplyDeleteWould love to win this! I'm in the middle of my own paper battle. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYES! GREAT Giveaway! We've wanted to buy one of these firesafe boxes forever, but the price just hurts a smidgey too much... Thanks for some great ideas, too!
ReplyDeleteEAM in VA
I would love to win one of these! I need some organizing in my life and I just keep putting it off. Your website has inspired me to do so much around our home (with the help of the hubby for some). I have been telling everyone I know about your website!
ReplyDeletejdaviaux03@yahoo.com
great giveaway! and i'm going to check oout the opt out/and catalog choice sites today...thank you!
ReplyDeleteWe learned a long time ago to not let the paper build up, by sorting it before it comes in the house. I think paperless billing is the best thing since sliced bread, but I do love my catalogs! I do have a small Sentry Safe, but I've had my eye on the file folder one for quite some time, it would be perfect!
ReplyDeleteOh, I so need a fire safe file folder. I have important documents in different drawers around the house. Even if I don't win I've got to remember to get one asap.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
dialevashleroy@yahoo.com
been needing/wanting one of these forever!!!!!!
ReplyDeletesassiesissie(at)hotmail(dot)com
LOVE the binders and the tags. I'm shamelessly going to copy that idea, lol! Next time, I go to the Deep, I'm gonna get me some free (paint chip) tags!
ReplyDeleteThat safe is one of those things that I need but don't want to spend money on. I should probably act like and adult and buy one, but winning one would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou use the car for paperwork, I use a big old tin bin thing in my kitchen. Stuff can get lost in there. Great inspiration!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt'd be nice to have a fire-proof safe! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteWe live in the boonies where no fire truck could arrive early enough. This might be a nice thing to have.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth
It's good to have all your important papers together ... and safe!
ReplyDeleteLove this post- getting paper clutter under control is always a constant battle in my house, esp now that my shredder has died :(
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win a safe- I've been eying that same brand for awhile now!!
genius! the mess of mail gets so overwhelming so quickly. thanks for the tips!
ReplyDelete-Kim S.
Please sign me up! I have had a fireproof safe on my list for awhile now and just had not managed to make the time to research and shop for one! It is nice to know this was "the one" you were looking at! Must be a good one!!!
ReplyDeleteJulie
I too have a big ugly PAPER MONSTER in the house. I've never owned a safe before & should have one.
ReplyDeleteYou did an awesome job on the binders. I'm so envious. Sometimes I ask myself why I keep stuff. It seems like I'll never use it, then when I throw it away - I need it the very next day. Now I'm inspired to try again. (The safe is a great prize)
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about purchasing one of these yesterday to keep important papers/photo CDs/etc. safe!
ReplyDeleteWe have been meaning to get one of those since we purchased our home - which was in 2006!! I am in immediate filer/shredder/tosser but my husband prefers to wait for months and keep even the 99 cent Wendy's receipt :)
ReplyDeleteOkay... I started cracking up when reading about the "mail in the car." My husband was out of the country for a week, and he was commenting last night about how he is finding the week's mail in the strangest places. I explained that when you're running 4 kids all over town, you just grab the mail from the car. Sometimes it makes it into the house. Sometimes it's between the car seats :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting one of these safes. mcclutc@verizondotnet
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Thanks for sharing your paper organization. You've inspired me to start thinking about what will work best for me so that mail piles don't clutter up every free surface. I'd love to win the safe. And even if I don't win, I know it's a good investment so thanks for brand recommendation.
ReplyDeleteOk so even weirder, I was just talking with my fiance last night about how we needed to buy a fireproof safe of some sort to keep our important documents in!!
ReplyDeleteAhhh! This is what i wanted to get my hubby for his bday!
ReplyDeletesweet giveaway! fingers crossed
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! Love the little tags you made! Very cute!
ReplyDeleteLori : )
Thrifty Decor Mom
Thanks for sharing. I do good in that I go through it immediately (the mail) and toss out junk. My problem is though that there are things you think about doing something with or papers to remind of appointments and so on and like you said a pile accumulates so I like the idea of putting it in a small box and then sorting and I also like the simplicity of your filing. I was using deep old wire office baskets which if love but soon I would start throwing everything in there. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBenita
We just moved, and I realized just how bad the paper clutter was--As I unpacked, I found boxes full of paper from our LAST move! Real bad...As soon as I get our house together, I'm going to do another round of de-junking. I'd love a fire safe box--I'm so worried that my clutter will cause me to loose some things that matter!
ReplyDeleteOh I would love to win this safe! We need one so badly. We have so many important documents that need to be safe!
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY need one of these!
ReplyDeletethank you for your amazing blog!
caplingers 2002 at yahoo dot com
blessings!
kathy
I love what you have done! Paper organization is never fun, but everyone needs it. Hope I win! Sara ddreagan@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteUgh. We are moving again in a month, and this would be perfect! I really admire the way you've handled the paper- a very inspirational post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I am going to come back and re-read this a few times and really figure out if this (or some modification of this) will work for me too. I am surrounded by papers right this second because hubby and I are both procrastinators.
ReplyDeleteThat safe looks great. What a perfect idea.
A paper shredder and a fire proof box are on that list of things that we want to get but just haven't gotten. Right now I rip all of my mail (great for the forearms?) and our birth certs and social security cards are in one of those plastic file folders that would melt if a candle got too close to it. Yeah...now I'm realizing how much a few $$ could save us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance! And great organization! I need some cutie patootie boxes to put in my "to sort" papers. Right now they are in a basket that looks overflowed when there are only a couple of things in it, and I just can't get to it that often! I am doing better at taking care of the junk mail right away, but it's all of those blasted insurance mailings!
I could really use one of these. Been thinking about getting one for months.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeletemeredithheard at gmail dot com
I would totally love one of these!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWay to organize! Makes me want to start cleaning!
ReplyDeleteWe had one of these fire safe boxes, but from a different company. The lock broke so it is completely useless now. I'd love to have this one!!! Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on my paper nightmare this week. Not fun - that is for sure...
ReplyDeleteI would love one of these fireproof boxes. What an awesome opportunity to win!
I love how the safe has the ability to hold the file folders...ingenious!
ReplyDeleteI did this last year getting rid of as much paper as I can. I even scanned all the house mortgage stuff and shredded the papers!
ReplyDeleteLove the ideas for the binders and those tags are the cutest!
ReplyDeleteOh...I would love one of those safes...we've been looking at them so to win one would be awesome:)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteGetting oranized after having a baby. Would be perfect for all our health and home information.
Thanks,
janellewood at hotmail dot com
I've been researching safes, but not sure which one to buy...if I win, my decision will be made! I, too, have been trying to get rid of paper. I'm not completely paperless yet (not sure that's possible), but I'm getting there.
ReplyDeleteI too am buried in paper-house stuff, bill stuff, plus i'm basically a life time student which means tons of school stuff, teaching stuff, and thesis stuff! would love the fireproof safe!
ReplyDeletebriansangelica@gmaildotcom
I would love to win one of these safes.
ReplyDeletemy_2003_kisses at hotmail dot com
You've inspired me to change my paper piling ways! A safe is something that's been on my "really need to buy one of those" list for a long time. I'd love to win. :)
ReplyDeleteWe just outgrew our teeny tiny fire box and have been talking about having to buy a newer, bigger one. I would LOVE to win one.
ReplyDeleteI've totally been thinking we need a fireproof safe for a while now....I'm in the middle of a, oh, maybe 3 months long now (eek!!) closet re-organizing project and this would help to finish it off! Love your blog! :)
ReplyDeletecarlajmiller@gmail.com
I would love to have this for my important documents! And you have inspired me to tackle my mail/papers that I have had piling up for years now!
ReplyDeleteOh, a safe would be wonderful! I've been looking at similar versions of this too...just haven't made the investment yet ;)
ReplyDeleteAs for the paper...how I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get it under control. Unfortunately my hubby doesn't have the same aspirations and he has a love for all things paper/sticky notes/etc. *Sigh* Maybe one day someone will post about how to get the significant other in your life organized (and keep them that way), since I haven't figured it out yet!
Thanks for the entry!
RAMOODY77atGMAILdotcom
Would love to have one of these, we have a very old metal filing drawer that really needs updating.
ReplyDeleteUm, yes please! I would love to win one of these! I bought something similar, thinking it was fireproof, it's not. And I can't find the receipt to return it. Whoops!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win the Sentry!! We have a tiny one and have very much outgrown it. I keep putting off spending the money on a new one. (There always seems to be another place for those dollars!) I love your blog and all your wonderful ideas!
ReplyDeleteOh yes sign me up. Thanks for the great ideas!
ReplyDeletecarladotbreinlichatsbcglobaldotnet
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to purchase a fireproof safe for sometime now but haven't done all my research. Thanks for the chance to win!!
ReplyDeletevaleri_audino at yahoo dot com
My neighbors just lost their house to a fire last week. A fire safe is one of those things I keep telling myself that we need, but that we'll get it when we have the extra money. I NEED to stop putting it off! A fire is a possibility for everyone unfortunately. I would LOVE to win one! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWay to go! We have a small safe by this company. I didn't realize there were bigger ones--would love to upgrade!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of putting the shredder by the trash in the garage!! Now I'll have to find an outlet:)
ReplyDeletei love seeing all your organization. i am actually really good in this area but could invest in a shredder. and now that i see your fire safe box, that's definitely the container i should have my important documents in. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the organizing ideas. Currently, I'm being taken over by junk mail, magazines and papers to organize. I finally got all my quilt patterns and invoices filed and organized but now I need to get started on the family stuff. I would love this fire file. My husband and I were talking about purchasing something like this, so it would be great to get a free one! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThis will come super handy as I'm in the process of decluttering the office (you have done a great job!).
ReplyDeletesossoleathotmaildotcom
Love all your motivation and ideas! Thanks! Sure could use one of these safes, we were just talking about looking at these!
ReplyDeleteLove your Blog!
I need one and didn't even realize it until now! :)
ReplyDeletesarabasla at hotmail dot com
I think of these to secure papers often ... but never act on it. I would LOVE one for all my important and not replaceable stuff! Thanks so much for the offer :)
ReplyDeleteTHis is a major problem in our home. I am going over to that website to oop out and stop these creditcard offers. I am also going to get a paper shredder & I am going to get a better organizing system going with our paper work! .. I love your binders on you table. such a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas and I LOVE THE CHANCE TO WIN A SENTRY SAFE BOX. I know exactly what I would put in there. My life tends to get a little wild and crazy between the kids, the house, a full-time job, the dog and a husband on shift work (he's a local deputy sheriff!). I try hard to keep track of all the paperwork, but never seem to be able to. I love the idea of the monster shredder! I will have to put your ideas to work, just as soon as I can find a minute!! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteVabeachbunch@cox.net
Awesome giveaway! Everyone needs one of these. Mrs. G. (geauxmrsg at gmail dot com)
ReplyDelete