Recycle Junk Mail OutsideWhen I gather my mail, I get home and while I'm sitting in my vehicle I go through all my mail. Junk mail and flyers are put in a pile. I throw everything in my recycling barrel and just take in the important stuff.
Informed Delivery from USPSIf you have ever experienced lost or stolen mail, you will appreciate this program. When you create an account with the USPS, you can go online and find out what mail is going to be delivered to your home that day. The USPS scans all the mail, and you can see these scans in the program.
Organizing Sales ReceiptsI've decided to put the receipts in the junk and bill envelopes I receive. I just write the month on the outside. This way if I ever need a receipt to return something, I just go to the envelope instead of digging through my bank statements.
Reuse Clear Plastic Magazine MailerMagazines that arrive in the mail are often in a clear plastic sack. Open it carefully instead of ripping it hurriedly and you have a nice sack to save items.
Fold Bills When PaidI sometimes open my mail and leave it in my car. The way I know that I haven't paid it yet is because it isn't folded in half. I can then go to my bill pay and take care of it immediately.
Monthly Planner For Organizing BillsEvery year, I buy a monthly planner at the dollar store. When my bills arrive, either in the mail or online, I put them in the appropriate month in my planner.
Shred Junk Mail ImmediatelyTo keep the clutter down of junk mail coming in the house, we keep a shredder handy and go through the mail as soon as it comes in. Magazines, newspapers, ads, etc. go into a bag to be recycled.
Taming the MailI keep a large manila folder with file folders in it labeled such as home insurance policy, auto insurance, etc. I only check my mail as I'm driving out of my driveway on the way to work.
Budget with Envelope SystemCredit cards have only been here since the middle of last century, for hundreds of years before it was cash, barter or credit balance payable at the end of each month in full.
Set Up A Bill Paying DeskA desk by the front door with a desk calendar are necessities for me. I open all mail immediately and log bill due dates on the calendar. Bills are then placed in an "accounts payable" folder with due date and creditor's phone number on the front of the envelope.
Home Finance Bill OrganizerI use a Home Finance Bill Organizer to organize when and how much I pay each month. It has a page for each month with a pocket for bills and notes, a section to list date due, expense type, amount and when paid.
Use a Notebook for Organizing BillsI am on Social Security and I pay all my bills on the 3rd of each month. When a bill comes in I open it, write the amount in a notebook, and place the bill in a old refrigerator bin I keep in my desk.
Refuse Junk Mail And Return Unopened.I have, in the past, just written "refused" on the unopened junk mail and put it back in the mailbox. The postal service will take it away.
Return it to SenderI mail it back to the sender if they enclose an envelope for which they will pay. Let them pay twice for the spam and they can get rid of the clutter. Otherwise if I can use the backs for note paper, I do that.
Sort Bills As They Come InI purchased a Rubbermaid sorter in the office supply section at Wal-mart. When I get my bills in the mail, I instantly open them. On the front of the envelope I put the date that the bill needs paid by and amount to be paid.
Carry Address Labels With YouWhen going to places where they are going to have mailing lists and/or drawings (i.e. business expos,) that require you to enter your name and address on the entry blank, take along your address labels, and peel and stick them onto the entry blank.
Save Money by Being OrganizedMy tip concerns having more money by being organized. I worked in an office my entire life, but until I set up a file cabinet in my own home after retirement, I didn't realize how I could save money by organization!
Don't Bring Junk Mail in Your HouseDo not allow junk mail to enter your home! It seems once mail gets in the house, it takes on a life of it's own and never leaves. If you pick up your mail at a post office, throw your junk mail in their paper recyclables container
Use 3 Ring Binder for Organizing StatementsAfter years of struggling to keep all of my monthly statements and bills in a filing box, I decided to think about what would work better for me. The problem I have is every time I open the filing box, my bills, statements and receipts are hard to find.
One Place For All Your PaperworkAfter trying every type of organization system possible for a house with four people, I have found the best solution. I put a big basket on the kitchen island, where everything seems to land. Every single piece of paper goes into it.
Return Junk Mail To SenderIf you notice that most of it has a return address on it. He told us to cross out our names and put "return to sender" on it and the compnay that sent it has to end up paying the return postage for it. I do this all the time and it has worked.
Keeping Track of Bills and DonationsAs soon as I open a bill, I put it on my computer keyboard. Next time I'm online, I schedule the payment to be made 2 days before it is due. That feature allows me to pay when the bill is due without any fear of forgetting it.
Using Baggies for Bill OrganizingI use baggies for everything. When all my bills are paid I put all the invoices in a baggie and put the month/year on outside. That way if I ever have to go back to find something it's easy.
Bill Paying OrganizationI had an idea to organize household bills. I purchased a large recipe box and index card dividers that were already numbered 1-31. I placed the dividers inside the box and placed each bill based on when it is due behind the respective divider.
Save Return Addresses From EnvelopesWhen you receive some snail mail from a friend, cut off their return address and save it. Use it on the next item you mail to them. Just tape it to the package or envelope.
Expiration Date on CatalogsWhenever you receive a new catalogue that you intend to keep, either circle the expiration date on the front cover or write it on with a black with a felt tip marking pen. Then you will know when to recycle the catalogue without having to hunt for the date.
