Computers were meant to cut down on paper but it seems we feel some sense of security
by having piles of paper around or can it just be hard to break those old habits of printing
everything. Can a paperless office be in your future? Yes it can and here are a few steps that
can help get you on your way:
Step 1.
Switch to online bill pay and receiving paperless billing statements. Using your bank’s
online bill pay, you can process your vendor bills online – which will also save on postage
costs as well as check stock. What is great about online bill pay, you can schedule your bills
in advance, which is a huge time saver, and by scheduling your payments it will save you
those late fee penalties. You can also take it one step further and set up automatic payment
directly from your checking account through your vendors.
Step 2.
Download your monthly bank and credit card statements. At the end of the year, burn the
statements onto a CD and file with your tax returns. While you are downloading those
statements each month, you can email your virtual bookkeeper the statements for
reconciling your accounts.
Step 3.
Client invoices. Instead of printing and mailing invoices – pdf and email them. Also in
QuickBooks did you know you could email your invoices directly to the client? When
creating the invoice in QuickBooks, check mark at the bottom email invoice. Once you are
completed with the invoice, go to File – Send Forms, you can edit your message and then
click Send. For organizing these invoices, set up monthly folders on your computer and
save your client invoices in the respective monthly folder. At the end of the year, burn to a
CD and file with your tax returns.
Step 4.
Purchase a good shredder or a local shredding company, ONLY $7/box just drop it off, who
has time to shred. For sensitive files containing credit card information, bank account
numbers, old vendor invoices with account information or old client project files – safely
toss in the shredder. If you have a scanner, you can scan these files and toss and/or shred
the paper copies. Remember though if you are saving these files to your computer to be
sure to back up your computer.
Step 5.
Stop unwanted junk mail. Register with Contact DirectMail.com to be removed from
receiving junk mail. Put in the recycle bin the second you walk in the door.
Step 6.
Business receipts. Travel receipts, credit card receipts or vendor invoices received in the
mail can be scanned and stored in your monthly financial folder set up on your computer.
If you do not have a scanner, NeatReceipts or Neat scanner is a mobile scanner and digital
filing system. You can scan receipts, business cards, and also documents. The software
included with the scanner identifies and extracts the important information from the
receipts and automatically organizes it for you.
If you implement just a few of these steps, you’ll soon gain control of your paper overload
plus gain some valuable desk and drawer space, yeah!
Spring Organizing Tips!
Now that spring has arrived it’s time to shed our winter “stuff” and lighten‐up for the
season ahead! Follow these expert tips for a smooth transition:
1. Start with your closets. Dry clean or launder coats, sweaters, and any
items you plan to store over the summer. Toss or donate any items that
are worn, don’t fit you, or you just don’t like. Take your spring and
summer clothes out now so you can see what you have and make a list of
new items you need to purchase. Don’t forget storage containers, clothes
bags, and cedar blocks for storing winter clothes.
2. Clear your kitchen. Take a look in your kitchen cabinets, pantry,
refrigerator and freezer. Look for food items that are reaching their
expiration date and use them up. Toss old food items and start making a
grocery list of fresh, healthy foods that coincide with the new season.
Consider moving “winter cookware” (crock pot and pasta machine) to the
back of the cabinet or into storage and bringing forward your salad
spinner and ice tea maker.
3. Bathroom Makeover. Yes, the bath needs seasonal organizing too! In what
condition are your towels, rugs, shower curtain, and counter top
accessories? Perhaps they just need to be cleaned, but if you’re planning
to replace them start a list. Clear out your medicine cabinet and vanity
cabinets by tossing out anything that’s expired or items you don’t use
anymore. Don’t forget to add replacements to your shopping list.
Consider organizing products such as containers, racks, shelves, or
drawers for extra storage.
4. Bedroom Switch. Now is the time to dry clean or launder the heavy
comforter on your bed and replace it with a lighter blanket. Swap your
flannel bed sheets for lighter fabrics, store the rest.
Need help clearing out your paper clutter? Contact The Organizer Gal for a complimentary consultation.
