cabinet we recently received for free. It has four good size draws with a lock.

Where would you begin? I do know I would like to file bills in one drawer ( how to put this in the best order I'm not sure) and use another for the kids, important papers and keepsakes etc.

Thank you so much for any help you can offer.

I have a two drawer one, on the top drawer are all the bills and DH tax and payslips. I have each file labelled clearly and the bills are all alphabetical for easy viewing. I try to only keep 6 months of bills in each file ( some I keep 12 months worth) otherwise I just have reams of paperwork.

In the 2nd drawer I have a file for each of the kids, one for me and one for Dec. I also have files for instruction booklets for appliances and guarentees, mortagage stuff and any recipts we need to keep

I think as long as you label everything clearly then you will never have a problem looking for stuff.

Also I found that it was much simpler to file bills/paperwork as soon as it was paid ( I have a little in tray for the unpaid ones - otherwise i would forget to pay them!)

Good Luck and enjoy your filing cabinet!

I have 6 file drawers! I make the most convenient drawer the one I need to get into the most.

#1: Very active files - monthly bills at the front; less frequent bills at the back. Also keep things like health insurance reimbursement forms in this drawer.

#2: Savings/investment accounts/work benefits -- again, the most active folders at the front.

#3: Folders with appliance manuals, warranties, etc. House repair folders. Projects-to-do-someday folders.

#4: Folders with tax information; info for work (references, old resumes, etc.); vacation info.

#5: Medical and Vet

#6: Insurance -- auto, life, property. Also a folder on each car, with receipts and repair information.

Oh! And I have a small stand-alone file with homeschooling info in it. Logs, regulations, samples of completed work.

AND MAYBE THIS DISCUSSION WILL INSPIRE ME TO FILE THATCLOTHES BASKET FULL OF PAPERWORK!

Thanks Scattymom and Early Bird for your tips.
I feel a little more focused and up to the task. :reindeer:

I echo everything everyone else has said here! Good luck!