Get CONTROL of all that Paper! Handling Incoming Mail • Sort the mail into piles on a daily basis—that which needs to be recycled, that which needs to be filed right away (e.g., financial statements), that which needs to be handled at a later date (e.g., bills to be paid), that which needs to be shredded (items with personal banking info) and that which belongs to other family members. • Have a recycle bucket or bag near your sorting area so the mail that needs to be recycled gets put in that container right away. • Designate a place in your home to move the piles that you need to take care of. School Papers School papers can sure take on a life of their own, and there are several ways of handling them. • Invest in some type of memorabilia box/plastic bin. Label the container with the child’s name. Store what you and/or your child think are the most important school papers and art work in that container. • At the end of the school year, sit together with your child and pick out those papers you want to keep. Set a numeric limit and pick out your favorites together. If you are having a hard time deciding, take a picture of the item before discarding it. Barbara Berman is the owner of South Jersey-based BB’s Clutter Solutions. She understands people’s needs to create order out of chaos and works with them one-on-one to help them develop strategies to stay organized. For more info, call (856)912-0077 or visit www.bb-clutter-solutions.com.
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