Personally I would get two of those skinny file boxes and use the second one for taxes only, which will only be pulled out that one time a year. You're cupboard looks like it would fit two skinny file boxes. And your emergency document bag should really be downstairs as close to your front door as possible, especially if you don't access things in it regularly and it's just to be grabbed quickly in an emergency. Just my two cents!
I am amazed at the progress you've made in the two years (or so) that I have been watching your channel. When I think back to the crawl space in your old home and your basement now, it's like night and day! Congratulations! You seem so much happier and peaceful now. Your hard work has paid off. As an aside, I also keep my empty plastic bins and use them when moving. So much easier and less expensive in the long run because I can use them over and over again. My only exception is books. I pack those in heavy duty cardboard boxes (usually get them used and give away after unpacking). My empty bins I stack one inside the other, from largest to smallest and in just two or three stacks against a wall. They don't take much floor space that way. Thank you for sharing your journey and being an inspiration to all us disorganized homemakers suffering from over abundance.
Unlike most commenters prefer to keep manuals (in a drawer clearly labeled but not further organized) I have a much easier time finding information in them that way and I also haven't always been successful finding them online, it's a nightmare every time quite frankly. As long as you have a reasonable place to keep them and go through them regularly I "vote" keep :)
My mom feels the same way. She doesn’t like having to “search the internet” she just wants to search piles of papers for a book 😂 and honestly I’ve never known her to actually use them 🤦🏻♀️ she uses the appliance however she can figure it out partly bc she can’t find the manual in her house and partly bc of the time. She just makes it work or doesn’t use the item. *sigh*.
I keep my empty containers in a corner of the basement and call it my Container Store. I love it. I enjoy watching you and your family. Have a great day
So I was a Yeoman in the Navy for 20 years, and I processed and helped Sailors transition and fix their records… including my husband who is still active duty… i learned a few things. I would suggest to make Andy’s work certificates and any qualifications etc. Filed in a binder with cover sheets just like a service record. It keeps in together, In chronological order and it will come in very handy when retirement preparations start. It will save time and he will have his entire service record in one place. I know everything is electronic nowadays but you just never know when something happens and the government losses everything 🤣 hey it has happened!
I've heard this happening just with taxes. A guy lost some ss benefits because the IRS was missing 5 years of his income. He didn't have proof either, so he was out of luck.
My Dad's service records were lost by the DOD in a flood. Reconstructing his 37 years in the Army was a monumental, and not quite complete task at retirement!
As a CPA, you can have every single tax document online. Nothing needs to be paper (so the next time you file, only ask them for digital copies). I know you said its not worth the time to digitize your documents, which is fine... but if you only knew how easy it is to access and manage digitally is so great!
Yes! I have all of my tax documents on my computer, and on two backup hard drives! It doesn’t make sense when you print out your tax return from the computer just to file it away as physical paper.
PLEASE READ if you have time I am still struggling but you are getting me through!! Just want to say you are amazing! I love your channel and watch all your videos. I know your struggle we have a family of 5 and I have been married to my husband for going on 9 years but together for over 10. My oldest is about to turn 9 and we have moved at least 9 times in that time. My husband is military and when we first met we combined almost 3 house holds and I have gotten rid of stuff every move. But due to moving so often we haven't even laid hands all of that stuff a lot of that stuff has just set in boxes because we couldn't unpack because of lack of room or just not enough time in our space. 😆 Any way this is our first real home we have been here since October. We are buying for the first time together have a back yard for the first time all of it is ver exciting. My husband will retire after being here so that is nice. Before we moved here I got rid of about 3,000 lbs of stuff. I am still going through and getting rid of more but it feels amazing to be able to manage my house and feel like wanting to be home. So I just wanted to say Hi and thank you for existing!
I would keep the old house papers and taxes in the original bin and store upstairs where it is out of the way. Love the smaller container that fits in the area where you need it. You are so inspiring, keep it coming!
There's something to be said for the 'container concept' but it's great that you took it a step further to minimize the size to what you actually need. Thanks for this lightbulb moment and for sharing your pride in victory!
Thanks to you I decluttered all my papers and I bought a water/fireproof file for my important documents. Specially because here we have many earthquakes and huricanes and we dont know when we have to run out of the house. Now I know where all my papers are located and dont have to search for hours to fi d what I need. Thank You
Question... Why is the paper shredder upstairs when all your paper is at your desk? Would it not be easier to keep the shredder at your desk and shred stuff as it comes in? I am enjoying your journey! Thank you for the videos! :)
good thing to do with manuals like that is scan them and put them online and then throw them away, even if you don't have the item anymore someone else might be struggling to find a manual to theirs so it's a nice gesture, but keeping all manuals electronically or looking them up online is way less cumbersome than keeping the actual papers and works just as well.
Great progress! Just think back to those few times where you worked thru papers. I think you had many boxes and totes full of paper. Now you around a foot of paper left! Nice! Have a great weekend! 🌸💜🌸💜
Hi Erica, I just started listening to this video but something you said really got me. As part of "minimalish", Having less enables you to expand if necessary. I completely agree. When we have too much stuff in our homes, we are boxed in by it, limiting our possibilities! Great point!
Realizing that I could (and would always rather) go online for the user manuals for any appliance/electronic in my house was a game-changer for me. I'm not a Kondo devotee but she really helped me out with that nugget.
if you only took the time to scan, you could get rid of that box and black folder and have everything at your fingertips at anytime you needed...I did it and it didn't take that much time and it has paid off over ten fold from refinancing a house, needing other documents, was as simple as accessing the file on my iPhone, and emailing or texting to the person or organization that needed it. It is such a life saver...and no lugging round those boxes....all manuals can be found online also!
I love the idea of a boundry. I have 4 binders for different topics. I go through them regularly if one becomes full. I don't need more paper then what fits in those. Great progress on your part as well, Erica! Can't wait for the next basement video!
I personally would keep Ranger's records, all of them. Keep the adoption records with the microchip records. Vet records for shots are important, especially since you move often and change states. I'd also keep the documents from the sale of your last house, for a 3-5 year period. Your hair looks good. You can tell it makes you feel better, you're not constantly messing with it. Must feel so much lighter and easier to care for. Looks good!
Can you post the link for the small black file tote you're using for every day paperwork? I checked all the links already posted but none looked like your new one. Thanks. Oh, and because of your recommendation, I bought the fireproof file bag. LOVE it!
Love your channel Erica, you are such an inspiration! What I find really difficult is I have a terrible memory and can't recall important dates or details. For example, when my husband applied to work at the airport he needed to list every job he had ever held!! We had to dig up old tax papers, old pay stubs and had a heck of a time. Also when doing my own financial aid for college if I forget a password they ask crazy questions like which of these 4-6 vehicles do you recall owning or which one of these addresses are associated with you. So I am just afraid to get rid of these things because if they are needed it is for important things like college paperwork or job applications. I have bought a scanner and am slowly trying to get things done but the computer is now a mess of random files LOL. The same with photographs, my mother passed away recently and I have been trying to gather the photos so I can get copies to my aunts and siblings but they are everywhere, the closets, the storage/garage, in with craft projects. Any suggestions to help me sort out this chaos? Oh, did I mention I have inattentive ADD LOL. Literally forget what I go into another room for, stop with half my clothes on the bed to go do dishes, get distracted and do the recycling, take out garbage, oh yeah the mail, come back and wonder why my bed is covered in clothes (was I folding these or sorting them to find a certain piece)? LOL :facepalm:
Erica I literally can't stop smh 🤣 every time I need to do something either you post a video of it the day after or as I'm doing it. Working on all my bills and piles of kids school papers
I really enjoy your unpack and declutter videos. I also like paper declutter videos. I have a mountain of paperwork that I have to sort through and any inspiration and ideas on how to store my papers I want to or have to keep is appreciated.
I like the Minimalish definition you wrote. I wrote it down...because that is me. I also didn't comment in the video where you had gotten your hair cut. I like it!
Manuals are all online so you can get rid off them. Karate and other kid related one year contracts you can keep together and get rid of them when they end. I do that with my kids papes. Every end of school year I go throght them. And in september when I get new ones I go througt all binders (one binder per person).
Hi Erica! Hair is cute and sassy! lol. Its very cute. Gives me ideas! I like your moto on life .The documentation bag is real cool. I should get one!Wow, you did so good on your paper clutter!! I am more insecure on decluttering these areas. Also not as intelligent on what or what not to keep. example all my bank stuff,all what they send ect....I feel I need proof for something someday ect,I am not digitally apt.I loved seeing the go pile!!!Exciting,probably living vicariously through you.lol.All seriously though it gives the rest of us incentive also, Thanks!!Hey too bad you couldnt just get a can lid and match, might be faster.Maybe not with needing to get permit and all.Even good excuse or family bonfire! I know more time consuming I guess.Shredding sitting down ,listening to music, sippin a beverage probably the simplest. Leave it to me to complicate matters.Ranger looked so cute looking out the window!Yes,Erica, you really did follow through!!Its good to see you happy and successful.Thanks for sharing !! As this takes more time and energy.You and Andy will get that basement done.And when you do............It will be celebration time!!!!
I’m going to go through my time will tell paper bin right now! Thanks for the inspiration. Wow! Your basement has sure come a huge way it’s been fun and also helpful to us watching you.
We have a huge trash bin next to our mailboxes where we live. I sort the junk mail and toss to keep from bringing it into the house. That was my first step in decluttering papers. Thanks for sharing. Now I have a better idea to downsize my paper clutter👍😵💫 P S I don’t shred I hate to sit and shred so haul it to UPS store and they take care of it🤗
I'm obsessed with paper....as I organize it, I'm wanting to scan and save to a thumb drive that will be kept in my fire retardant box. Then when needed I will update the drive. We lost everything in a fire several years ago. Even items in the fire safe were scorched. It's hard to remember everything you need to recreate and who to contact after that kind of devastation.
I have gone from a 4 drawer filing cabinet to a two drawer, really only taking up one drawer now! It feels so good! From watching you originally in the last house Erica, you have decluttered and downsized so much, you are awesome!! Well done! xx
Thanks for the motivation! I’ve been needing to do our bill/paper box and now I’m actually excited to get it done! 😁 By the way LOVE your hair cut makes you look even younger!
I seriously need to declutter paperwork seem to have so much from all 6 kids, plus moving 6 times in 24 years. Only just finished getting last boxes out of the loft from moving 12 years go. You have done loads & given me so much inspiration, but do find it so hard after getting registered disabled 5 years ago. Xxx
I still have papers from when my dad died in 1990. Ive lived back in this house for about 16 years and am on a clearup and clean mission but some paperwork i need is in an outhouse under piles of junk! So i have to get skips so i can get rid of all the junk laying around.. actually 3 outhouses are full of junk so i need multiple skips. I cant believe how ive let this poor old place go i have lots to do.
P.s. im sure i have another four boxes to unpack in there too. I wonder whats in them lol ....lets guess.. knowing me itll be books ordirty laundry which got thrown into a box on moving day! !
Oh also, we recently sold and bought a new house so I checked on documents that need to be kept. You should really find the sale papers that show the deed was transferred out of your name but all the other documents I don't believe you need to keep. That would be the most important one. We did choose to keep everything from the sale, which I think you're supposed to keep for like 2 years.
You are inspiring. Thank you for all that you do. Is there a reason that you are carting all of those papers upstairs, shredding and then carting them back downstairs to dispose of them?
You could also make the clear bin or something smaller the container just for taxes. You need to keep them, but they could be put away in a closet and then every tax season add the new year's documentation and remove the oldest year.
I have a bin full of paper ranging from elementary school to college. I call it "The Bin of Sin" because I should just get rid of it, but I'm sentimental. 🤣
what about all your family medical records?? I have so many and I do need them sometimes ....as reference....takes up so much space. I think Im going to scan them
I can understand not wanting to spend time on digitizing past documents but you can always go digital from here on out. I also have ‘life documents’ in a fire safe but all my other paper fits in a small 3 ring binder. It’s fabulous
What a satisfying shred pile! That’s wonderful that you’ve minimized your paper by that much. What do you keep as far as homeschooling records? I started homeschooling kindergarten with my son last year. I know different states have different requirements, KY requires pretty much no documentation.
I decluttered my two drawer file cabinet down to just 1/2 drawer and I go through it once a year to update and purge it. However, the life bag you have would be a game changer for me. I currently have something that must weigh 30 lbs, has no handles and is next to impossible to move! I want what you have! Can you share what it is called and where I can get one? This was a great video. Oh, and the only reason I keep the old file cabinet is because the printer sits on it, and the extra paper and supplies live there.
I was going to say I just recently read you have to keep all the paperwork on a house until it’s paid off and then even a few years after wards. Same with if you sold a house. Can’t remember but I want to say for 3yrs after selling.
I don’t know how long you need to keep paperwork in the US, but where I live it’s 10 years and it has to be original hard copies. That’s a lot of paper!!!
OMGoodness! I'm shocked that you managed to pull that off! I thought for sure you wouldn't be able to get rid of even a quarter of it. I know myself though, and I'd be waking up in a panic and undoing some of that shred pile (and I have!). I'd keep every year of taxes, but probably give it its own bin/box, only keep the finished return, a single w-2, and the last pay stub. I'd shred the supporting documents of everything older than 7 years. And I'd probably keep the ranger stuff too. I don't know enough about house documents though, but i would keep everything that says I paid off my debt, because even hospitals will come after you if they lost documentation that you paid them. I don't like to depend on someone else having the proof stored somewhere. Companies and government entities are hacked and locked out of their data everyday. PS I'd also download the manual before trashing it... Because it's easy to find online when it's a newer product... It's a nightmare to find it as an old product, and sometimes costs $$.
I would be scanning a lot of the stuff you've put into a shred pile and a lot of your tax documents, etc.. What I do is scan stuff just in case, shred it, then keep it in a flash drive in my fire proof bag. I only have physical copies of stuff like passports, birth certificates, etc.. Everything else is just digital but in the fireproof bag. Stuff like adoption papers to me is a keep because if your dog ever gets lost, you want to be able to prove ownership. It's interesting that we all deem different things important to keep.
Could you please let me know where the 3 tiered shelving units in your dining room are from, please. Or link them in the description? They are so cute!
In Danmark everything is digital. Health, insurance, bank papers, tax. There is a digital code system with two factor ID for login. We don’t get letters by paper mail anymore. It is so much easier.
Do you have an old magazine holder or something to put the taxes in and keep in the cabinet? Also, I’d get what manuals you want online now, while still able to be found. Download to your drive or what not. :-)
I got rid of all appliance booklets, and got duotangs instead of drop files and colour coded. Red is important documents, yellow is ongoing bills, green is banking and investments, blue is insurance, certificates, orange is past home ownerships (for taxes etc) and purple is taxes. - my paperwork was ALWAYS a hot mess until I started this system a few months ago
Love to watch you. So motivating. Have you considered keeping appliance booklets in a pocket file in your kitchen with your cookbooks? Just a thought.☺
Thank you for this video. My current file box is broken and I need to replace it but haven’t figured out what I want. I love your life bag. I have those files in my fireproof safe but would like to have a bag that is easy to grab and go if necessary. This was so helpful and motivating.
The Shred It truck just drove by my house. They are a secure shredding company, haha. You can usually drop of confidential documents at your bank for secure shredding by companies like Shred It.
Also, our accountant files our taxes electronically and we have an electronic file for it. We keep work files / client stuff separate from personal files. Question: Do people keep regular copies of bills like phone, hydro, gas, etc?
I use a series of binders to store our documents. We have one for taxes. I actually keep 10 years of taxes. (I took a lesson from my parents divorce- mom used tax records in the case to show important details). My divider tabs are labeled 0-9. Takes the guess work out. This year we filed 2020 taxes. So everything in the 0 place came out and was shredded. 2020 went into 0. I keep a plastic Velcro folder as each divider. Small receipts, papers, etc go in that. The printed tax documents go behind the folder. Makes for easy keeping. As tax documents come in, we start collecting them in the binder front pocket.
Ugh, paper!! It’s the worst to declutter in my opinion. I have the same clear tote for all my paperwork and it probably weighs 50 lbs. Thanks for the motivation to finally go through it and recycle most of it I’m sure. Always looking forward to the next video😊
Is your insurance policy easily available online? Ours is, so I don't keep the paper copy anymore. Also, do you really want the extra weight of the tax files in your emergency file?
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I love that it took you less than 5 minutes to go through the paperwork. You have made such progress!!
Personally I would get two of those skinny file boxes and use the second one for taxes only, which will only be pulled out that one time a year. You're cupboard looks like it would fit two skinny file boxes. And your emergency document bag should really be downstairs as close to your front door as possible, especially if you don't access things in it regularly and it's just to be grabbed quickly in an emergency. Just my two cents!
i thought exactly the same 😊
I was thinking the exact same thing lol
Thinking the same thing
I thought that too. That way if you ever have to run for it, the bag won’t be so heavy and you can sling a kid onto your hip instead of those taxes.
Same. You do not want to carry a heavy bag with non important stuff
I am amazed at the progress you've made in the two years (or so) that I have been watching your channel. When I think back to the crawl space in your old home and your basement now, it's like night and day! Congratulations! You seem so much happier and peaceful now. Your hard work has paid off. As an aside, I also keep my empty plastic bins and use them when moving. So much easier and less expensive in the long run because I can use them over and over again. My only exception is books. I pack those in heavy duty cardboard boxes (usually get them used and give away after unpacking). My empty bins I stack one inside the other, from largest to smallest and in just two or three stacks against a wall. They don't take much floor space that way. Thank you for sharing your journey and being an inspiration to all us disorganized homemakers suffering from over abundance.
I'm very excited to see you go through your wall art collection! I bet you get rid of most of it, like everything else you declutter.
I so appreciate these videos Erica! Seeing the real life real person documents help me so much!
I like the mini projects idea.
Unlike most commenters prefer to keep manuals (in a drawer clearly labeled but not further organized) I have a much easier time finding information in them that way and I also haven't always been successful finding them online, it's a nightmare every time quite frankly. As long as you have a reasonable place to keep them and go through them regularly I "vote" keep :)
My mom feels the same way. She doesn’t like having to “search the internet” she just wants to search piles of papers for a book 😂 and honestly I’ve never known her to actually use them 🤦🏻♀️ she uses the appliance however she can figure it out partly bc she can’t find the manual in her house and partly bc of the time. She just makes it work or doesn’t use the item. *sigh*.
I agree totally
I download right when I buy the item. Then toss the manual. But it's not for everybody.
I love your Americanisms! 'Cookin' with gas' etc!
Basement yes soon!!
I keep my empty containers in a corner of the basement and call it my Container Store. I love it. I enjoy watching you and your family. Have a great day
I love your white cabinet.
Hi Erica where is the new smaller black file box from ??
So I was a Yeoman in the Navy for 20 years, and I processed and helped Sailors transition and fix their records… including my husband who is still active duty… i learned a few things. I would suggest to make Andy’s work certificates and any qualifications etc. Filed in a binder with cover sheets just like a service record. It keeps in together, In chronological order and it will come in very handy when retirement preparations start. It will save time and he will have his entire service record in one place. I know everything is electronic nowadays but you just never know when something happens and the government losses everything 🤣 hey it has happened!
I've heard this happening just with taxes. A guy lost some ss benefits because the IRS was missing 5 years of his income. He didn't have proof either, so he was out of luck.
My Dad's service records were lost by the DOD in a flood. Reconstructing his 37 years in the Army was a monumental, and not quite complete task at retirement!
As a CPA, you can have every single tax document online. Nothing needs to be paper (so the next time you file, only ask them for digital copies). I know you said its not worth the time to digitize your documents, which is fine... but if you only knew how easy it is to access and manage digitally is so great!
insurance documents are a great one to have electronically as well
@@helenm4357 I agree.
Yes! I have all of my tax documents on my computer, and on two backup hard drives! It doesn’t make sense when you print out your tax return from the computer just to file it away as physical paper.
PLEASE READ if you have time I am still struggling but you are getting me through!!
Just want to say you are amazing! I love your channel and watch all your videos. I know your struggle we have a family of 5 and I have been married to my husband for going on 9 years but together for over 10. My oldest is about to turn 9 and we have moved at least 9 times in that time. My husband is military and when we first met we combined almost 3 house holds and I have gotten rid of stuff every move. But due to moving so often we haven't even laid hands all of that stuff a lot of that stuff has just set in boxes because we couldn't unpack because of lack of room or just not enough time in our space. 😆 Any way this is our first real home we have been here since October. We are buying for the first time together have a back yard for the first time all of it is ver exciting. My husband will retire after being here so that is nice. Before we moved here I got rid of about 3,000 lbs of stuff. I am still going through and getting rid of more but it feels amazing to be able to manage my house and feel like wanting to be home. So I just wanted to say Hi and thank you for existing!
You got this! One day at a time!!!!
I would keep the old house papers and taxes in the original bin and store upstairs where it is out of the way. Love the smaller container that fits in the area where you need it. You are so inspiring, keep it coming!
There's something to be said for the 'container concept' but it's great that you took it a step further to minimize the size to what you actually need. Thanks for this lightbulb moment and for sharing your pride in victory!
Thanks to you I decluttered all my papers and I bought a water/fireproof file for my important documents. Specially because here we have many earthquakes and huricanes and we dont know when we have to run out of the house.
Now I know where all my papers are located and dont have to search for hours to fi d what I need.
Thank You
toss the appliance books. you can find every single one back to the beginning of time online!
Question... Why is the paper shredder upstairs when all your paper is at your desk? Would it not be easier to keep the shredder at your desk and shred stuff as it comes in? I am enjoying your journey! Thank you for the videos! :)
I forgot it’s at my desk! Old habit. I totally carried it all upstairs then carried it back down. lol
@@EricaLucasLoves wow, that is so me! I forget that I change things!!!
good thing to do with manuals like that is scan them and put them online and then throw them away, even if you don't have the item anymore someone else might be struggling to find a manual to theirs so it's a nice gesture, but keeping all manuals electronically or looking them up online is way less cumbersome than keeping the actual papers and works just as well.
Great progress! Just think back to those few times where you worked thru papers. I think you had many boxes and totes full of paper. Now you around a foot of paper left! Nice! Have a great weekend! 🌸💜🌸💜
Hi Erica, I just started listening to this video but something you said really got me. As part of "minimalish", Having less enables you to expand if necessary. I completely agree. When we have too much stuff in our homes, we are boxed in by it, limiting our possibilities! Great point!
Realizing that I could (and would always rather) go online for the user manuals for any appliance/electronic in my house was a game-changer for me. I'm not a Kondo devotee but she really helped me out with that nugget.
if you only took the time to scan, you could get rid of that box and black folder and have everything at your fingertips at anytime you needed...I did it and it didn't take that much time and it has paid off over ten fold from refinancing a house, needing other documents, was as simple as accessing the file on my iPhone, and emailing or texting to the person or organization that needed it. It is such a life saver...and no lugging round those boxes....all manuals can be found online also!
Thank you ☺️
I love the idea of a boundry. I have 4 binders for different topics. I go through them regularly if one becomes full. I don't need more paper then what fits in those.
Great progress on your part as well, Erica! Can't wait for the next basement video!
Nicely done,I'm going to add this to my list of "to do" for today.💖
I personally would keep Ranger's records, all of them. Keep the adoption records with the microchip records. Vet records for shots are important, especially since you move often and change states.
I'd also keep the documents from the sale of your last house, for a 3-5 year period.
Your hair looks good. You can tell it makes you feel better, you're not constantly messing with it. Must feel so much lighter and easier to care for. Looks good!
Shredding paper(s) is the best!!
😁☆
Maybe you could get a secon one of those black bins/baskets/tote for your taxes..
Btw.: I like your humour!
I am so impressed with your opening scenes. Proud of you
Can you post the link for the small black file tote you're using for every day paperwork? I checked all the links already posted but none looked like your new one. Thanks. Oh, and because of your recommendation, I bought the fireproof file bag. LOVE it!
Love your channel Erica, you are such an inspiration! What I find really difficult is I have a terrible memory and can't recall important dates or details. For example, when my husband applied to work at the airport he needed to list every job he had ever held!! We had to dig up old tax papers, old pay stubs and had a heck of a time. Also when doing my own financial aid for college if I forget a password they ask crazy questions like which of these 4-6 vehicles do you recall owning or which one of these addresses are associated with you. So I am just afraid to get rid of these things because if they are needed it is for important things like college paperwork or job applications. I have bought a scanner and am slowly trying to get things done but the computer is now a mess of random files LOL. The same with photographs, my mother passed away recently and I have been trying to gather the photos so I can get copies to my aunts and siblings but they are everywhere, the closets, the storage/garage, in with craft projects. Any suggestions to help me sort out this chaos? Oh, did I mention I have inattentive ADD LOL. Literally forget what I go into another room for, stop with half my clothes on the bed to go do dishes, get distracted and do the recycling, take out garbage, oh yeah the mail, come back and wonder why my bed is covered in clothes (was I folding these or sorting them to find a certain piece)? LOL :facepalm:
Erica I literally can't stop smh 🤣 every time I need to do something either you post a video of it the day after or as I'm doing it. Working on all my bills and piles of kids school papers
Cute hair!
I really enjoy your unpack and declutter videos. I also like paper declutter videos. I have a mountain of paperwork that I have to sort through and any inspiration and ideas on how to store my papers I want to or have to keep is appreciated.
Gosh you must feel so good with yourself and what you have accomplished Erica !! xxx
I like the Minimalish definition you wrote. I wrote it down...because that is me. I also didn't comment in the video where you had gotten your hair cut. I like it!
Manuals are all online so you can get rid off them. Karate and other kid related one year contracts you can keep together and get rid of them when they end. I do that with my kids papes. Every end of school year I go throght them. And in september when I get new ones I go througt all binders (one binder per person).
I’ve been shredding boxes and boxes of paper. Who needs cancelled checks from 20+ years ago🤣. It sure feels good to get that “baggage” gone.
Hi Erica! Hair is cute and sassy! lol. Its very cute. Gives me ideas! I like your moto on life .The documentation bag is real cool. I should get one!Wow, you did so good on your paper clutter!! I am more insecure on decluttering these areas. Also not as intelligent on what or what not to keep. example all my bank stuff,all what they send ect....I feel I need proof for something someday ect,I am not digitally apt.I loved seeing the go pile!!!Exciting,probably living vicariously through you.lol.All seriously though it gives the rest of us incentive also, Thanks!!Hey too bad you couldnt just get a can lid and match, might be faster.Maybe not with needing to get permit and all.Even good excuse or family bonfire! I know more time consuming I guess.Shredding sitting down ,listening to music, sippin a beverage probably the simplest. Leave it to me to complicate matters.Ranger looked so cute looking out the window!Yes,Erica, you really did follow through!!Its good to see you happy and successful.Thanks for sharing !! As this takes more time and energy.You and Andy will get that basement done.And when you do............It will be celebration time!!!!
I’m going to go through my time will tell paper bin right now! Thanks for the inspiration. Wow! Your basement has sure come a huge way it’s been fun and also helpful to us watching you.
We have a huge trash bin next to our mailboxes where we live. I sort the junk mail and toss to keep from bringing it into the house. That was my first step in decluttering papers. Thanks for sharing. Now I have a better idea to downsize my paper clutter👍😵💫 P S I don’t shred I hate to sit and shred so haul it to UPS store and they take care of it🤗
I'm obsessed with paper....as I organize it, I'm wanting to scan and save to a thumb drive that will be kept in my fire retardant box. Then when needed I will update the drive. We lost everything in a fire several years ago. Even items in the fire safe were scorched. It's hard to remember everything you need to recreate and who to contact after that kind of devastation.
I have gone from a 4 drawer filing cabinet to a two drawer, really only taking up one drawer now! It feels so good! From watching you originally in the last house Erica, you have decluttered and downsized so much, you are awesome!! Well done! xx
An inspiration, as always!! 🥰💕Will follow your example for sure! :)
Thanks for the motivation! I’ve been needing to do our bill/paper box and now I’m actually excited to get it done! 😁
By the way LOVE your hair cut makes you look even younger!
I seriously need to declutter paperwork seem to have so much from all 6 kids, plus moving 6 times in 24 years. Only just finished getting last boxes out of the loft from moving 12 years go.
You have done loads & given me so much inspiration, but do find it so hard after getting registered disabled 5 years ago. Xxx
I still have papers from when my dad died in 1990. Ive lived back in this house for about 16 years and am on a clearup and clean mission but some paperwork i need is in an outhouse under piles of junk! So i have to get skips so i can get rid of all the junk laying around.. actually 3 outhouses are full of junk so i need multiple skips. I cant believe how ive let this poor old place go i have lots to do.
P.s. im sure i have another four boxes to unpack in there too. I wonder whats in them lol ....lets guess.. knowing me itll be books ordirty laundry which got thrown into a box on moving day! !
Why was that so satisfying to watch?’!?!
I also love watching this content,it probably gives us incentive.
Love your new hair, you look so pretty.
Oh also, we recently sold and bought a new house so I checked on documents that need to be kept. You should really find the sale papers that show the deed was transferred out of your name but all the other documents I don't believe you need to keep. That would be the most important one. We did choose to keep everything from the sale, which I think you're supposed to keep for like 2 years.
You are inspiring. Thank you for all that you do. Is there a reason that you are carting all of those papers upstairs, shredding and then carting them back downstairs to dispose of them?
👍Wow. You are my hero. I am still fumbling through my papers. I have 3 college trunks worth.
Have you finished with the basement??, great job
Great job!
You could also make the clear bin or something smaller the container just for taxes. You need to keep them, but they could be put away in a closet and then every tax season add the new year's documentation and remove the oldest year.
I have a bin full of paper ranging from elementary school to college. I call it "The Bin of Sin" because I should just get rid of it, but I'm sentimental. 🤣
Me too!!!
what about all your family medical records?? I have so many and I do need them sometimes ....as reference....takes up so much space. I think Im going to scan them
You probably should keep all closing docs for home sales! Love your channel
Where did you get the skinny file box? If you have a link for Amazon that would be great. Love the video.
Yes, if you can keep clear containers over solid color ones..you can see at a glance what's in them.
Great motivating video, TFS.
I love a project that ends feeling good.
I can understand not wanting to spend time on digitizing past documents but you can always go digital from here on out. I also have ‘life documents’ in a fire safe but all my other paper fits in a small 3 ring binder. It’s fabulous
What a satisfying shred pile! That’s wonderful that you’ve minimized your paper by that much. What do you keep as far as homeschooling records? I started homeschooling kindergarten with my son last year. I know different states have different requirements, KY requires pretty much no documentation.
I decluttered my two drawer file cabinet down to just 1/2 drawer and I go through it once a year to update and purge it. However, the life bag you have would be a game changer for me. I currently have something that must weigh 30 lbs, has no handles and is next to impossible to move! I want what you have! Can you share what it is called and where I can get one? This was a great video. Oh, and the only reason I keep the old file cabinet is because the printer sits on it, and the extra paper and supplies live there.
Instruction manuals can be found online!!
You might need the closing docs for taxes or as back-up, just a heads up.
I don’t know about Pennsylvania, but California requires keeping sale documents on property for five years…fyi
I was going to say I just recently read you have to keep all the paperwork on a house until it’s paid off and then even a few years after wards. Same with if you sold a house. Can’t remember but I want to say for 3yrs after selling.
I don’t know how long you need to keep paperwork in the US, but where I live it’s 10 years and it has to be original hard copies. That’s a lot of paper!!!
Thats really too bad. We don’t need to keep things more than a year and most can be digital. Businesses need to keep for 10 years though
OMGoodness! I'm shocked that you managed to pull that off! I thought for sure you wouldn't be able to get rid of even a quarter of it.
I know myself though, and I'd be waking up in a panic and undoing some of that shred pile (and I have!). I'd keep every year of taxes, but probably give it its own bin/box, only keep the finished return, a single w-2, and the last pay stub. I'd shred the supporting documents of everything older than 7 years. And I'd probably keep the ranger stuff too. I don't know enough about house documents though, but i would keep everything that says I paid off my debt, because even hospitals will come after you if they lost documentation that you paid them.
I don't like to depend on someone else having the proof stored somewhere. Companies and government entities are hacked and locked out of their data everyday.
PS I'd also download the manual before trashing it... Because it's easy to find online when it's a newer product... It's a nightmare to find it as an old product, and sometimes costs $$.
There used to be a Facebook group but I can’t find it now. Has it been closed? I need help 😅😢
I would be scanning a lot of the stuff you've put into a shred pile and a lot of your tax documents, etc.. What I do is scan stuff just in case, shred it, then keep it in a flash drive in my fire proof bag. I only have physical copies of stuff like passports, birth certificates, etc.. Everything else is just digital but in the fireproof bag. Stuff like adoption papers to me is a keep because if your dog ever gets lost, you want to be able to prove ownership. It's interesting that we all deem different things important to keep.
Appliance info can be found online don't need to keep the little books about it
Could you please let me know where the 3 tiered shelving units in your dining room are from, please. Or link them in the description? They are so cute!
In Danmark everything is digital. Health, insurance, bank papers, tax. There is a digital code system with two factor ID for login. We don’t get letters by paper mail anymore. It is so much easier.
I would so love this! We get so much junk in the mail daily. It’s such a waste of paper! Congrats to Denmark for making the digital move!
I like that "We're cooking with gas.". Meaning things are moving and grooving along(right on) ☺️
Do you have an old magazine holder or something to put the taxes in and keep in the cabinet?
Also, I’d get what manuals you want online now, while still able to be found. Download to your drive or what not. :-)
Let's go!
🥰
Where did you find the rolling wooden carts in your dining room?
I got rid of all appliance booklets, and got duotangs instead of drop files and colour coded. Red is important documents, yellow is ongoing bills, green is banking and investments, blue is insurance, certificates, orange is past home ownerships (for taxes etc) and purple is taxes. - my paperwork was ALWAYS a hot mess until I started this system a few months ago
I love the idea of colored coded files, I will be doing this one. TY
Love to watch you. So motivating. Have you considered keeping appliance booklets in a pocket file in your kitchen with your cookbooks? Just a thought.☺
THANK YOU! I’ve been looking for a new place to stash mine and was perplexed!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Why aren't you putting the black box of info in that fireproof bag?
Where did you get the life docs bag? Good idea!
Thank you for this video. My current file box is broken and I need to replace it but haven’t figured out what I want. I love your life bag. I have those files in my fireproof safe but would like to have a bag that is easy to grab and go if necessary. This was so helpful and motivating.
I keep appliance manuals in a separate container - easy to retrieve, but not necessarily worthy of our fireproof safe.
I just got rid of a ton of paper yesterday but still have more to do. It’s a hard chore
The Shred It truck just drove by my house. They are a secure shredding company, haha. You can usually drop of confidential documents at your bank for secure shredding by companies like Shred It.
I downloaded all my manuals to a USB stick, so no paper anymore for that
You did great!
Great video!
Also, our accountant files our taxes electronically and we have an electronic file for it. We keep work files / client stuff separate from personal files.
Question: Do people keep regular copies of bills like phone, hydro, gas, etc?
You cut your hair!! It looks great 😁
Good to see you in keeping it real.
Don’t like it with all the sponsorship. Changes your personality.
Good video
I use a series of binders to store our documents. We have one for taxes. I actually keep 10 years of taxes. (I took a lesson from my parents divorce- mom used tax records in the case to show important details). My divider tabs are labeled 0-9. Takes the guess work out. This year we filed 2020 taxes. So everything in the 0 place came out and was shredded. 2020 went into 0. I keep a plastic Velcro folder as each divider. Small receipts, papers, etc go in that. The printed tax documents go behind the folder. Makes for easy keeping. As tax documents come in, we start collecting them in the binder front pocket.
Love your hair. I bet its easier to style and wash. I remember when I cut my hair.
Ugh, paper!! It’s the worst to declutter in my opinion. I have the same clear tote for all my paperwork and it probably weighs 50 lbs. Thanks for the motivation to finally go through it and recycle most of it I’m sure. Always looking forward to the next video😊
I’ve discovered you can find appliance manuals on line in pdf form.
Is your insurance policy easily available online? Ours is, so I don't keep the paper copy anymore. Also, do you really want the extra weight of the tax files in your emergency file?