Well, 2008 was a great year for me, but I can't say that I'm sorry to see it go. I am very pleased with 2009 so far (pure relaxation and rest), and I have big plans for the rest of it. Filling out that survey the other day made me think about what it will look like at the end of 2009, and all I can say is that I think things will be very different around here by then (and no, I am not pregnant). There are just a lot of plans and changes that we have in mind for the year, and I am very much looking forward to implementing them.
This weekend Torsten and I started going through our closet and bagging up the clothes that are still in perfectly good condition but that we just don't wear anymore for one reason or another. We aren't done yet, but there are already many bags of stuff that need to be donated. This, along with our old dishes that are boxed up and waiting to be brought somewhere, mean that I am going to have to do some real research into where these things can be donated. Although it's entirely possible that I'll cop out and dump the whole lot at a Planet Aid box sometime soon.
I did learn one thing about Torsten during this process, though, and that's that he is a total brand whore. This is how the process went over the weekend: I would hold up a shirt that I haven't once seen him wear during the entire time that I've known him. He would wrinkle his nose, not even recognizing it, but if it turned out to be made by Hugo Boss or Calvin Klein, a prolonged conflict would ensue before I was finally able to convince him that he really was never going to wear the thing again. And in some cases, I didn't convince him, so now we have a small monument to "brand names that are otherwise useless" in the back of our closet. Oh well. Baby steps, right?
And speaking of home organizing, my next goal is go through our drawers and drawers full of old papers, shred quite a bit of stuff, and organize the rest of it. Right now, the only papers we have organized are things that have to do with Torsten's green card application--and then, only because we have to have it that way, and it was a huge hassle pulling it all together. Everything else is is stuffed into drawers, and is either totally unnecessary or requires a huge time commitment of extended digging before it can be produced.
Right now that's kind of OK, because we don't have anything really major going on, but once we own something, like a house or a car, and have debt and whatnot to keep track of, and deductions to take on our taxes, it won't be acceptable anymore. So my goal is to get on top of this before it becomes absolutely necessary, so when we do start getting paperwork that actually needs to be filed, the infrastructure will already be in place to file it. I can already tell how we're going to use that Container Store gift card we got as a wedding gift...
So what about you? Are you organized when it comes to household papers and whatnot? If so, how do you do it? And if not, do you ever plan to be or are you fine with the current state of disorder?
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14 years ago
Don't you just LOVE doing this sort of thing? We have a cheapo filing cabinet that we file stuff in. It is lovely to always know where stuff is.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there is store called the Container Store? I want! I want!
Are you sure you don't live at my house?
ReplyDeleteI used to be pretty organized, but ever since my honey moved in it is pretty much a stuff explosion around here. Organized, clutter averse type + sentimental pack rat = enormous challenge. Sad to say I've lowered my standards in the interest of domestic harmony. That is until the sheer amount of clutter and disorganization drives me so crazy that I just. can't. take. it. for. another. minute!
*sigh* I sense a trip to the Container Store in my near future!
I went through our filing cabinet a few months ago. It took me ALL DAY to shred all the papers we didn't need for taxes or anything else. I had several bags of shredded paper by the end of it.
ReplyDeleteI *try* to be organized, but sometimes it gets away from me. We have a 2 drawer filing cabinet and it's full. We may have to upgrade...
We have a pretty big container with hanging files in the office. I labeled each one like - "Jessica's tax info 2008" - "Jason's Health Insurance", etc. There is a shredder/garbage can set up in there so that I can conveniently get rid of junk mail and unnecessary documents. If I didn't have that set up then the piles would get out of control =)
ReplyDeleteI really, really like to be organized!
I TRY to be organized...I'm about 80% organized with our papers, etc. I just started cleaning out my closets this weekend. Now, with a baby, having the time to do this is a bit of a juggle!
ReplyDeleteOh man, we are CRAZY organized with our papers. (Although it is time to start shredding the stuff we don't need anymore.)
ReplyDeleteWe have a filing cabinet with two drawers: one for my papers and one for Jason's. Joint papers go in the back of Jason's cabinet. Then we have alphabetized files (Taxes, Bank statements, Insurance, etc.) so we can find stuff quickly.
When it's time to purge stuff, I'll carry 3-4 files a day with me to work, and during my breaks I'll weed out the stuff to shred.
Yay Container Store! You should let me know when you're shopping so I can come with and offer support. That was meant to be implicit in the gift-giving: the assistance of a very knowledgable personal shopper. Also, the use of her 40% discount (ahem). Additionally, you should know that the store is having a huge sale on all the elfa stuff, which is the closet organizing system, but your personal shopper's discount is better than the sale discount, so I suppose that doesn't really matter. Yeah, lemme know when you want to go:)
ReplyDeletei'm pretty good at keeping my papers organized in folders. i have different ones for different loan stuff, car stuff, etc. and that seems to do the trick good enough for me, unless i actually have to access a specific piece of paper; then i'll be screwed. but the important stuff i may need to access is at arm's reach and the stuff i don't need is tucked away more.
ReplyDeletei have been trying to be organized for the past year and so far the plastic foldy file thing has worked well, however i do also have to keep organized about the papers for the kid-immunizations records, report cards, school pictures and payment plans for class trips. with that being said anyone who were to look at said foldy thing, would not consider it organized.
ReplyDeleteIf you are currently an "all the stuff in a drawer" type, can I make a filing suggestion? We got a big filing cabinet two years ago and did a big day of creating the files, organizing them, etc, and I LOVE it, and love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from being organized.
ReplyDeleteBut reality sets in quickly and I don't always have time to file promptly right away, so I needed an additional system. So we put a semi-attractive 9x12 size bin on top of the filing cabinet, and if I'm in a hurry, I drop important mail, bills, papers, etc in there- it's THE place for important stuff that has not yet been filed, and keeps the clutter from slowly creeping into the dining room table, kitchen drawers, etc. It helps bridge the gap between my formerly disorganized self and my aspirational super-organized self.
Oh, and John is also a brand whore, and this is how we have two sweaters in size extra large from banana republic in our house, even though he is a size SMALL and only wore xls during the baggy high school days.
I think because my job is basically about being organized I feel it's okay to be in total disarray at home. Which of course makes me crazy when it comes time to find something important like, say, MY PASSPORT.
ReplyDeleteGermans are brand whores. Apparently, this is the reason Gap didn't do well here, it wasn't a big enough "name" (heart-breaking for me, because I refuse to buy underwear from anywhere else than the Gap).
ReplyDeleteRight now, I'm pretty organized, but that's because I don't have a lot of stuff. I agree, it's a good idea to get a system in place now, as opposed to waiting until a tax audit (eeek!).
We are so unorganized when it comes to papers. We have a filing cabinet that we never use. Instead we pile things up on the desks in our guest room. Maybe being more organized should be a 2009 goal.
ReplyDeleteI love cleaning out closets. It frees up so much space, and helps others too.
ReplyDeleteReal Simple had a post about this recently, that was helpful.
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,1043872,00.html#
We have filing cabinets, and also those office depot cardboard boxes. We have an ikea bookcase that holds them in each cubby space. So when mail, or important papers come along. We make folders, and file them that way clutter doesn't clog everything up.
I love container store. It is the best store ever!
Okay, yes, I am fairly organized in the paperwork department. My system is this, if you are interested:
ReplyDeleteI have a file cabinet with hanging files labeled with categories, like "Health", "Retirement", "Cars", "Credit card - Visa #5515", etc.
I just drop receipts, statements and whatnot into them as I go.
But I don't organize daily, so if I get some mail and I don't want to deal with it, I stick it in a temporary file folder called "To file" and then once every so often I'll sit down and file them all.
Then, about tax time is when I'll have to go through everything and bundle everything up and rubber band things and label them, and I'll file it all into an entire accordian-style folder system called "2007 Taxes" or whatever, and it will have much of the same sub-folders like "Cars," "Credit cards," etc.
Rule of thumb is that you should save personal tax records for 5 years or something like that, and then shred and recycle.
My husband's system, on the other hand, is to make tiny piles of paper all around the house, and then when I tell him I'm sick of it, he sticks it into one huge box, completely unfiled. So there's that alternative.
I'll take all your donations either for my students or I'll just take them to the goodwill if you want...
ReplyDeleteI am not an organized person by nature or force of habit. I admire people like you who can clean out and organize and be on top of things.
ReplyDeletei'm pretty organized when it comes to papers and documents. we have them all filed in a filing cabinet. i'm trying to get the rest of my house organized now, though! and btw, i *love* the container store!
ReplyDeleteI have a sort of quarterly filing system going on. I have a huge filing cabinet and files for everything but the paperwork that is important usually gets stacked up in a drawer (thankfully I only use one drawer) until the drawer gets overwhelming and I sort it all into the files. This happens 3-4 times a year :) Will's version of filing goes like this: "Hon, this looks important, will you figure out if I need to keep it and file it for me?" and then putting whatever it is on my desk. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with ya trying to get organized and in the process, donate things I no longer use. I think it's a great way to start off the new year. It feels really refreshing!
ReplyDeleteWe need to get organized, it is on the list of things to do. Husband did manage to get the kitchen straightened out this weekend which was a start. I hate having it loom over our head but we're so much happier when things are organized and neat.
ReplyDeletei am a hot mess when it comes to organizing important papers, which is no fun when it comes to year's end and i need to file my receipts with my insurance co. insert 2009 goal here: organize "important papers."
ReplyDeleteso far, the best thing for me is a new organizer i bought for a whopping $13 from target. it's from their real simple line, and it's really just an expandable file folder with tabs, but it's much prettier. i do better when things are pretty. :) i used each tab for a certain collection: important receipts, medical/dental records, car, bank records, etc. i have NO idea why i've never done this before, but it works really well for me!
good luck!
Jeeze, the only papers that are actually organized are the dogs' immunization and veterinary records and my taxes from the past 5 years.
ReplyDeleteEverything else is pretty much left to the paperwork gremlins who eat important appliance manuals and oil delivery slips. I have to get that stuff under control... good for you for trying!
Because we're both so Type-A we have a whole filing system set up for everything from our receipts to our application to our apartment from 2 years ago!
ReplyDeleteWe're horrible for that. At least it's a socially acceptable compulsion!
I *want* to have some sort of organizational system. Go buy bins and boxes and have a 'home' for everything.
ReplyDeleteBut...that takes work and diligence. The desire for these things is not overwhelming. I wish you luck, though! I am sure you can do it, even if I can't.
We do a pretty good job of keeping things filed (I heart filing cabinets) and organized. I've been doing this since I was in college, but since then have married and acquired a dog and two kids! Things get filed, but I probably need to organize the files better, as well as go through and weed the things we no longer need. (ex. Every vaccination information sheet the pediatrician has ever given us for my four-year-old - now we are getting duplicates for her brother - time to recycle those bad boys!)
ReplyDeleteI need to be able to embrace my messiness or get organized for REAL. Somehow, I doubt either of these will ever happen, and I will constantly be teetering in the no-man's land of half-organization.
ReplyDeleteThings get lost a lot there.
I tagged you for a meme.
omg i LOOOOOOVE the container store. i have to actually not go in it, because otherwise i Buy Things. a lot.
ReplyDeletei have one of those folder box thingies, like a little square hanging file folder dealio. i usually pile all the "to be filed" papers on top of it for about 4 months, then file them all at once :-)
First, with that little monument of name brand clothes you have at the back of the closet ... I say hide them away somewhere Torsten won't find them. And if he hasn't mentioned them in a couple months, give them away. I bet he'll never know.
ReplyDeleteWhile I *appear* to be uber-organized, I am really a mess when it comes to paperwork. The papers to my last condo were all over the place. And I lived in constant fear that was going to mess up my sale of the place. Now that I see I needed none of them to sell my place ... well, let's just say there's no motivation to clean up my act. It's ridiculous. I should be better.
OMG, I stuff every single piece of paper I get that isn't junk into a drawer. The tiny dresser ones or the junk ones in the kitchen, doesn't matter. It's HORRIBLE and has to stop. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI go through very strict organization periods, and then extremely lax periods. But other than clothing, Aaron and I don't really even own that much stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty organized...or at least I thought I was until I started pulling out stuff to get together for our tax return. Apparently a "to be filed" file is NOT a good idea. It's terribly full! I do like organizing and keeping files, though. It's oddly relaxing to me to put stuff in order.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, if there's one thing I'm seriously obsessed with? It's organizing papers. I can never seem to get my clothes in order, but I do have neat organizers that separate every piece of paper I get- in regards to my bank accounts, school account, credit card payments- and it works completely well. Once you have the organizers set in place, it becomes so easy to keep it that way.
ReplyDeleteI hate the current state of disorder that is my life right now. My plan is to do something about it very soon...
ReplyDeleteNo, really... I'll be getting rid of a LOT of stuff very soon.
"a monument to brand names that are otherwise useless" Hee!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually an organizing dork and have several accordion-style filers with our papers neatly stored away. I do get behind fairly often, but it is nice to have a "system" in place.
I'm pretty much the ultimate disorganized person and I'm usually okay with it-- it drives me nuts at work sometimes though.
ReplyDeletei go through bouts where i just want to feng shui my entire house. i get this sick satisfaction from throwing stuff out like that. but more often than not i don't bother since my mother is total pack rat and i can never smuggle anything by her! i can't wait to be rid of clutter when i'm living on my own!
ReplyDeleteJess, there's a Goodwill out on South Dakota Avenue just off of New York Avenue. Here's the address:
ReplyDelete2200 South Dakota Ave NE
Or there's a Goodwill that accepts donations out on Route 50 and Edsel Road in Arlington, if that's more convenient.
omg, disorganized beyond all belief! I mean, I generally know roughly where things are, but there are other things that I know I haven't thrown away, but would also be hard-pressed to actually *find*...
ReplyDeleteBeing that I've got to start paying back student loans very soon, I will probably have to remedy this, but being that I have never been an organized person (at least in the traditional sense), I have no idea how I will go about it.
I'm so very disorganised when it comes to important documents... I think i need to invest in a file cabinet... maybe next year..
ReplyDeleteWe used to be really organized (primarily in the immigration department as you guys are) but then - to use the excuse that really is getting old - the baby came along and I haven't really felt like filing in the last, oh 18 months. Last summer, we took one whole weekend and filed and shredded and it was glorious. Right now, we just have various stacks of papers laying around in a back room waiting....and our to-shred pile is looming.....
ReplyDelete