08/28/2024
Clutter and disorganized financial documents bring all kinds of stress. We've got a few simple steps to help you get your financial world in order:
EVERYTHING HAS A PLACE - Make sure all of your documents have a "home." Wherever you see receipts and bills piling up, well, that's a good place to set up a "home financial center."
KEEP OR TOSS? - Determine what to keep and what to throw away.
Keep: medical expenses, insurance policies, mortgage bills, warranties, investment records, tax-deductible receipts, tax returns
Toss: grocery receipts, credit card slips for non-tax deductible items, ATM receipts you've already reconciled
SORT YOUR PAPERS - Use these 4 categories:
- bills
- insurance
- bank & brokerage statements
- other important documents
UPKEEP - Spend 5-10 min/day (or 30 min/week) maintaining your files. Open your mail near the trash bin. Circle the due date for bills and file them in the proper order. Then file what needs to be kept.