Since we are talking about getting your home clutter free and organized, we need to look at all aspects of your life to keep in order. While not always at the top of your list to organize, this week we are Organizing Your Important Papers for a reason. These can be the most important thing in your home at times. Knowing what you have, where it is at and how to access it will help you manage tough situations easily.
Organizing Your Important Papers
Update All Papers: Before you can organize them, you really need to update the. Make sure you have the most updated copies of all important papers. Things to consider include everything from your latest insurance policy, to your mortgage or rental contract.
- Insurance Policies
- Mortgage or Rental Contract
- Vehicle Titles, Lease or Purchase Contracts
- IRS Tax Records
- Pay Stubs or Work Contracts
- Will, Trusts or Guardianship Paperwork for children
- Divorce or Custody information
- Marriage & Birth Certificates
- Social Security Cards & Photo ID
Update Policies & Paperwork: When you are taking the time to organize your important papers, you should also take the time to update policies. Check to see if you can get a better deal or better coverage with your insurance. Update contact information and potential guardians on your will. Take new pictures or make updated copies of photo ID’s to have on hand.
Make 3-5 Copies Of Each Item: It may sound extreme, but you want to have multiple copies available for emergency. A copy of insurance for your car might need to be in all vehicles, in your home and in a safe deposit box or fire proof safe. Mortgage or rental contracts are things you may only need in 1-2 locations, but having an extra copy is important in case one disappears. Keep a copy in your home safe, in appropriate locations (car, wallet, filing cabinet), and one set of everything outside your home in a safe place like a safety deposit box. Other copies of some items may be left with friends or relatives just in case emergency arrives that leaves you unable to access other copies.
Add Copies To Your Emergency Kit: This often gets overlooked, but home and vehicle emergency kits should also include a copy of your important papers. When a disaster strikes, it is nice to have that on hand just in case. Organizing your important papers means you will always be prepared when an emergency hits.
Those important papers are often overlooked in your quest to organize your home. While there isn’t a lot you can do to make them more organized, simply gathering them and making copies is huge. Make sure that you have the important things in a safe place so should an emergency happen, it will be easy to find the important papers in your home.
{52 Weeks to a More Organized Home/Life}
If you have any of the hoarding tendencies we describe in this post, you may want to work on getting organized for the New Year. Getting organized and staying organized always seem to be on my list of New Year’s Resolutions. Would you like to join me in getting organized for 2015? Each week we will tackle one area of the home to help you get organized, reclaim your sanity, and save money since disorganization can lead to spending more or missing out on discounts.
Are you interested in actually getting organized for 2015? We have worked extensively on a series to help you get organized in 52 weeks. If you would like to receive these emails about how to get your home organized in 52 weeks, you can sign up to receive just ONE email per week. You can sign up at any time during the year without missing a beat.
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