Wow! Mary Jo –
Thank you so much for your detailed comment about your home filing system! I found it so interesting and it sounds like you are super organized.

I, too, prefer old school – as I think finding things online takes more time.

However, I do more of a hybrid system.

I love your method of color coding your folders and file boxes – this must make it very easy to see at a glance which folder you need.

Seriously, you have an amazing file system going on over there and I am now inspired to make a few changes to my own files and bring a little more order to my home office!

It’s crazy..many years ago, I majored in secretarial science…so I know how to file, etc. Many of my jobs was as a secretary – setting up & maintaining filing systems in the office. But for some reason, in more recent years – I tend to “overthink” the issue…as in not seeing the forest for the trees.

I don’t have a filing cabinet but I use individual clear plastic storage file boxes – I chose a burgundy top for the majority of files. Medical has a Blue top, And employment records are broken down into three categories (based on who I worked for). So, one box is for Financial Records – primarily Bank statements. Another box is just all the tax records. Insurance is in another box. (Life, Auto, Home). Medical Insurance is with Medical Records.

For the Bills…the Credit Card Statements are kept separate from Bank Records. And I use Accordion File Folders (with the elastic band). I tend to uses the “same” color file and that only changes when the store discontinues a particular style! Usually I use the 7 or 13 pocket size.

Utilities are grouped together in an accordion file folder (Gas, Water, Electric). Mortgage has its own Accordion File Folder…and Retirement Information in another Accordion File Folder.

The current year of utilities are kept in the Accordion File Folder and at end of year – I add the billing for each utility to it’s own File folder – and all the folders are labeled.

Each month as I pay the bills, I maintain an excel spreadsheet – on the Utilities…the workbook has a tab for electric, water, gas, and HOA fee. I track how much electric/gas is used on a monthly basis, amount paid, etc. Some of the utilities – like the insurance are quarterly bills.

I have another excel spreadsheet – for transactions – bills paid, which bank account paid for the item, and what $$ was spent on donations…and at for this particular item – the donations are highlighted so at the end of year an excel spreadsheet is created about how much was spent on “donations” to 501c groups…for taxes.

All the spreadsheets are on my laptop, which gets backed up weekly. And I use a three ring binder…to keep track of transactions, bills, expenditures each month….for me, writing it down helps me see the “bigger” picture…here’s your income, here is what you need to pay…and here’s how much you get to spend on groceries, etc.

I like the accordion file folders…as it groups like items together. e.g. the credit card statements are kept separately, while all the other bills get filed away. I have several bills that are paperless. (not by choice).

My filing system also includes correspondence (read files), I use the zippered three ring binder for warranty booklets, another accordion file for house repair/maintenance receipts. And also use three ring binders to corral miscellaneous items – like jokes, etc. The accordion file folders are good as they have the elastic band that wraps around the file – keeping everything contained and are easily portable…if you have to refer to something in another room or updating the records on the computer or checking on accounts online. When I eventually sell my current home, I will be able to get rid of the documents (monthy bills) associated with THIS address. And these items will be destroyed via a bulk shred service that is free from my credit union.