I love paper and love my files!!! I am not afraid to say that out loud, but that’s because they are organized and I can find things easily.
Over the years, I came to recognize two common issues with paper: it comes into our homes or offices in droves, and we have no idea what to do with it once it arrives. Where do you put it? How long do you keep it? I get these questions daily. And what about the computer, wasn’t that supposed to help with paper clutter? Not really – the computer age has increased paper use by 60% over the last ten years.
We will be tackling many of these common questions on our next teleclass on January 27, 2010, called Manage the Paper Crisis. This teleclass is for both professional organizers and clients who struggle with paper organizing.
But from now until then, I want to pose a challenge to you. SORT and TOSS one small pile each night between now and January 27th. The problem with paper is we don’t know where to start and so we never do. Start small. Look at the counter, the dining room table or your desktop. SORT and TOSS one small pile from one location each night and you will be blown away at how much you can get done. SORT like items together and let go of any paper you don’t need or plan to use. If you don’t know what to toss, attend Manage the Paper Crisis.
Paper from bills driving you crazy? Get an accordion file labeled January thru December. Pay your bills and place the bill only (not the envelope or advertising) in the month paid. You are all set come tax time. At the end of the year, if you don’t need it for taxes, toss it!
To set up a paper filing system in your home or office, we recommend FreedomFiler. Its the best paper organizing system we’ve found and we’ve used it with hundreds of clients. For other paper organizing resources, visit our website.
Christa Wagner is a professional organizer and speaker located in Vancouver, BC.
It’s a brand new year, which means it’s time to rotate your tax files in your FreedomFiler!Remember that you keep your tax files separated and organized by EVEN and ODD years (for taxes older than 10 years, there is a tax archive folder in your FreedomFiler). Now is the time to move your “odd year” tax folder to the back of your file cabinet and move your “even year” tax folder to the front.
Also, don’t forget about your “Monthly” files (green labels) for the rest of your non tax related bills and statements. Now that last year’s (2009, an ODD YEAR) files have filled up, you can move these to the back or to a second file drawer. Bring forward the EVEN YEAR’s folders to re-use. Remember that each month, you automatically empty out papers left over from two years ago.
The FreedomFiler is a amazing self purging file system – it teaches you to file your paper based on how long you need it. If you don’t have one, call us at 778.839.5792 and we’ll set you up!
If you have any questions about your FreedomFiler or need some assistance organizing your papers, please contact us at info@savvysolutionsorganizing.com and we’ll be more than happy to help!
Just recently I was reminded of how important it is to purchase the right office supplies. Now, there are many ways to organized and lots of products and tools you can use depending on how you think and organize naturally. That said, it is so important to purchase quality containers and office supplies to give yourself the best chance of success with your organizing project.
Often times, I will see people use old and tattered office supplies that are falling apart and don’t support their needs. What ends up happening is they take the time to organize using products that won’t give them 100% and the system falls down. Now, I am not saying not to recycle, but if the metal strip is falling out of your hanging file folder, then its time for a new one.
Happy Organizing!
Christa Wagner is a professional organizer based in Vancouver, BC.
A few months ago, I was featured on Shaw Cable’s ”The Express.” The show featured one of my clients who I am helping in her home office. Get this? She had a baby 8 months ago, moved a month after the baby was born and is also transitioning into working from home with the baby. She has a lot going on as many of my clients do.
It’s the perfect time to organize your paper and files for the new year.Attend this workshop, File Yourself to Freedom, and leave with files you will never have to re-organize again. Attendees will learn how to use the filing product we use exclusively that will tell you where to put your paper and how long to keep it. The FreedomFiler has a built in purging system designed to help you let go of paper once and for all. We love this product and you will too!
Additional materials cost for this workshop. $49.95 paid to Christa Wagner for FreedomFiler product andattendees to bring 75 hanging file folders and plastic filing tabs. Call 604-257-6976 to register.
In September I had the opportunity to work with Blink Media on an organizing segment for their Get Connected Show. The show a weeks ago during Small Business Week (the week of October 19) and I just recently got a copy of the link. I’ve been on TV a few times on the news, but this was a new experience that I just loved. I had so much fun and was thrilled to be apart of the event. I was also so impressed with the crew at Blink Media; the quality of the work was exceptional and they were super to work with.
On the show we work with a client who is struggling with some organizational issues. Like many of my clients they had a home office space that had too many purpose, little storage space and just too much stuff. We were able to help by letting go of some unneeded items, we created a home for things using some great office products, and since it was a Get Connected Segment, we incorporated some pretty cool and very functional computer tools. The client was thrilled and overall it was a super day.
Christa Wagner is a Professional Organizer located in Vancouver, BC. I am hoping for many more opportunities like this one. Here is what the producer said about working with me: “I think I can speak on behalf of AJ, Clayton and the entire GC Crew, that you were an excellent co-host for our segment and the energy you brought to the set throughout the long day will translate well onto the screen.”
If you know of any media opportunities, please pass them along and I will eagerly follow-up! Contact me at 778.839.5792.
In September I had the opportunity to work with Blink Media on an organizing segment for their Get Connected Show. The show is airing tomorrow during Small Business Week (the week of October 19). I had so much fun and was thrilled to be apart of the event. Thank you Blink TV.
On the show we work with a client who is struggling with some organizational issues. Our client was fantastic. Like many of my clients they had a home office space that had too many purpose, little storage space and just too much stuff. We were able to help by letting go of some unneeded items, we created a home for things using some great office products, and since it was a Get Connected Segment, we incorporated some pretty cool and very functional computer tools. The client was thrilled and overall it was a super day.
I love the FreedomFiler and have used this product for years with my clients. And one of the best things about the FreedomFiler is the owner Seth Odam who is willing to listen to any suggestions or recommendations we have as professional organizers.
Seth has been working on a new and improved FreedomFiler that is better than ever. Here are some of the changes.
Improved Colors
More Write-In Labels
More Pre-Printed Label Choices
New EVEN/ODD YEAR Labels
New Tax Labels
New Archive Labels
New Permanent Labels
New Remove/Replace Labels
New Resource Labels
New Active/Supplies Labels
Section Headers (Premium Set Only)
All-In-One Instruction Booklet
Four Key Questions Are Back!
Updated Package Cover
Premium Set With Extra 1/5 And 1/3 Size Labels
Better Pricing Means More Value
Contact us if you would like more information on the FreedomFiler. As a Vancouver Professional Organizer, we bring the plan, the products and the know-how to get organized and stay organized and we are paper experts. Contact us at 778.839.5792 to schedule your personal or phone consultation today.
If you’re not currently using the FreedomFiler, we recommend you get on board and free yourself from your filing. Happy filing!
Tune into Shaw TV, Channel 4 in Vancouver to see professional organizer Christa Wagner in action with her local client Nicole Turcotte. Christa and Nicole have been working on her home office for about 12 hours and we have made a huge dent in Nicole’s paper piles.
As a new Mom and business owner, Nicole has a lot on her plate. Not to mention, she had her beautiful baby girl six months ago and then moved into their new home one month later . What do you often do in that situation? You stuff things wherever there is space, right? Well, now Nicole wants to find a practical, logical home for things and most importantly her home office which is piling up and only getting worse each day.
Nicole’s office is like many others with tons of paper on the desk, many boxes of old, outdated, paper, no file system in place and no motivation to get started. That’s where a professional organizer comes and we have made amazing progress.
In the time we’ve been working together, we’ve set up a FreedomFiler for Nicole creating a home for paper she needs to reference again in the future. We’ve created action files for Nicole’s desktop providing a home for all the paper she has to act upon in the future and we’ve discussed time management. (Want to create your own action files, purchase our eBook Conquer Paper Clutter).
You can see it all on Shaw TV (Channel 4, Vancouver) on the show called “The Express.” Here are the times:
September 22 at 3pm, 6pm, 10pm
September 23 at 5:30am, 10am, 11:30am, 2pm
Check it out and contact us with any questions at 778.839.5792.
