September seems to be “that month” of back to reality when the season changes and kickstarts everything…from school & work schedules, to getting quick meals organized, and just the ebb and flow of things shifting around the household. I’m personally hoping for summer weather to spill into the month so I can finish some outdoor tasks…but we press on. September is a good time to revisit those “rainy day projects” like that growing pile of important papers which for some people can cause a great amount of anxiety.
I am often asked by clients how long should tax records, financial statements, and other important papers for example be kept. Well, I’m going to give you a two part answer. Firstly, it’s best to consult with an accounting professional who will advise you based on your situation because there may be a reason to keep your paperwork over a longer period of time. As for me, I keep tax records for 7 years before shredding them. As for more frequent paperwork such as bank statements, utility bills, etc. I’ve gone paperless which has greatly reduced the paper pile in this household. This means, I can log in to the bank or utility company and review my account and/or download statements when I want to save them electronically at home. So convenient however I recognize that some people are fearful of going paperless let alone navigating a computer and maintaining password & login information, etc. If you’re interested in reducing paper use by going paperless, BEFORE you do anything, I recommend hiring an IT professional to assess your home-office computer system to ensure appropriate security measures are in place to protect your information. I use a password manager to securely store my online account credentials, and an IT professional can help you set up a similar system. It will be time and money well spent.
Here’s some other ways to reduce those piles of paper;
- Go Paperless – sign up to receive digital statements i.e. bank, utility, financial, mobile phone bills, etc.
- Invest in a good shredder – random receipts, shopping lists, junk mail, etc. can be shredded on a daily basis. Everything we shred less glossy, coloured paper goes into our compost.
- Utilize a portable filing system such as a binder, basket, or an accordion style file folder in place of a filing cabinet to prioritize & organize paper until you can circle back to it.
- Conquer the easy stuff first – for example, magazines, books, or other reading materials which would be a welcome donation to your local care facility, maybe even a hospital waiting room. If there is a way to find purpose and bless forward among your things, good on you!
- Photos – family photos can all be scanned and digitized into a space friendly visual display in your home that you can enjoy daily instead of them collecting dust behind an album cover or box.
- Stay ahead of that pile – find a few mins in your day or week to review and file your papers over a cup of tea or coffee; make it an active habit!
On the garden front, it will be time to get some beds cleaned up, harvest the compost, and set mulch for winter veggies. We will also help our bees prepare for the winter season. Fall is truly my favourite season as there is so much colour in the garden, the trees are turning crimson, and the air feels cool and fresh. I find myself reflecting on what I have accomplished over the past few seasons from helping people downsize their entire residence, a massive two day kitchen reset that was so much fun to providing support to Sunshine Coast Seniors. It truly is a September to remember for which I am grateful.
More recently, I completed two separate home office organization projects to help kickstart my clients on a new path of reducing paper. No matter the mess & clutter that you are experiencing in your household, there is a better way. A fresh start takes some time, a willingness to embrace some positive changes, and a little creativity. I look forward to every consult when I can share some ideas and talk about how I can help you save time and live lighter with less stuff. To learn more about Tick off the List Home Services, please visit my FAQ and for a free 30 minute consultation, email niki@tickoffthelist.ca.