Blog: Settling Into Your New Home
Checking The Mail & Keeping It In Check

It comes in waves, you know it does.  You may dread opening the mailbox, PO box or checking the floor inside the front door.  It's ok, and everyone has it: mail.  Catalogs, bills, advertisements, coupons, letters, cards and other numerous marketing materials come into your mailbox and can clutter up your new home.  So, what can you do about it?  It's the little things that will keep it in check and under control.

1.  Sort thru it, get rid of the excess.  As soon as you step into the door, sort your mail over a paper shredder or a recycling bin.  This only takes about a minute.  You generally know what bills look like, and what advertisements and junk mail look like.  So, sort thru it before it even enters the main part of the house.
2.  Give it a home.  Do you have a time of the month you like to pay the bills?  Make your life easy, and put them all together so you can get them paid and avoid those late fees.  All it takes is a basket, file or box, clearly labeled, "Bills".  Have statements and items that need to be looked over?  Put them in a folder labeled "Read/Review".  Putting items together helps you know exactly where they are when you need them.
3.  File.  Bank statements, retirement statements, loan paperwork, insurance information and others are examples of things you need to keep for a while.    Have a file cabinet or other vessel like an accordion file where reference materials can be kept and ready if needed.  Use a system that is easy for you to maintain, and you'll be less stressed and more productive.

Sorting, giving your mail a home and filing it where you can find it will keep it all in check.  Products will help you keep it all together, but be sure you have good habits in place (or in formation).  Mail doesn't have to rule you life and overtake your new home.  

Now, go check your mail - you might have won ten million dollars, or gotten an invitation....

posted on: 1/10/2008 1:30:00 PM by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

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Settling Into Your New Home

by Brandie Kajino

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About Brandie:

Brandie Kajino, "The Home Office Organizer" "Empowering you to organize your home office"

Brandie's Website:

www.thehomeofficeorganizer.com

Brandie's Other Blogs:

• Paper Organizing Made Easy

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