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Post by cando on May 4, 2014 8:09:35 GMT -5
sue5000 - You're on your last box of papers?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May 3rd: Spent 10 minutes on papers from Dining Room table - 1 paper took up most of the time - ended up writing a note on the envelope & putting it in Office in a Bag - dread when we have to work on this. It is going to be very time consuming. It is our Property Appraisal... the value went up incredibly! There is NO WAY anyone would spend that much for our house. Filed another paper. Also, 3 hrs. on Paperwork re: DD's student loans that I've been procrastinating on. Organizing, etc. She will be taking over all these type things very soon & I need to have it together for her. Also, need to pay some interest on them as agreed upon. CD
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Post by papermoon on May 4, 2014 15:47:52 GMT -5
I did another hour in the paper piles yesterday, to the accompaniment of a jazz CD (thanks to the CD a day thread).
I worked on getting my banking papers in order. I was a bit annoyed with myself for all the mess of so many debit card receipts. Even though I've long since cancelled all my credit cards and switched to cash or online billing, it looks like I've slipped back into the careless habit of using the debit card for small impulse purchases and then tossing the receipts into a drawer. But they really add up, and no wonder I'm always running out of money before I run out of month. The most annoying thing, though, is that shuffling all those receipts and reconciling them with my bank statements is a time suck, and I don't want to do this to myself! I hope that by actually dealing with those receipts instead of just shoving them in a junk drawer, I'll gain awareness and stop the petty little impulse buys, and return to the mindful cash method.
But anyway... now that I've gotten back into handling papers the past few days, it's not as stressful as I was expecting. I think that, for me, old papers hold negative energy that gets more scary and toxic the longer they sit gathering dust. But the toxicity begins to dissipate when I actually pay attention to those papers and work through them, and my fears dissipate, too.
Plus, no doubt about it, the music really helps.
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Post by sue5000 on May 4, 2014 20:23:11 GMT -5
Yes, cando this is my last box! But it's a big box and I've been working on it for a longgg time. ugh papermoon I've gone to using mostly cash, too. Glad you got some of your paper sorted I sort to music, too, but mine is the old classic country.
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Post by RoadRunner on May 5, 2014 17:57:29 GMT -5
Sorry everyone but I will have to take posting and read back amnesty. Busy and Stressful time "For The Roadrunner", but during this time of business and stress I do not want to let my habits and squalor success fall by the wayside.
Filed some more paperwork and mail is up to date.
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Post by cando on May 6, 2014 9:57:55 GMT -5
May 4th10 hours - Tons of paperwork and organizing. Mostly to do with Student Loans. Something doesn't seem right with a couple of them. DH agrees. Did make some payments on them. Printed lots of stuff out. Researched. Consolidated. All day on this stuff! I want to scream and cry. DH and I even had some words, again. He has really upset me by making me feel stupid. Like I didn't already... It is very complicated and may have to go to a professional for some help in understanding some of this loan stuff. I don't think anything should be at one of the interest rates that they are showing for a couple loans. It is a weird percentage. Doesn't make sense. DH agrees and mentioned about paying a professional for help with this. I have heard that loan servicers are known for making mistakes regarding these student loans and usually they are not in the Student's favor and usually the students don't catch it and know about it. - 7 papers "to be shred" and 17 papers into recycle bag. May 5thTook 4 bags (1 of them HUGE!) of recyclable paper type stuff to outside can Took 2 bags of shreds to outside can Took 18 boxes (already broken down that were in my garage) to outside can CD
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Post by cando on May 8, 2014 3:21:04 GMT -5
May 6th -- Researched loan stuff, printed out some loan info. Had been procrastinating on this... From hallway: 1 paper "to be filed", Moved small stack of papers to DS's room from Hallway. Tossed 3 papers.. 20 min. Spent working on Medical Expenses. 15 min. Working on taxes Went thru big pile of papers that were on my Dining Room table. - 12 papers "to be shred", 4 put on DS's bed, 1 magazine put in my bedroom, coupons put where they go. Filed 15 papers. 5 papers tossed. 134 papers into recycle bag. Paid 5 bills. CD
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Post by cando on May 8, 2014 3:32:25 GMT -5
May 7th --Went thru today's mail - 3 coupons where they go, 1 to DS, 1 magazine to my bedroom, 3 "to be shred", paid 2 bills, 7 papers into recycle bag, made new file folder, filed a few papers, 2 papers into trash, 8 more papers into recycle bag 10 min. Spent going thru papers from Dining Room table - 1 paper "to be shred", filed papers, 3 receipts/papers into recycle bag 15 min. Going thru old purse. Finished with this one! Yay!!! 1 purse tossed! 1 paper tossed, filed papers, 7 papers/receipts into recycle bag CD
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Post by BetsyMarie on May 8, 2014 19:45:50 GMT -5
Good, consistent work, cando. Hope that loan thing gets sorted out soon.
Sue said: "I started out with about 22 boxes/ bags of paper and, 4 years later, I'm now down to my last ONE!"
That is excellent!
I have no idea how many bags/boxes I started with. I simply did not know I didn't have to keep all this trash forever - bills, tax crap, bank statements, credit card stuff.... If in doubt I kept it. And there was a lot of doubt. I don't know what % I've gone through already, but today went through another 2 boxes of 'papers'. Much to recycling, also filled about 2/3 of a large trash bag with shreds. And kept some. I'm not filing as I go, which probably is a big mistake. Oh well, it's not the first one...
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Post by sue5000 on May 8, 2014 21:43:55 GMT -5
BetsyMarie "If in doubt I kept it." That's what I did, too! For many years! not good. I'd lie awake sometimes thinking what a nightmare it was. When I first starting sorting paper, I TRIED to do just 2 categories: keep & not keep. But then I started using big paper grocery bags, labeled on the handle in black marker: Income tax, Auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance, dental papers, utility bills, family stuff, etc. I stood sorting at a table, with the bags on the floor surrounding me. I could then quickly drop each paper into the correct bag. After I had that done, I started sorting each bag/category again. And got rid of even more! I'm getting to the point FINALLY that almost all my paper fits in my 2 drawer file cabinet. Almost.
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Post by BetsyMarie on May 8, 2014 22:05:36 GMT -5
Yep. I used to dread thinking about having to go through them all. And while it's not fun, doing it now is cathartic, and not as bad as I had feared. Getting a shredder has helped. What I'm doing now is a first major pass. I'm sorting into 4 main categories: 'keeper business' (tax, insurance, bank, car, etc), 'keeper personal' (letters, photos, etc), shred and recycle. If a box contains very old papers, most go into recycling or shredding. If it's newer stuff, more is kept. Eventually I'll have to make a second pass and sort/file into a more functional system. Right now I'm striving to reduce 'bulk'. And I'm making a significant dent in it. Just did 90% of another box... very old stuff, so most of it is going out.
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Post by sue5000 on May 9, 2014 9:57:55 GMT -5
"Eventually I'll have to make a second pass and sort/file into a more functional system. Right now I'm striving to reduce 'bulk'. And I'm making a significant dent in it." EXACTLY! Do you whatever works for YOU! It sounds like more work, but 2 sorts actually helped me prevent becoming overwhelmed with all the decision-making, which may have caused avoiding the whole project. I'm taking a break from my last box right now, but I'm doing a 3rd-sort in my file cabinet! You're doing GREAT, Betsy! Just keep going and someday you'll be DONE!!! and be in paper-maintenance!
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Post by cando on May 9, 2014 12:55:58 GMT -5
Yesterday (May 8th) - 1.5 hours Clearing stuff from Entry Hall - Most of it DS's mess. Broke down 5 boxes & put in garage to be recycled (I don't know about y'all but I also count cardboard type stuff and magazines & catalogs in with papers). DH went ahead and reduced/combined/organized some of his stuff that is in the Entry Hall. -- He still has soo much in there & I am angry about it, but helpless as I don't want him to have a heart attack. He is under a ton of work stress & I know that he can't deal with it right now. But, it was stuff he promised that he wouldn't let get all messed up -- like a computer desk with a big screen. Now, it is totally covered with a big desk chair with his jacket on it & at least 2 big tool boxes, a laptop or two and all kinds of papers, parts, miscellaneous. It is awful!!! And, I am mad but have to keep it on the inside. Got mail from mailbox - 1 piece "to be filed". CD
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Post by RoadRunner on May 11, 2014 9:38:52 GMT -5
Good Work Everyone Wanted to pop in a let everyone know even though I have been absent from this challenge for more than I week I still have been thinking of each of you. I am on sabbatical for another week was I work to finish up my National Boards Rectification. It is an extremly stressful time having to sort through 10 years of teaching to pick the best to submit as evidence of my professional development. Needless to say my squalorish digital clutter and paper clutter does not help. So in essence I have been dealing with paper clutter. (Too Much Actually) Sending warm wishes for this week as you attack paper clutter. I will be back on Saturday ready to roll. PS please keep me in your thoughts and while I tackle this huge undertaking.
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Post by sue5000 on May 11, 2014 10:13:46 GMT -5
Best wishes for your recertification, RoadRunner !!
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Post by cando on May 12, 2014 2:12:10 GMT -5
May 9th: 45 minutes Clearing Dining Room table. Not done yet... Filed some papers. 5 papers "to be shred". 2 bills "to be paid", had to move files around in file cabinet & go thru and get rid of a couple. 63 papers/brochures/pamphlets/catalogs into recycle bag 2 papers into trash paid a few bills 2.5 more hours Clearing Dining Room Table. Finally done!!!! Filed a lot of papers! Made a few new folders. More moving around/organizing in the file cabinet, 1 paper "to be shred". There were some very difficult items -- some papers were very important & needed to be kept. Had to research one of them first. Didn't know if it was a hoax or for real. It was complicated. And, papers re: my DMom and my trip there this past January. *researched Veteran's disability qualifications, etc for my Dad -- this had to do with some of the papers on my Dining Room table. I am past due doing this and need to get back on it. *researched classes from catalog from the local Rec Center as I want to take a couple classes and remembered seeing a couple that would work out. Found the classes and researched enrollment/registration deadline and costs. I will enroll this weekend. 12 papers put in recycle bag *put some notes in my computer so I can find information when I need it. *made a new todo list for the next few weeks... combining from several papers. *small empty box into recycle bag *Framed DS's graduation picture from last May Put extra frame (for DD's) in top of closet in Office. Yes, I've had a bag with 2 frames sitting on my dining room table for a year! Also, the 8 x 10 picture in an envelope standing up next to the napkin holder. Yay! My Dining Room table is cleared off!!!
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