At the beginning of the month I was thinking that February would be a good month to start those resolutions that I didn't make at the new year. I figured that since February is the shortest month, it would be easier to maintain those promises I make to myself. It's only 29 days...surely I can maintain self control for 29 days.
Apparently not! I never got around to exercising regularly, drinking more water, avoiding salt, and eating more vegetables. And now February is almost over and I've only got time for a quick resolution. It's too late to drop 10 pounds or become physically fit. So, I decided to take the few days left in February and organize my life.
I started my organizational frenzy with our mail basket. The original idea of the mail basket was a temporary resting place for the mail when it was brought into the house. It has become, however, a long-term storage area for any bit of paper that doesn't make it to the trash. I actually found bank statements from 2010! Unopened!
The spouse says, "We really should review those statements to make sure we're not being embezzled." Note the use of the pronoun "we."
I decided that if the spouse hadn't reviewed a bank statement in the forty years that we've been married, he probably wasn't going to start now just because I had the urge to get organized.
I actually do review our accounts regularly, but now I do it online. I almost never write checks, everything is done electronically or with a debit card. Most of our bills are paid automatically. Why do I still have all this paper clutter?
I have now gone through all the paper in the basket and have a huge pile of bank statements from the past three years to shred. This morning I visited our two credit unions to get passwords for online access to those accounts. I'm in the process of switching all our statements to paperless. Now I'll just have electronic clutter!
I'm going to spend the February bonus day preparing for the electronic onslaught. I'm collecting all the web addresses, passwords, and account numbers in a big notebook just in case I'm hit by a truck and the spouse has to start reviewing statements online.
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I got a new desk a few months ago and took the opportunity to have a huge paperwork purge! I also added a amall filing cabinet, which is now full!! But at least I have some more room in closets and cupboards... I've been doing online banking for a few years now, but haven't given up receiving statements in the post -- don't know why I can't give up the paper trail completely, but I suspect it may be a matter of 'trust' with the virtual connection!
ReplyDeleteGood on you! I have a drawer in the kitchen I throw receipts and staements into - gahhh, it's a jumbled mess, and virtually a complete waste of space, since I never dare venture in there. One day.. (smile)
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me that I once long ago received all that stuff in the mail. It's been ages since I've gotten a statement anywhere but in my email box. Good for you for going paperless! It's the wave of the future. And if I need to, I can print it out, but I never do.
ReplyDeleteOh, then you have to organize the passwords. I have a list hanging on the wall.
ReplyDeleteWe write only one check a month, and that's because Bob likes to go there and visit. I love doing everything on line. I had to fight Bob to let me do it but he's comfortable with it now. So comfortable that if I'm out shopping he follows me by where I've used the debit card!
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me why I don't make New Years resolutions.
ReplyDeleteI'm decluttering a little bit a day. Yesterday it was the window ledge in our bedroom.
ReplyDeleteI always feel so much better for this kind of sort out. I did a mini-one on my work desk before coming home tonight, and I felt very pleased with myself. Mind you, it won't last long ...
ReplyDeleteInstead of "the check is in the mail", now we can blame the bank for all delays. Clutter will submerge us so easily if we don't watch out.
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you. I am trying to get rid of all this paper on my desk. I've paid my bills online for years using Quicken. I just do a quick review. I'm usually pretty close to the money. I just hate all these insurance papers, bank statements, credit card applications, and etc that seem to pile up on my desk. I mean to shred, but it doesn't get done.
ReplyDeleteYea for reducing clutter! I have got a huge pile of stuff to file & shred & I have no idea how that even happens when I've been the poster child for online everything since the moment it was invented! Between receipts & junk mail though the shred pile still grows out of control & must be tamed at least twice a year. Thanks for the reminder to get that out of here!
ReplyDeleteI missed this post yesterday! We have the same mail problem! I laughed about the unopened bank statements, as I had a pile in the bottom of my mail basket, too. I only was forced to go through the piles last week because we had an appointment on Saturday with a financial advisor . . . in hopes of early retirement, which was dashed to pieces!
ReplyDeleteI am now determined to figure out how I can make bigger payments onto the house and the school loans to get them paid off asap! So, I'll be doing much of what you did. All the payments are automatically debited, I have no idea how to "pay more" without writing a check. And I hardly ever write a check!
Thanks for your comments on the labyrinth post. I appreciate your thoughts, and encouragement.
I read these out of order. I'm glad to see that you actually did what you are talking about in this post.
ReplyDelete