Episode 41. [Clutter] Easy Method To Organize Back To School Papers

Pruning To Prosper - Clutter, Money, Meals and Mindset for the Catholic Mom

Opening Bible Verse: Luke 4:20 Apparently even Jesus had paper to deal with! Oh the scrolls that seems to inundate us this time of year. Back to school is like a clean slate. Fresh crayons and new beginnings! This is the year to get it together. We are going to get organized and stay organized! Well...let's do our best. In today's episode I share my super easy method for not just back to school papers but my secret to running my home like a tight ship. You will need: 1 3-ring binder with a front and back pocket. Mine is only 1" thick for a family of 6 plus our dog. You may need a thicker binder for a larger family. 1 pack of clear page protectors. The box has about 50 so you can do this project with a friend or two to make it even cheaper. Each child will get one or two clear pages to contain all their necessary paperwork. First page for each of my kids contains: Birth certificate Social Security Card Latest physical forms and immunization record Boy Scout Health Forms A, B, C, D. If you are a Scout mom, you know what this is! Bank account number/password/reward card Passport or copy of passport with the original in a safe Baptismal certificate Clearances Work Permit Copy of front and back of insurance card Any other original paperwork that you find yourself needing again and again Second Page for each kid contains: Specifics for that child's homeroom, policies, Zoom links/passwords, class birthday invite list The front pocket of my binder is for temporary storage of: proposals for my home improvement projects Popcorn/fundraising order forms along with the money Permission slips with any checks attached or insurance card copy attached. Any other papers that you will only need for a short period of time and that you want easy access to. Back pocket of binder contains: For my home it is only our long term ski rental agreement. We will need this again in October when we renew our skies for the season. Additional tips for paper clutter: 1. Try to deal with incoming paper ASAP 2. Try to only touch it once. 3. RSVP as soon as invitations arrive and take a photo of the invitation, put the date on the calendar. 4. Make it a game of trying to get rid of each paper that enters your home. 5. Revisit front pocket every few weeks to see if you still need to keep it. 6. If you can quickly find the information online, you can recycle or shred. Don't keep it! Happy Back to school! It's going to be a great year! To work with me 1:1, please email me at: [e-mail] To watch this podcast on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBOLMzUaXPRTy59xCxr76g To follow me on Facebook and join in live chats and classes, click here: https://www.facebook.com/tightshipmama If Instagram is your jam, here you go: https://www.instagram.com/tightshipmama/ To be added to the wait list for the next round of my signature course beginning this fall, click here: https://mailchi.mp/61d718553d87/pruning-to-prosper-wait-list