How to Conquer Paper Clutter

Home, Home & Family, Living Green
on August 9, 2013
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Reducing the paper clutter in your home helps you stay organized, save money and even feel less stressed. Here are some ways to conquer the junk mail, receipts and other paper that tends to pile up around the house.

Eliminate. “Cut down on the amount of paper coming into your home,” says Donna Smallin, organizational consultant and author of The One-Minute Organizer. “Opt out of unwanted mail via the Direct Marketing Association and other groups. Only bring home paper that is absolutely critical; don’t keep ATM or other receipts unless you’re sure you will need them.”

Contact magazines, catalogs and charities you want to hear from and instruct them not to sell your name to other marketing lists. Cut back on magazine subscriptions and read more online or at the library. File and keep only essential documents, such as information for taxes, legal documents, insurance policies, real estate closings and home improvement bills.

Go online. Bank and pay bills electronically. Banks have secure, encrypted systems, says Jennifer Degree, electronic banking manager for Union Bank in Morrisville, Vt. You also save money by not using stamps or envelopes. Check with your payees about specific instructions for receiving electronic payments.

Scan, save and back up. Scan photographs, recipes, receipts, children’s artwork, product guarantees, bank statements and medical reports and store the scans in folders on your computer. As a safeguard against a computer crash, consider buying and backing up your files on an external hard drive.

Shred. Shred all papers that show your name, address or any other identifiable information. “Invest in a cross-cut shredder, as paper from single shredders can be pieced together,” Smallin suggests.

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