how much time you'll save with this tactic alone!

- Open all envelopes immediately, keep only the necessary contents and toss or recycle the remainder before it can even hit the counter

- Analyze your newspaper and magazine subscriptions; do you read everything you subscribe to in a timely manner? If not

We are inundated by paper these days -- some of us feel like we are drowning in it -- but there are some simple steps you can take to keep your head above water. Many people are so overwhelmed with the continuous stream of paper that it gets dumped in an ever-growing pile, junk mail and all, that is only hunted through when bills need to be paid or other important documents need to be found. Intentions are always good; you plan to sort and file, but that day rarely comes and when it does the project is incredibly overwhelming.

The bright side is, it doesn’t have to be that way! By developing a simple routine, you can keep the paper flow under control and have everything filed for easy retrieval.

Daily Paper Strategies

- Keep a recycle bin in an easily accessible location so you have no excuse not to toss items in while you are handling them Remember to shred documents with sensitive information.

- Don’t put the stack of mail down until you have sorted out the junk and deposited those items directly in the trash or recycle bin; designate a fixed "home" for other major categories of mail (bills, to be filed, reading material, requires action, etc.) and be vigilant about immediately putting items where they belong. You'll be amazed by how much time you'll save with this tactic alone!

- Open all envelopes immediately, keep only the necessary contents and toss or recycle the remainder before it can even hit the counter

- Analyze your newspaper and magazine subscriptions; do you read everything you subscribe to in a timely manner? If not,

gh when bills need to be paid or other important documents need to be found. Intentions are always good; you plan to sort and file, but that day rarely comes and when it does the project is incredibly overwhelming.

The bright side is, it doesn’t have to be that way! By developing a simple routine, you can keep the paper flow under control and have everything filed for easy retrieval.

Daily Paper Strategies

- Keep a recycle bin in an easily accessible location so you have no excuse not to toss items in while you are handling them Remember to shred documents with sensitive information.

- Don’t put the stack of mail down until you have sorted out the junk and deposited those items directly in the trash or recycle bin; designate a fixed "home" for other major categories of mail (bills, to be filed, reading material, requires action, etc.) and be vigilant about immediately putting items where they belong. You'll be amazed by how much time you'll save with this tactic alone!

- Open all envelopes immediately, keep only the necessary contents and toss or recycle the remainder before it can even hit the counter

- Analyze your newspaper and magazine subscriptions; do you read everything you subscribe to in a timely manner? If not

he paper flow under control and have everything filed for easy retrieval.

Daily Paper Strategies

- Keep a recycle bin in an easily accessible location so you have no excuse not to toss items in while you are handling them Remember to shred documents with sensitive information.

- Don’t put the stack of mail down until you have sorted out the junk and deposited those items directly in the trash or recycle bin; designate a fixed "home" for other major categories of mail (bills, to be filed, reading material, requires action, etc.) and be vigilant about immediately putting items where they belong. You'll be amazed by how much time you'll save with this tactic alone!

- Open all envelopes immediately, keep only the necessary contents and toss or recycle the remainder before it can even hit the counter

- Analyze your newspaper and magazine subscriptions; do you read everything you subscribe to in a timely manner? If not

f mail down until you have sorted out the junk and deposited those items directly in the trash or recycle bin; designate a fixed "home" for other major categories of mail (bills, to be filed, reading material, requires action, etc.) and be vigilant about immediately putting items where they belong. You'll be amazed by how much time you'll save with this tactic alone!

- Open all envelopes immediately, keep only the necessary contents and toss or recycle the remainder before it can even hit the counter

- Analyze your newspaper and magazine subscriptions; do you read everything you subscribe to in a timely manner? If not

how much time you'll save with this tactic alone!

- Open all envelopes immediately, keep only the necessary contents and toss or recycle the remainder before it can even hit the counter

- Analyze your newspaper and magazine subscriptions; do you read everything you subscribe to in a timely manner? If not, consider canceling some subscriptions and buy the publication individually when you REALLY want to read it.

- Don’t save entire newspapers or magazine for one or two articles or recipes; the options are many -- tear the page out on the spot and place in your recipe file or reading stack; if it's a long term keeper, consider scanning it into your computer for later use; also you need to remember that you can find almost anything on the internet -- don't save unnecessary information either in paper or electronic format!

- Approach kids' school papers in an organized manner; have a storage box for items you want to keep; read and toss flyers on the spot (have your calendar nearby to write down key dates so you don't have to keep the fliers); sign any necessary items immediately and have your child place in their backpack to return

Filing System

Most people keep WAY too much in their files! They also keep their filing systems WAY too detailed. The most important feature of a filing system is the user’s ability to maintain it. If you make it complex and cumbersome you are setting yourself up for failure.

Before designing your filing system, you should consult your tax advisor or IRS Publication 552 (www.irs.gov). Determine which