Filing System Tips

Everyone should have a working filing system, whether it is a plastic bin, accordion folder or a filing cabinet. The National Association of Professional Organizers, Southeast Michigan Chapter (NAPO-MI) wants to share some insight on organizing your papers.



1. Keep it simple. A file system should be easy for you use.


2. Buy matching colored folders and hanging folders to color coordinate certain categories that catch your attention. For example, Assets & Banking could be green to correspond with incoming money. Utilities, Insurances, Personal, Memberships, Households, Taxes could be another color.


3. Label each folder using words that make sense to you.


4. Discard items you no longer need to retain. Google “record retention”, and you will find many lists of how long you need to retain important records.


Organizing your papers and files may not be as difficult as you think! For more organizing tips, visit www.NapoMichigan.com.


Article submitted by Chapter member, Debbie Tebbe.