Is your New Year’s resolution to get your life organized? Take control of your paper clutter BEFORE Christmas. Today, I want to share some tips to help you organize your documents. I do think that when it comes to organization that we make it a lot harder than needs to be.
As many of you know, we have a small house, 1100 square feet, with no office. We used to have a small secretary desk that we no longer have. However, we do have a writing desk in our upstairs family room that the kids use to color or do projects on. Many of you have asked what we do with our documents and where I keep everything since I work from home. Worry no more because, you do not need a dedicated office to stay organized. I promise you, you just need a system.
I have partnered with Adobe Document Cloud to give you ideas on how to organize all your documents. Today I am going to help you solve your “paper woes”! I have designed a guide on how long to keep certain documents, which documents you need paper copies of, and how to organize your paper clutter by keeping digital copies instead of physical ones. I really think this will be a solution to all your paper struggles.
I know some of you may feel consumed by the overwhelming amount of paper documents around your home. I know this because I asked over on Instagram what overwhelms you the most about papers. Below are some of your comments I received about the paper chaos! I got a lot of replies and many were the same, so I narrowed it down to the major paper issues that came up over and over. The good news is that I have found a solution to solve your paper problems.
A Simple Solution for Your Paper Woes
I’ve recently discovered Adobe Scan, a free app on my phone that lets me quickly and easily scan paper documents and save them as PDF’s. Using Scan allows me to recycle all my paper clutter, but still have the documents I need at my fingertips.
Your Major Paper Woes:
The mail!! So much! Make sure to take the time one day in the month to un-subscribe to mailing lists! And to switch to online bill pay to as many accounts as you can. This will save you!!!
Taxes and household papers where to put them? A fire-safe box!
How long to keep important papers? I have a complete guide below 👏 👏
Kids report cards, medical record and forms, what to save and how to organize? Decide right then if you need to save it or take-action on it. If you need to take-action put it in a pile to tackle that night or write it down on your family calendar. Or simply scan it with Adobe Scan to reference later.
Self-employed and need to save so many important documents! Follow the guide below on how long to keep paper files. Hot tip: most everything can be scanned and saved as digital copies.
Kids manuals in case of recalls? I don’t have anything like this saved since I can find it online. But I do find it important to save the receipt. You can quickly scan all your receipts and save them as PDF’s. That way you have them all in one place!
What to do with papers you need to look at but can’t look at immediately? I put them in a pile on my computer and then sort through them before I go to bed. It takes me maybe 10 minutes at the most and helps me decide what to do with them. I rarely end up keeping the paper. I just take action on it. Either write it down on the calendar, scan it, file it, or recycle it.
Kids papers and artwork, I get so attached! I only keep papers and crafts that REALLY tug at my heart and showcase their personality. I don’t need a million papers with Finn’s hand on it from preschool (I love them all and appreciate them). I just keep one! Scanning artwork as it comes home also allows me to have a full digital copy of all the kids creations at the end of the year.
Coupons and cards, where to put them? I put coupons right into my purse. I have a little pouch in my purse that I go thru every month or so and get rid of expired coupons. If someone sends me a card, I read then I recycle! I used to hang onto them but realized I NEVER go back and read them. If there is a personal note that means a lot to me I would frame it and find a special spot for it.
Sentimental papers- Do you keep cards that were given? See above!
Where to put inspirational thoughts to go back to later. Maybe you wrote them down, clipped them from a magazine, or got a hand-out from church. I scan them and create a file “Inspirational Quotes” that I can easily access! Then, I just simply recycle the original paper copies.
How to organize ongoing medical papers? You guessed it, I add these into Adobe Scan as well. That way you can have them all in one place. No more digging through papers. That way to can easily email them or print them again if you really need to.
Recipes! I clip out magazines recipes and handwritten recipes where to put them? I take a photo using my phone and save recipes as PDF’s in Adobe Scan in a file titled Recipes! A bonus, is that you can share the recipe with friends by emailing the recipe right from the app,
First up, I am so thrilled to share this app with you! Adobe Scan solves all of my paper woes. As This is a FREE app that is SO user friendly. It will be your paper storage for those things you might need access to and don’t want to save forever by filling it away and forgetting about it, then to spend hours searching for it (ME!!!).
I use Abode Scan for many things. One is to turn a signed contract into a PDF and email it to someone, all right it in the app. I also have a file for receipts, you know that UPS tracking receipt that you need to save but don’t want to file it or lose it. I just take a photo and scan it right into Adobe Scan and save them all under receipts. You can label each scan and search it by the title as well. So much better than taking a photo of it and losing it in your 14k photos on your phone (what I used to do). I have a file for “school schedules” that I started when I kept getting paper schedules and didn’t want to lose them. And one for “yummy recipes,” a place to put that recipe a friend wrote down and gave to me, or a clipping that I scanned from a magazine.
I also use Adobe Scan to keep inspiration photos! As I was cleaning out a cupboard and trying to declutter the other day I found an old binder with magazine clippings that were my “inspiration ideas” for our other home. Even today I buy magazines just for that one photo I want to remember. Now you just scan all of those magazine clippings and ideas right into Adobe Scan. I have a folder titled “Home Inspiration.” You could upload these to Pinterest, but you really should credit the original source if you are putting it online. Adobe Scan is just a paperless version of your own inspiration book. So happy I found this solution rather than shoving those papers somewhere thinking I would remember where they were.
It took me a minute to figure out how to create folders in Adobe Scan. So I thought I would share that here. After you have taken a photo and “scanned in” your image. You can then click on the three dots in the bottom right corner. Next click “Modify Scan.” Then click on the photo icon in the left corner and lastly click “take another photo” or “select from photos” to add to your existing image, thus creating a file.
We have a little cabinet in our family room that works as our “office.” We keep our important documents here along with our printer and photo books. The papers were piling up and I was feeling very unorganized and messy because I didn’t have the best way to file my important documents. So Kevin and I decided to tackle it. The first step was to take everything out of the cabinet. And PS- I suggest if you are married or live with someone, get your partner involved. Kevin helped sort through the papers and helped things move so much faster! We stuck to our guide and that helped us to know what to keep and what to shred. Below I share my guide on what papers to keep and for how long. It really helped us. I went through many resources online and came up with an easy to read guide for us!
If you haven’t already opted to go paperless, you might be swimming in a flood of receipts, bills, pay stubs, tax forms and other financial documents. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This probably doesn’t come as a shock: You can go paperless! Some of those papers you have collected need to be kept, but others can be shredded and tossed. We realized we were hanging onto papers that we didn’t need to. I am sure a lot of us are.
Quick Tips for Deciding When to Keep or Toss:
Think about how difficult or time-consuming it would be to obtain or replace the document. If the process takes substantial time or effort, then hanging on to that document is a wiser choice.
Many statements these days can be retrieved online for at least several months back, so you don’t need to keep things like utility bills (to prove residency, for instance) if it’s easier to download them when you need them. If you’re not signed up for electronic statements from all of your creditors and vendors, do so now to simplify your record-keeping.
Guide on which documents and papers to keep and for how long
Keep These Original Documents (in a Fire Safe Box)-
- Birth and death certificates
- Social security cards
- Marriage and divorce certificates
- Adoption and immigration papers
- Last wills, living wills, living trusts, and powers of attorney
- Pension plan documents
- Vehicle titles and loan documents
- House deeds and mortgage documents
- Home, auto, and life insurance policies
Keep Digital Copies of These Documents for a Limited Time
Three Years
- Year-end investment statements
- Home improvement records (Hold these for at least three years after the due date of the tax return that includes the income or loss on the home when it’s sold. If you plan to sell the house, and you have made improvements to it, keep receipts for those improvements for seven years – you may need them to lower the taxable gain on the house when you sell it).
One year
- Medical bills (keep for one year after they’ve been paid- If you plan to take that deduction, you’ll need to keep the medical records for three years for tax records).
- Pay stubs (one year to match to W-2)
Seven Years
- Records of loans that have been paid off
- Tax returns and supporting documents
Keep Current Copies
- Year-end retirement fund statements
- Annual insurance policy statements
- Vehicle repair and maintenance records (keep until you no longer own the vehicle)
- Warranties and related receipts (keep until they expire or you no longer own the items)
- Medical records and current prescriptions
- Receipts for valuable items, such as jewelry, electronics, and art (keep while you own the item for insurance. Receipts for anything you might itemize on your tax return should be kept for three years with your tax records).
Now let’s look at the small, but BIG changes to us to our little office cabinet space!
BEFORE-
AFTER-
First, we took everything out. We went thru the big plastic container that we were using as our file storage and sorted through the papers. In the left corner you can see a black box – that is our new fire safe file box that holds the only papers we decided to keep. I have been meaning to buy one of those for a LONG time! It didn’t really even cost that much and is so worth it. I also added three baskets to the top shelf where I put the art projects or papers I want to save from the kids school projects. Then after the year I will have them made into a book. (If you remember I started to do that over the summer, but ended up wanting to wait for more papers at the end of this year).
We also got a paper shredder. We keep this in our un-finished basement. It is very handy to have. I just throw recycle papers into a bag and my kids can shred them once a month. I got one that can shred a credit card too. Everything else that is not filed or shredded we scan into Adobe Scan.
We were able to get this little “office space” cleaned up and organized in about an hour. Since I do not have a desk, I keep a large bag with a file in for projects I am working on, and use my planner for any other “in-progress” projects. That way I can just grab the bag if I am working on the road or somewhere other than home. It also is a quick way to clean-up my workspace by just having it all in one place. Right now, in my bag I have my stack of Christmas cards I am going to address and send out this weekend, my kid Christmas lists and some other papers I need to reference for projects.
I do work at my kitchen table the most. But with a laptop and minimal papers, you can work anywhere.
We have this little spot in our kitchen where our “command center” is. I have a dry erase calendar that we all use. It’s important to have a calendar when you are trying to go with less papers. We do keep some in-action school books, school directory and anything else the kids are in the process of working on in one of the cabinet drawers in our Ikea chest.
And a lot of our kid’s craft paper, coloring books, blank cards, etc. are all very organized in our entry piece.
I highly recommend the Adobe Scan App to cut down on all the papers and to help keep you organized. It has for me! You can download the FREE Adobe Scan App HERE.
Sources-
Adobe Scan app (free)
Video Clips of our Paper Organizing Process~
Downloaded the app…. I hate clutter and “over-throw” paper away sometimes, regretting certain things I got rid of. THIS is such a help to know about! Thank you!!! Also love the paper shredding idea to save recycle bin space and keep things private.
Hi Brooke
This has just motivated me to get organized!!!! Thank you!!
I work mostly from home, but travel for work all the time and build up thousands of dollars of expenses every month that I’m so behind on! I actually use turbo scan for work documents , but hadn’t thought about being disciplined and scanning receipts too.
I’ve just started to ‘exist’ in the US and so have immigration papers, new insurance policies, car titles and so many things. I was feeling really overwhelmed with it all, but now I have the motivation to sort it all out! Thank you so much
Have a wonderful day
Lucy 🙂
Thank you for this post! I’m overwhelmed with papers and often just keep everything for fear of needing it later. We have one daughter who happens to love drawing and draws on every scrap of paper EVERYWHERE! They’re often super detailed pictures that I just can’t seem to part with… I always say I’m going to start taking pics of them and make a book but never do it. I don’t know how families with several kids can organize it all, lol! We’ve moved 5 times in 7 years and and embarrassingly enough have every time moved all the old file boxes as far back as 1995, our first year married. It’s time to take control and shred it!! You’ve given me hope that it can be done painlessly!
Great idea!! I live for organization and papers are always a problem!! But digital files are life!! Downloaded the app and can’t wait to get trashing those old papers!
I downloaded the adobe scan app! Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been so overwhelmed by papers everywhere and I’m excited to go as paperless as possible!Winning a safe box and shredder would be the best! Thanks so much!
Organizing my papers is a must come 2019! And it will be a good idea to try and stop all the unnecessary mail being sent to my house everyday. I needed this post, thank you for helping me out!! The app you suggest is highly rated too!
Downloaded the adobe app and look forward to getting started with it. Paper organization is so difficult and this seems like a great solution. Thank you for sharing it!!
Thank you for this post and all the great small space organizing. I live in a 1000 sq foot home and find your blog such an inspiration!! Paper clutter has been so hard for me to tackle. I seem to gather paper piles in several areas of the house. I have downloaded Adobe scan and plan to tackle those paper piles right away!!
Does anyone know if Adobe Scan has a storage limit? I used to use Evernote app but once I got to a certain storage amount (which wasn’t very much), it only gave me option to pay monthly. And since I’m frugal, I gave up. Hoping Adobe Scan will work!
Oh good question!!! I just emailed them to ask. I couldn’t tell online….
Thanks Brooke! I downloaded Adobe Scan and am excited to try going paperless again! I tried a couple years ago with Scannable app and Evernote and loved it but then got frustrated when it got full and they wanted me to pay. Thanks for all you do! I also got your 3 presets and am soooo excited to finally have decent iPhone pictures! You’re the best!
Adobe scan allows you to export to Google Drive! That’s what I use to store all of our tax documents already so I made sure to check that when I downloaded.
Awesome! Thanks!
YESSS!! Thank you for sharing!! My friends laugh cause I say Google Drive keeps me alive!! The Google Keep app is also awesome for people who love making to-do lists and jotting down reminders–theres an app for your phone that syncs to your Google so you can look at it on a computer screen as well!
Downloaded the app! I love the app, Keepy, to organize artwork by child and date. A certain number of saves are free each month or you can pay a small fee for unlimited saves. We also utilize our free safe deposit box at the bank for passports and important documents and then keep copies at home. We authorized my dad to access it as well when my husband and I went out of town and left the kids with them, just in case something happened.
oh good tip on the free safe deposit box at the bank! I didn’t know about that!!!
THANK YOU sooo much. I am a very organized person with my papers, but it is ALL hard copies. I appreciate your ideas and video to show me how to scan w my phone. I’m older and not very techno savvy. Need to figure out how to print from phone though. Hmmmm. May God bless you in all your endeavors for your willingness to so generously share your talents and skills.
Thank you Ruth!! You just need to get a wireless printer! Then it is typically an app you add to your phone so you can easily print!!!
Yes! Our wireless printer has been life-changing! It is SO convenient. Need to print a return label? No problem! Have a school permission slip? Easy peasy! It is such a small change but it really helps not to have to drag my laptop out or hook up a printer cord every time I need to print something!
Downloaded! I would love to hear if you use google calendar or just your in-home calendar for scheduling. My husband I like to use google calendar (we can see each other’s work schedules) but with our kids getting older I’m finding that they want to know what’s coming too! It’s hard to have a command center that doesn’t look cluttered! Love your blog so much.
We use the Time Tree app for a shared calendar. It’s free, clean userface and you can do many types of calendars.
smart!!!
This was so helpful and I downloaded the app! I feel like no one ever talks about what to do with all this paper stuff. I always wonder where everyone keeps their “stuff” hidden when I go to their houses. I feel like I always have an obvious pile sticking out for all to see. Thanks for sharing this post.
I agree! I’m the same way, I have papers everywhere but it’s an organized mess!! I am so happy you talked about this. I have tried for years to minimize my paper keeping but this takes the cake! Thank you so much for sharing this app! I can’t wait to tackle my office space and purge the papers!!
This is HUGE for me! We have a 1200 sq ft house and a 16-month-old and one on the way. The clutter is ALREADY out of hand. I’ve also always been a “paper saver” but WE HAVE NO ROOM! We were JUST talking about this problem and the need for a safe! Thank you SO MUCH for posting this; it is now our official guide!
I just downloaded adobe scan. I can’t wait to start scanning and throwing stuff away. Thank you so much!
Loved this post! Paper clutter is probably the thing my husband and I argue about the most! This is so helpful! I downloaded Adobe Scan to start using right away!
This is a great post! A goal for the New Year – to streamline the paperwork. Thanks for the tips!
Wowza this is going to be great! My husband and I live in a 1200sq ft home and I’m currently redoing his grandmas old desk to put in our bedroom so we have some office space. I am definitely going to be utilizing this app to get us organized on our new life together ( recently married ). Yay! Thank you for this.
Love this!! I have boxes of my boys school work and papers that I need to scan and throw out. Downloading this app!!!
Thanks. We just downsized our home, and I feel like I’m floundering trying to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of. This is helpful.
Thank you so much for the app suggestion!! We own a small business and have WAY too many papers everywhere. I love being organized, but don’t always know how to go about it. Can’t wait to start scanning documents instead of trying to keep track of every important document that’s currently kept in multipal places!
CAUTION. The reviews on this firebox include one from someone who’s house burned and the water damaged everything in the box. Guess it’s not waterproof. I did a quick search and there’s one st Walmart with great reviews but it is $100. Good insurance though. Check out both products.
I downloaded the app and I think it might just save my life! My husband is a hoarder of all things paper and paper gives me anxiety. The endless documents we have to hang on to “just in case” is out of hand, this is the answer! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I love the Adobe Scan idea. I definitely want to try it! One thing that happened to us though, was that we got robbed a few years ago and our small fire safes were stolen. Now, we keep the most important things in a safe deposit box at our bank. It was very frustrating trying to replace some of the papers that we needed… Car titles, birth certificates, passports, etc.
I have tried to embrace organizing with technology but the Adobe app will definitely be a big help with my paper clutter. Thank you!
Love this post! I’m totally using Christmas break to get organized and can’t wait to start using this app! Thank you for all the helpful tips!
This was SOOOO helpful!!!! I’m definitely going to use Adobe Scan! Thanks for all the tips you offer up to benefit us all and help us run our homes more excellently.
Love this post! This is something we have been struggling with at my house. My husband wants to hold onto ALL of the papers! I just told him about the app and he said he’s all in! Hoping this can help to de-clutter our home!
I had NO IDEA about this app! Just downloaded it, and I’m so motivated to organize ALL.THE.THINGS!!! I have three boys and am just overwhelmed with bills, financial statements and all the things that come home from school and church. I feel like I can organize a lot, but paperwork has not been one of them. Praying this will help my home and brain feel organized!! Thank you Brooke!
What a great idea! I downloaded the app and can’t wait to get rid of the giant, unorganized pile of “important” papers!
Omg!!! I have never heard of adobe scan. Getting it now!!!! Life saver!!
Love these ideas! I downloaded the app because receipts drive me crazy! We have a large family and shop at several stores plus all the dim stuff! We Also homeschool and tons of paper everywhere!! We have a large safe but I need to invest in a shredder!
yes!!! I love it for that reason!
Just wanted to add that those fire proof boxes are great because everything is in one spot and if, heaven forbid, you have to evacuate your house, you can grab it quickly and go. Yes, we live in Southern California.
exactly what I was thinking!!!
This app is going to be so helpful in organizing all of our paper clutter! I think it will also help with my personal phone photo organization as I am constantly taking pictures of coupons, recipes, and important documents and then they are scattered all over my photos! This app will turn them into a nice clean pdf and keep them organized in files! Thanks so much for suggesting this great resource that I had never before heard of!
exactly what I used to do!!!!
Ahhhhhh this is just what I needed!!!! I can’t stand paper clutter, this app will be a life saver!! Thanks so much for sharing. I totally need to invest in a paper shredder and lock box. Right now my important docs are in a desk drawer…yikes! Thanks again for the inspiration!
Very smart especially with twins I need all the help I can get keeping paperwork in order
I sooo needed this. I have boxes upon boxes of docs I need to look through. It’s overwhelming. I have two weeks vacation starting next week and maybe I’ll start slowly.
oh lucky!!! I bet you will get thru them quickly now that you have a guide on what to keep!!! You go this!!
Got the app! This is LIFE CHANGING!! Need that safe next!
Love this post! Love all these comments!! I seriously have learned more in the last 30 mins of watching videos and reading the blog and NOW the comments! Your followers are just as brilliant as you!! Thank you for sharing this stuff. I’m now going to get a wireless printer that also has an app to print from my phone! I mean I feel like I have been living in the dark ages. Thank you! thank you! thank you! I passed it along to a few friends too. Have a great evening! ✌🏻
Thank you so much Katie! I agree- I have THE BEST blog readers!!!
Genius!! Never thought of doing this with a phone scanner like Adobe. Im downloading this right now and totally getting my hubby on board to get organizing this weekend. Thanks for always inspiring and giving amazing ideas Brook!
This is a complete GAME CHANGER!! 🙌🏼 We live in an 840 sq. ft. house and we are drowning in papers! 🤪 Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!! Now I’m excited to get organized (which I usually am a huge procrastinator about lol)!
Thank you so much for this post!! This is exactly what I’ve needed. I’m drowning in papers at our house and always feel so lost when I try to conquer it. I’m going to download the app now and get to work. I feel inspired and confident that I can do this. I can do it….I can do it…I can do it!
I am going to use the adobe app to be able to have more things handy!! I am always needing to keep up with car maintenance receipts – seems there is always a stray oil change receipt laying around. This will help me keep them all together and get rid of clutter!
I downloaded the app! Starting to organize TONIGHT. Thank you for always inspiring me!💛
So funny—I was JUST saying to my mom today how all my paper clutter was driving me crazy. She asked if we had a scanner and I said no. So I went home still thinking about it and what to do when I was watching your stories on Instagram and saw about the Adobe Scan app! I got so excited I downloaded it immediately and am about to go try it out! Thank you!
oh yay!!! Easy solution!!!
Thank you for all of these wonderful tips. We are drowning in paper.
This is the most amazing post! Thank you Brooke!!!! I have so many medical bills from our baby’s surgery that I have been trying to find a place to store it! I am like a paper horder so this post has inspired me!!!
Thank you so very much for doing all this research
and posting all this information.
It’s amazing what one accumulates in a short amount
of time.
We have a shredder but we need to get a fire proof safety
Box .
Thank you
Sherry
Thank you for this awesome post. Such great information! Will definitely be getting that abode app😀
So helpful! I definitely downloaded that app! So glad it’s free! I’ve been working on decluttering for a while and paper has always been my biggest trouble spot.
I loved this post! Good motivation for decluttering for the New Year! Love how affordable this project is too! Thanks Brooke! (And Kevin :))
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m 26 but still feel new to the adulting world of paper work 😂 your tips were so helpful! Definitely getting Adobe scan pronto!
This has been a long dreaded task for me – especially not know how to start. I can honestly say I am super pumped to get started now! Adobe Scan is going to save me oodles of time! I just happen to have this week off, so guess what I’m going to get started on!
Great post! Downloaded the app and hopefully i will start organizing all our papers soon.
Thank you for all the tips
A great post! Thank you for taking the time to detail, explain and share. I know it’s a lot of work. Very much appreciated!
The constant paper clutter is a problem for us! But at the same time, I have a weird love for having things in physical form. 😂 I think my need for organization will win out though. Thank you so much for the suggestion! You are solving SO many of my every day pondries.
Fabulous inspiration for an overwhelming, never ending task. Totally embracing all of your suggestions! No time like the present!
Getting the app now!
Love this! I downloaded the app and will use this so much! I could use that fire safe and shredder because mine is busted. I love your blog so much!! I use all your tips and tricks!!
I love this post!!! Oh my word do I need help with this! The app-brilliant! And the fireproof box is the best idea. My husband would love it since he’s Mr. Practical with his “gift” requests 😆 I often have a pile of stuff that gets stuffed somewhere because I just don’t know what to do with it. Thanks again!
Oh my goodness! Paper is my nemesis seriously! I get so stuck on it and usually just give up! This is so helpful! I am downloading the Adobe app now and going to use these tips to get a handle on it all! Thank you so much for doing this and giving a step by step practical guide!
Love this but it’s def going to be a January job for me! Question. Have you ever done a blog on organizing photos? Sadly I’ve lost both my parents in the past 2 years. They have literally thousands of pictures. Trying to thoughtfully find a way to organize, digitize and then be able to share them with my siblings and other friends and family. Then when I am done I need to do my own as well. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this. Thanks! Mary Beth
What a great post! I often find that we slowly collect mail, bills, etc. on the end of our kitchen table…. cuteeeee. 🙃 I hate when people come over and I find myself scrambling to stuff it somewhere to look at later!
I have never heard of this app, but will be downloading and can’t wait to try!! We would love to win a shredder or fire proof box, as we were just saying we should have put these things on our Christmas wish list! 😀📃🗄🗃
This is just want I needed to read!! Totally my biggest issue!! Can’t deal with all the stacks of paper clutter. Just downloaded the Adobe app!! That’s going to help so much!! Thank you for sharing this!!!!
Thank you for this app! Perfect!!
Just downloaded that app. Life changer!
With my oldest starting kindergarten I’ve become overwhelmed with papers. This post has definitely motivated me to come up with a better system in the new year!
Mind blown 🤯
Just downloaded the app! I can’t wait to use it. I go through the kids bags everyday & get rid of what I can & then have a stack leftover. Thanks for sharing!!! ❤️
What a great post. My son really loves drawing and we have so many papers of drawings sitting around because he doesn’t want to recycle them; I will have to make a book for him! Our home is small too and I try to keep it minimal and tidy. Great tips!
Thank you for this post and great tips!! I’m downloading the app now! I am drowning in papers 😩 and can use some help!!
Super helpful! I already have the app, but never thought to use it in this way. Thank you!
Super helpful post! We don’t have an office either. We have piles of papers in my house and I just haven’t known how to get them under control. I downloaded Adode Scan and I’m going to start tonight. Thank you so much!!
Downloaded the app! Hopefully it will tame the beast! Thanks for the recommendation!
WOW such great ideas! I was totally watching your stories with the mindset, “nah, I dont need tip on this, my methods are fine”. I was so wrong! The Adobe app seems completely ingenious and I’m going to get started on my files and paperwork mess first thing in the morning!! I didn’t even know things like that existed. And keeping the important stuff in a fireproof cabinet is also so smart!! I’m constantly getting excess mail and documents and never know what to do with all of it so THANK YOU for the great tips and motivation 👍👍👍😄
Thank you SO much for all of this wonderful information!
I work full time, am in school full time, and am seven months pregnant with our third little girl. I am in full “nesting” and de-clutter mode right now, and have downloaded the Adobe scan app and am excited to use it! Also, my husband and I have been planning on getting a fire proof safe for our special things for a while now, so one that is specifically designated for paperwork would be perfect to keep the special things safe while also staying organized with our crazy lives. Love following your blog so much! Thank you lady!
Thank you for sharing! Downloaded the app.
I am such a PAPER HOARDER!!! Seriously, it’s so hard! I love the idea of using the adobe scan app! Then I can keep everything and throw away all the paper! 🙌🏻 Love the post, Brooke!
Adobe Scan just became my new favorite app thanks to you!!! Finally a solution to the messy corner of papers on my kitchen counter. I was always hanging on to papers just in case I needed them one day now I can scan and toss them. Thank you Brooke!
What a GREAT idea! I am constantly getting fed up with the pile of papers that reside at the end of my island. It is has always seemed impossible to keep them under control! Thank you for sharing all of your tips and tricks! Definitely going to get the app!
Downloading the app now! This was super helpful and inspiring. On my to do list for tomorrow now!
I love this idea of organizing your papers digitally! Since I live in am 1100 square foot apartment, this tip will help out so much! I was already using a different scanner app, but can’t wait to try this one! I was only using it to turn in my daughters school work (homeschool) but idk why I didn’t think to use it for my own papers, too!! I need to get the firesafe box! I have all my important papers in a file box currently, but I never thought about getting a fire safe box! Good idea 😊 Please keep all the tips coming! Your organizational ideas are the best! ❤️
This is an amazing blog post! I have never seen a blogger make a blog post about PAPER! Which is a problem in most households, but who would have thought to blog about it :)) I have a ton of papers that I’m so overwhelmed with about if it’s important enough to keep or toss. Totally downloading this app ASAP!
I downloaded Adobe Scan and got right to work! I’m feeling so overwhelmed with papers right now, so your post was perfect timing!! You always motivate me to get things done! Thanks, Brooke.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. Your advice will help our family organize!
Thank you!! I didn’t even know an app existed like this! I downloaded it and I am excited to use this instead of snapping pics on my iPhone. We’ve had a fireproof box for years but seeing your shredder reminds me that we need to replace ours! Your list of what to keep is also uber helpful!
THANK YOU!
We are expecting our first little one and I am in desperate need of downsizing paper junk in our hall cabinets & closet to free up more storage space (there’s not a lot of it in our condo) and these tips were JUST what I needed. I already downloaded the adobe app and I can’t wait to get a box & shredder and start de-cluttering! This post couldn’t have come at a better time for me, thanks Brooke💜!
Thank you for this post and the super helpful list of paperwork to keep at the end! No matter the size of your house, the stacks of papers can become overwhelming especially with kids in school. This is perfect timing to start on over the holiday break and get organized and a system in place just in time for the new year!
OMG! I love this post and app! I don’t have a desk or
Storage area for this kind of stuff and it builds up so much! How perfect. I can’t wait to adobe everything!!!!!
Thanks so much for these helpful tips! I downloaded the app today and it was already a huge help with a document I needed to email. I can’t wait to go through my filing cabinet and shred/recycle so much unnecessary paperwork. We also definitely need to get a fireproof box for our important papers. We always forget about this even though we know first hand how important it is.
This is an amazing blog post! I’ve never seen a blogger write about PAPER! I am super overwhelmed with paper clutter and choosing whether it is important enough to keep or toss! I am downloading this app ASAP!
What an awesome app and great advice! I have a small space too and have to go through my papers often to decide what to keep and toss. This will make it so much easier when I’m wavering on my decisions to toss or not. The app will also help me get rid of magazines that I keep just for recipes or ideas! My husband will be so happy! 😛
Loooooove this post and this idea. Thanks for the inspiration!
I can’t believe how excited I am about an app on my phone. I just downloaded it!!!! With my small business and my husbands small business then personal papers I get so overwhelmed at times. I can’t wait to get organized. Thank you for the advice!!! 😘
Thank you Brooke for these tips! I immediately downloaded the app and can’t wait to organize all of my paperwork and get all of my Christmas receipts organized!
Feeling inspired! I’ve tried going more minimal in the past year and papers have been a sticking point for me. 😑
Hi! You always have the best suggestions…and no matter what you’re doing, it’s always done cheerfully!!! I love that the most! Just got the Adobe app…I have a pesky stack of papers in my room and plan to tackle them tonight!
Oh thank you so much!!!
Love thiis post! I was just asking my mom how I could reduce the amount of paper I have in my two drawer filing cabinets. Thanks for this, I think my phone listens to all of my conversations.
I am an ATC too!
haha!! Love it!!
Just downloaded the app too!!
You have no idea how much I needed this right now!! After a divorce and moving into a much smaller space with 2 teenagers, I find myself shuffling through the same piles of paper over and over again. Can’t wait to use the app and finally get rid of the paper clutter! Here’s to praying 2019 is my year to shine;) Thank you for all you do!
yes!! Prayers for you Angie. 2019 is your year sister!!!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! This is great!!
I am so so so excited about this post! I have the exact same tote storing a lot of our paperwork, and two small file boxes on top of that. I can’t wait to download that app and purge our stuff.
I have also kept my calendars from the last few years….kind of like a journal, but I never go back and look at them. I have 13 years of calendars and not once I have consulted them about anything. Time to go!
My only other questions is pictures? We don’t print very many anymore….but we do have some from the days of film yet (and I am only 30!) plus pro pictures from our firstborn, etc. I need to organize them and put them in books maybe? But what do you recommend?
All our digital are backed up on a photo storage site, and we have a external hardrive in case something breaks on the computer….but for the actual printed pictures they sit in that same tote.
We have a family of 6 living in a 950 sqft house with a an old wet basement, so our storage is slim.
I just found your blog through Lynzy and Lauren and I am so glad I did. I find myself jealous of the big beautiful homes most bloggers have, and your sweet beautiful smaller home is so refreshing to me!
Yes! Ditch the calendars!! And I need to do a blog post on photos and get better about them myself!! That is my goal for 2019!!!!
Does the Adobe Scan count for your phone storage? I wonder what happens if your phone crashes?
I am so behind on all the papers. I’m going to get organized over Christmas vacation. Thanks for sharing!
If your phone gets lost or broken you would just reload the app! And it uses iCloud storage
Thannnnnnnnk you Brooke!!!
Paper is taking over my life. Excited about this app!!
Question – can you & hubby each have an app, log in & access the same info?? Not sure if that’s a feature, , but that would be super helpful in our household!
We just use the same login! So Kevin has it on his phone and uses my same login!
I’ve been waiting for this blog & it did not disappoint. You are so inspiring to me and seeing your home helps hold me accountable for organizing mine and getting rid of the clutter!
Thank you! ❤️
I downloaded the app! I initially was like no I won’t use it then I saw the inspiration you have for your home and thought yes, I’ll use it for that. Then the medical papers came up and I was like yes for sure i didn’t even think of those! With my youngest son having just had ACL surgery 2 months ago and always in physical therapy we are drowning in medical/insurance papers! Thank you for this blog post so helpful!
So excited to get organized! Just downloaded the app!!
I love the Adobe Scan App! This is going to simplify my life a thousand times! Seriosuly, how did I not know about this? Game changer!
Thank you! Thank you!! We just moved into a new house and moved alll of our old paperwork!! Its sooo overwhelming. Now I know what I’ll be doing. Definitely downloading the app right now!!!
Downloading the app! Just started following and I’m starting to declutter my house tomorrow! I hate papers laying around so this was so very helpful! Thank you!
Thank you for posting these tips! They are so helpful and I know what I’ll be doing this weekend. I wish I had known about the app sooner and would have spent our past couple snow days scanning away! Finally– no more shuffling stacks of papers around! Many thanks for encouraging all of us to make our spaces better than before 🙂
Thank you for this post!! I just love all your suggestions and this is exactly what I need to do to get all my papers organized!
I am excited to try this app and get rid of the ugly filing cabinet hiding in my bedroom. What a great way to start the new year organized!
I love the Adobe Scan idea and can’t wait to start using it. I hate having so much paper laying around and think this will be a great tool!
I’m buying that fire box and downloading that app this weekend! We have a file cabinet in the guest room closet, but it’s too big and it needs to go! I also need to purge my sons preschool artwork…oh man, I’m so glad you did this post!!
Started using this app and think it will be great. I just can’t seem to figure out how to create “folders” for categories. Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you!!
Thanks so much Brooke! My husband and I are working SO hard to get rid of stuff we don’t need and clear out clutter. Papers are the last thing we seem to be really struggling with. I just downloaded the app! Thanks for the awesome advice!
Ok, ok, ok. This post made it look less painful to get a grip on all the paper and art projects! Making a book with school art is a great idea.
Brooke this was so helpful and I’m about to download
adobe app right after I’m done commenting. Thank you!!
I use to have a shredder but it died on me about a month
ago.
Thank you! It’s one of my new year’s projects and you simplified for us!!
This is exactly what I needed! We just moved and the amount of paper has been so overwhelming. It will make organizing our new space so much easier by being able to scan all these endless documents. Genius!!
Thank you so much for putting together all this! I downloaded the app and can’t wait to start using it and feel more organized!
I am excited to use this Adobe Scan app! I used to have scan app on my phone but this one looks so much better! Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to start using it and continue simplifying and organizing our home!
This post came at the absolute perfect time. I downloaded the app and can’t wait to start organizing!
Thank you so much for all these tips! I needed this. I move around so much (military) and it’s such a struggle trying to figure out my mountains of important papers. I love the app and am working on getting everything I can on it 🙂
Wow, I’ve never seen a post like this. So cool!! I downloaded the app, and maybe the will be my New Years resolution!
This is enormously helpful! I’ve been drowning in paper and wanting to get on top of it- this is the perfect take-action guide. I have a different scanning app, but the Adobe one looks a lot more useful.
I just downloaded the app. I am so excited about this! I have quite a bit of paper clutter and I am not the best at organizing it. I am looking forward to using this app to organize it all better. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Thank you so much for this post! I downloaded the app and I’m definitely planning on using it and organizing all the clutter. I was going through the review for the fire safe box and one of the reviews say that all their important documents were destroyed as the box is fire safe but not water safe! Just letting you know.
Love this post! I need major help in this area!
Wow! Just wow! I aspire to be more organized like this! I have always wanted a fire box and just never realized how affordable it can be! I love the idea of shredding and letting the kids jump in and help too! Thank you for the time you took to tell us all about this! I have struggled knowing what I want for Christmas this year and I think I now know!!
OMG this was life changing. I downloaded the app and already scanned my jury duty paperwork for January and THREW OUT the hard copy. Otherwise it would take up space on my kitchen counter paper pile😩😩😩. I’m so excited to sort and organize all my papers and the. THROW IT ALL AWAY!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for this idea!❤️❤️❤️
YES!!!! Exactly what to use it for!!
This is something I’ve been needing to do for WAY too long. Thanks for the great info. And the inspo to finally make this off my to do list!
Brooke! I just went ahead and added your blog on to my home screen on my iphone because let’s just face it, you’re becoming a leading voice in my home inspiration lol.
Thank you so much for this blog post. What a helpful, well thought out post. And you did a lot to help us figure things out.
My paper clutter is outrageous. As I’ve been thinking about what I want to focus on in 2019, I feel like the Lord is saying, “put your house in order.” Your post is going to help me do part of that.
I’ve downloaded the app too!
ahhhhh thank you so much Sarah!!! Best compliment ever!!!
I love that you listen to what the Lord is telling you. xxxx
Thank you! All the paper stresses me. I can’t wait to scan all of our medical bills for the year and recycle the paper.
Oh my gosh, this is such a great idea! With 4 boys and a tiny house, I feel like I always have piles of papers for one thing or another. Thanks so much for the tips!!
This was such a helpful post! I recently moved into an rv full time and desperately needed to find a way to organize our paper files in such a small space. Running to download this app now!
This is such an amazing idea! I’m desperately trying to get organized with all our medical bills from our new baby boy. Which lead me to getting organized with all my other papers. You never realize how much extra stuff you hold on to until you go back through everything!!!! Thank you for the inspiration 🤗
Brooke, this is genius! Could not have come at a better time. Most of us are drowning in papers, paralyzed because we don’t know what to keep. Such a practical post, thank you. Gracias! PS. Can you suggest a way to organize gift cards and certificates so we actually use them?
I really appreciate this post because 2018 has been the year of simplifying our home. Stuff overwhelms me and I’ve been purging anything that’s not fully lived or functional in our home. It’s so freeing but I’ll admit- the paper trail has been a daunting part of the process for me so I need to invest in this shredder & safe.
Going to download the app! Paper clutter is one of my biggest organizational struggles and this was so helpful! Thank you!
These are great tips. I currently have a mish mash of paper vs digital, but the paper is overwhelming and taking over my desk and piling up. What a great idea to use adobe scan to stay organized.
Thank you so much for this post! Definitely inspired me to take on the paperwork in the house. Downloaded the app and that fire proof file box is on the purchase list.
Thank you!
This app is a game changer. I lost everything in the 2016 flood , here in Louisiana. If I would have had all of my documents scanned into this app, I wouldn’t have had so many extra headaches. To this day, I’m missing so many important papers.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Adair
Oh my goodness! Thank you so very much. It is kinda odd how helpful this was!! Such a great system. I try to and hope to be more organnized. We love in an older small home, 3 children who bring home SO.many.papers! I downloaded the app, and plan to gift the fire safe box to my husband for Christmas! Huge thanks, from Georgia!! 😘
This article was so user friendly and super helpful! We are starting a family in March which means the number of important documents we have accumulated in preparation is insurmountable! Definitely lookin g into the app and the fire box! I just needed a little nudge ;). Thank you!
Thanks for this post – I am constantly buried under stacks of papers on my kitchen counters! This app is the perfect solution and I am adding the safe and shredder to my Christmas list!
I love this post and can’t wait to do this! All of the paper we have makes me crazy. Thank you for all of this good and useful info!!
Thumbs up on this post! The Adobe app is a great find and will soon save me from drowning in paper piles and tax prep clutter! This is a super helpful blog post. Will use it as a reference guide for years to come! Thanks for sharing such helpful tips and tricks, Brooke!
Of all the possible clutter ….paper is the worst. This was the most comprehensive post I have read on organizing paper. Thank you! I am going to take your advice and start with the app! I am actually excited to get this done …you have inspired me. Looking forward to a paperless 2019!
Thank you SO much for sharing this!
I am super excited to try this app out!
And the paper shredder & fire safe box are great ideas!
As a mom with 5 little ones, any chance to simplify is right up my alley 😊
This information is SO helpful!! I just downloaded the app and am looking forward to a more organized household in 2019. Last year we had to evacuate for a hurricane and I spent so much time looking for my important papers to take with us. I promised myself I would get organized so I wouldn’t have to do that again and with this information I know where to start (which is always the hardest!) Thank you for sharing!
Ahhhhh!! Thank you so much! I downloaded the app and can wait to get started using it and getting rid of the paper chaos!! We have 5 boys in about 1000 sq ft and it’s just got to get more simple. I love everything you share!! Thanks again!!!
I loved everything about this! I have a hard time deciding what’s “too important” to throw out and end up with more paper than I should. Already downloaded the app and can’t wait to have some free time this weekend to go through and organize all my paper clutter. Thank you for this 💕
Downloaded the app! And following the Art books too! So much easier than my scanner. i live in Florida and with Irma hitting my town last year i learn how i need to get prepared. I also have my papers in a plastic bin. And I was trying to duct tape them closed. And move them to a “safe” spot before the storm. It was stressful. We did have some roof damage and water leaked in. I need to get that file box and shredder.
Thank you! We recently moved and downsized. I’m in the process of going through our stuff (again). This post was so helpful because I always feel like I’m drowning in paper stuff between the kids’ school stuff, coupons, receipts, workbooks, etc. They are also scattered throughout the house. Excited to incorporate your awesome tips and the scan app!
I am so excited to declutter!! I have been meaning to do this. I am a hoarder and often don’t know what papers to keep. This is so helpful. Thank you!
Oh my gosh that was so awesome! I downloaded the app- I can’t wait to tackle my file cabinet!
Thank you so much for such fantastic and simple ways to remove paper clutter!!
Kendel 🙂
Just downloaded the app and love love love your ideas for going paperless and organizing my paper clutter. I’m so inspired.
I NEVER comment on stuff, usually because I only spend a couple minutes on Instagram here and there and just swipe through super fast. But THIS!! It’s like you’ve been spying on me or something😂 just this week I’ve been complaining about the amount of paper we get thru the kids schools etc. I just went thru and threw a huge stack in the recycling. It drives me crazy! So excited to download the app and start scanning and throwing away 😁 I absolutely love your practicle life and think you and Kevin are great parents. Also…go Jags! We went to high school together!
ahhhhhhh Hi Jil!!! How awesome! thank you for your comment!
Oh my gosh I did download the app! I have so much paper and I can’t wait to dispose of it. I want to be organized and clutter free. I Thank you so much for sharing .
This was a great and informative post. Very helpful especially since 90% of my clutter is from paperwork, receipts, etc. I downloaded the app earlier and have been playing around with it. Can’t wait to use it when I get home from work. Thank you again for this post. My husband will be forever grateful once my mess is finally put away 😁
That App is a lifesaver! I can finally get rid of all the random pictures in my phone and have them in one place! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas! This will certainly help me get rid of all the papers once and for all! Especially the ones I’ve been holding on to for years and all the kiddo school papers too! Would love to hear if you have any tips on stopping junk mail? That a huge contributor to our mail/paper mess. Also wonder how many pounds of papers we all are going to be shredding/recycling 😄 Here’s to starting off the new year with no paper piles!! Yay!!
Game changer! I’ve been trying to find ways to declutter our home (especially from boxes of papers, mail, more school papers, and more other papers than I know what to do with!). Thanks for sharing and for the research regarding what originals are necessary to keep. Can’t wait to get going! What great nuggets of wisdom on keeping organized. Funny how He always makes sure you get the right guidance just when you need it. So good!
So many practical ideas!! This makes me feel like I can actually make the swap to paperless – it has always felt so daunting.
Where have you been my whole life Brooke! You are amazing! The amount of brookeness I have in my home from meals, to decor to organization is unreal! Thanks for sharing your little tidbits and making all of our lives better!
ahhhhhh Love you!!!
I’m so excited to try this new Adobe app. I have a lot of papers and kids artwork to go through. Thank you for this tip
This was so helpful! I am reorganizing my office over the Christmas break. Getting ready for the new year! Kind of overwhelmed though as I have boxes full of kids stuff, etc. (my youngest graduated last year). Can’t wait to use this! Wish me luck!😉
Great ideas! We live in a small house with minimal storage space as well and keeping the paper clutter under control is an ongoing struggle. Can’t wait to try the adobe scan app!
Ah. Maz. Ing! This will literally change how we live! I HATE paper clutter but have never known how to deal with it or how to stay organized with it all. I immediately downloaded the app and got started! Thank you so much! And Merry Christmas!
Thank you! Thank you! This helped me in so many ways. I have a severe anxiety with “the mail box”, not sure why and when this started but I have a real hard time getting the mail so sometimes I go weeks before I can actually do it myself or have someone else go for me. And I apologize to every mail man because it’s really embarrassing. So when I finally get the mail I end up with a huge pile up of paper, like lots lots and lots of paper which gives me more anxiety. I just downloaded the app and I will start really soon to get to scanning what I need and definitely need a fire and water safe file box so I can put important stuff in there. I love how you listed everything to make it easier to getting organized. I really appreciate you taking the time and sharing
Oh Debbie! That makes me sad that it overwhelms you so much with the mail. I really hope this post was helpful for you!!
Love this post! So helpful! Now I’m excited to sort papers with the hubby 🙂
This is so helpful! I downloaded th app and can’t waot to get organized!
Super helpful post. Loved all of it. Downloaded the Adobe scan App. Exactly what k was looking for and I
can’t wait to try it. Thank you.
This app sounds like a lifesaver – we live in a 1000 sq foot home so I try to keep paper clutter to a minimum. I do have a question though, how secure is it to scan information to the app? Are the scanned documents uploaded to the app or to my phone? Thanks for all the great tips!
Yes! This was such a godsend. I have a serious paper problem. I save every receipt and pretty much anything I think I will need again. I downloaded the app right away. I am so thankful for you! Changing my life in more ways than one. We just moved and I have not opened my paper work BOXES (haha) so this is what I will do. Thank you so much. You inspire me.
Great post!! I just downloaded that app. So excited to start cleaning up my papers!
Just downloaded the app! Thank you so much for this great information. My goal is to simplify in 2019 and now I am off to an early start 🙂
I’m messaging my husband next to tell him to download the scan app as well!
So excited about this app!! I feel like I am constantly battling paper clutter! Thank you so much!
The hubs and I were literally just talking about gett in ng organized this evening! I can’t wait to share tips from your post with him and get to organizing! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you for sharing! I’m the complete opposite of a hoarder! I hate clutter and end up throwing so much out in recycle or shred and wish I had seen this before! Thanks for sharing more than home decor! So happy to find this app!
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this to share! I have needed to tackle our paper monster for so long (9 of us) and I have felt overwhelmed to the point of paralysis. But, I can always follow a checklist 🎉🎉🎉🎉
This is super helpful. I’ve downloaded the app and am going to start using it. I also plan to show it to my 4 young adult kids. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Thank you so much for this post! You have inspired me to tackle my paper clutter. Downloaded the app and can’t wait to get started!
I’ve got a long road ahead of me to go from clutter and disorganization to organized! It’s overwhelming but seeing this post gives me a bit of peace….totally going to get Adobe Scan app going and help me organize!!!!🙌👍😍
As usual, you hit this right on the head! I’ve already started scanning and tossing papers into a recycle box! Thanks for the great post, you rock!
This Adobe Scan looks like a fabulous idea. It would be great to copy everything you scan onto a thumb drive, then make duplicates. One thumb drive could stay out and handy, and the other could go into the fireproof safe (or a grandparent’s house) so you’d have it backed up if you ever needed it. People tend not to update their backups, but you’d at least have the huge amount of paperwork you started with.
Totally enjoyed your post and found it so helpful!! Anything to declutter in 2019!! Been doing house projects all of 2018 trying to finish up and simplifying life and home has been one of my priorities. This will help with the paper side of that- I just downloaded the app and look forward to starting to utilize it especially with how you showed the home decor inspo part where I can keep that all together!!! Thanks so much for the post—I need to get a fireproof safe! I am almost 50 years old and have never owned one thank God I never lost anything important but with me and hubs getting older it is a great idea for the adult kids to know exactly where all the important papers are in case something happens!! Thanks again and thanks for all you do, I get so much inspiration from your blog and instagram and watch your stories daily!! God Bless and Merry Christmas 🎄
Thank you for this; so helpful!
Downloaded the app before I even finishing your post! I can’t wait to get started. In the process of getting ready to move and I don’t want to take the papers with me! Can’t wait to go paperless wherever possible!
I’m 23 and just now starting to acquire many important documents, between adult purchases and my two daughters the paper clutter is adding up quickly. From birth certificates to bills, I never know what to keep and where to put it in our small space. So the second I saw you could digitalize it all, I downloaded right away! This has been so eye opening and I appreciate you SO much for sharing something that I will use for the rest of my years!
So I’m pretty busy with Christmas preparations and 2nd baby preparations. We’ve got a lot on and an endless list of ‘to dos’.
Brooke, you came along and inspired me to clean out any clutter. After 1 week, I have two bin bags full of clothes ready for the charity Rag Bag and can you believe it…. I have two bin bags full of papers!!! I don’t have a shredder so I had to rip up all of the documents ‘Kevin’ style 😉
My house looks so much cleaner and I feel that you’ve helped to lift a weight off of my shoulders. I knew I had to get round to all of that stuff soon but kept putting it off. Now it’s done, I’m so happy and didn’t realise how much it was actually bothering me.
Oh, and I’m away to our local home shop to buy All the baskets that I can fit into my car 🙈.
Thanks so much for all of your tips. My house and my head a much less cluttered now. Xx
Oh thank you!! And best wishes to you and your new baby!
Love the idea of this app and cannot wait to give it a try. We are part of a share network for our healthcare and we upload our medical bills online when submitting a claim/need. This will save so much time for us. Thank you for sharing!!
Downloading the app now! This is hands down one of the most useful blog posts I have ever ready anywhere! Paper clutter stresses me out and I think this app will be a game changer. And thank you for doing all that research on how long to keep everything! So nice to have it all in one place 🙂
oh thank you so much!!!!
This is so timely! My daughter is in the middle of organizing her paper clutter in her room and this app will help A LOT!!
I downloaded the app! Now I need to get a fire safe box. I can’t wait to tackle
My papers this weekend. I will be freeing up an entire closet that is devoted to my filing cabinets. So excited to go digital and get my closet back.
Thank you! Just downloaded the app!
Thank you for this. I have been purging my zillions of piles of paper shuffling from pile to pile. I am inspired to use your tips to finally finish and get my kitchen table back!
Downloaded it immediately! We are also in the process of purchasing a CrossFit affiliate, so I need allllll the organization I can get to balance the incoming paper with four kids! Thank you so much for the tips!
I will definitely be downloading this app! It’s so frustrating to have papers everywhere everyday. Thanks for the tips!
I’m excited to downsize office paper AND organize all my kids ‘school docs’ including art projects! I’ll keep a few but I always feel so guilty throwing them out. Thanks for sharing this app!
So helpful! Just downloaded the app and I’m hoping my paper piles disappear now!
I’m now going to be in organization heaven! Thanks for sharing this information! One question, does it get stored on your phone or in the cloud?
“Research paper solution” has been on my list forever! Here is all I need in one place with someone I trust to get it right. Adobe App- where have you been all my life? Thank you for all the work you put into this, saving me days of frustration and empowering me to tackle that filing cabinet.
I have already downloaded the app! I can’t wait to start organizing our papers. My husband and I live with our two small children in a teeny apartment. Probably about 900 square feet. The paper clutter is beginning to overwhelm me. After tax returns come in, we will definitely be investing in the fire box and shredder. Thanks so much for sharing information and tips like these!
Thank you for the videos! I am going to read through the post and bookmark it to reference later. I have been on a huge purge lately and realized I have kept way too many papers/receipts/etc. This really does help me! I am a single (widowed) mom to teenage boys & have lately been thinking “how long do I keep this?” or “Am I supposed to keep this”. It’s very stressful!! I am going to start scanning everything! And I am def getting a fireproof box! My important papers are in a binder at the moment. 😬 Anyway, I love everything you do & your sweet spirit. This post was the best! Merry Christmas!
This post could not have been written and posted at a better time for me. Just got divorced and I’m downsizing with my two girls. As I’m packing I am so overwhelmed with all the papers and school projects!
Thank you, thank you!!
I am so excited about this Adobe scan ap!!! Thank so much for sharing . I am a caregiver to my father ( 85) . He has health concerns so when ever I go anywhere I have the folder with my POA, healthcare powers of Attornery and other papers in a binder I keep close. Now !!! OMG . I can just email them directly from my phone if needed. You are kidding me . Thank you , thank you !!
Love this idea! My husband has been urging me to get a fireproof safe for forever! Thank you for the list of papers, it makes it so much easier! 🙂 Definitely working on this over the holiday break!
This is such a good idea! Just got a house and papers are definitely starting to pile up. I like that it’s all in one place too especially if you are not at home and want to Check it out!! I really should get a fire proof box – definitely don’t have one of those.
Thank you so much for this great blog. I downloaded the app last night and can’t wait to get started going through the MANY files of paper I have.
Very helpful guide! I don’t have a dedicated office either , but I do have one, rather large file box where I keep everything. I do try to file away everything from the previous year to eliminate some of it so I have a smaller box dedicated to each year for tax purposes. I just downloaded the app to help me simplify even more – but here’s my question. What if you have one source that just sends you a TON of mail? For us – it’s our kids’ insurances. We get multiple copies (one for each kid) of everything from manuals to brochures… it’s so overwhelming. I don’t even go through those anymore. I just save them “just in case” because it’s just SO MUCH every single year. Obviously it’s not that important, but how can I get them to stop sending me so much stuff?
Ahhhh that is so annoying! I would call them and ask them to stop mailing things! You can always go to them and get the hard copy if you need it. I would for sure make sure you have their immunization records. Because if that doctors office closes (which happened to me) it is near impossible to get!
Thank you for this post! So much useful information! It will take me a while, but a good project for 2019. I have all of the usual papers a family of five can have, but also bins and bins, and more bins, of papers for my son who has special needs. We have meetings all year long, in which we receive behavior plans, IEP papers, notes, meeting minutes, not to mention his work to track progress and medical papers.
I keep them, but know if I needed to, I could not quickly reference things as is! Thank you!!
any & ALL organizing tips welcome & needed! thanks for sharing! JUST downloaded the adobe scan app & cant wait to utilize it! xo
I just had a conversation with my friend this week about paper clutter. We recently moved into a home that we are renovating- between that and daily life, I have an daunting pile to go through. I when been so overwhelmed at the thought of tackling this and really appreciate the information in your post!
I downloaded the Adobe Scan app and feel ready to tackle it!
Downloaded the app and already attacked that stack of magazine clippings full of home inspiration pics! With each scan, I felt a little more free 🙌🏻. And it’s way more likely that I’ll look at these ideas now that they are on my phone. Love all the practical stuff you share! In real life, I think we could be super good friends. Nothing is more motivating to me than a quick paint project or redecorating a spot in my house. Now with more ideas in one spot… this can happen more!
Great information! I have boxes of paper in my room that I vowed to organize after the holidays. I really struggle with getting rid of things do this might do the trick.
Oh my goodness! This is already changing my life!!!!!!!! I was terrible with papers…because I purge them…to a flaw and often wish I had kept something! Thank you for sharing! I have shared with friends and my husband…and of course downloaded the app! ☺️☺️☺️🎉
I’m definitely motivated by all of your great ways to declutter ALL the paper stuff! Downloading the adobe app now! Thank you!
This came at such a good time. I keep shuffling papers around my house as an attempt to declutter for hosting parties (tis the season). Thanks for the great ideas!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You solved a problem I didn’t even know could be fixed! I downloaded the app and am so excited for my next day off to sit down and go through all of the useless paper floating around our house.
I downloaded the adobe app!! Thanks so much for sharing. Wish I’d found this sooner.. I’ve already decluttered my huge stash of papers. It feels so good to get organized and free up all that space!
I downloaded the app & our goal for 2019 is to get control of the boxes of papers that have accumulated since so many life changes have happened. Thank you for the specific guidelines. Hopefully I can keep the folders organized on our laptop
I don’t really keep much paper. What we need is in a fireproof safe, like yours. I’m curious about the scanned receipts though. Have you ever tried to return an item showing just the scanned receipt? Did the store accept the scan when you didn’t have the “original”? I wish stores would just search my debit/credit card, like you can do with the Target Red Card but most don’t seem to have quite that technologically advanced yet.
Well my idea with the receipts is that you could print it if you decide to return it. But I know some stores would be fine with the scanned in image- they might just need the original order number. I scanned in a tracking number for ups and that is super helpful!
I am SO EXCITED you posted this! I just started following you after seeing your account via @arrowsandbow and am LOVINB how you decorate your home! And then i see your post and story and. I almost cried – this adobe app is going to be life changing for me!!!! I have been literally staring at a huge pile of papers in my living room and every time i look at it, it makes me anxious and i have been avoiding it because i honestly didn’t want to file more stuff away & it’s just not fun! Now I’m so excited to tackle this project this weekend!!! Thank you thank you thank you – you really are a blessing!
New follower here…This was sooo helpful- thank you!! I just downloaded the app and excited to give it a try! And the shredder and fireproof safe would definitely make the whole process easier and more enjoyable!
Thank you! This was so helpful! Papers and paperwork is something I’ve struggled with once kids arrived. With six of us it has become overwhelming. I will be referencing back to this post as I go through my houseful of papers! Much appreciated!!
I downloaded the app and I’m hoping it will help the paper piles around here!
I will totally use this app! My husband uses a scanner for his documents at work but this might b a life changer for me! 😉
I use adobe scan too! I found it because I’m a realtor but have found so many more uses for it..including keeping all my receipts handy! And it’s free!!
I cannot wait to share these tips and THIS APP with my mom! She is almost finished with her PhD in early childhood (at 60-something!) and gets so overwhelmed with all the notes/documents/handouts,etc. I hope that I can help her tackle the papers in her home so she can finish her writing in a peaceful and clean environment. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We just moved to church plant and I have found your blog a life saver! As our new (old) house is smaller, You have helped me learn to live with less and still have style and warmth to my home. This app is a game changer! So excited to start snapping Picts today and scanning in everything!
I’m so glad I found your IG and can now follow your blog. Paper is such a tough thing for me to make headway on when organizing and I tend to over throw out and regret it later! I downloaded the app suggested and started using it right away. Thank you thank you!!!
Downloaded the app, how did I not know about this sooner?? I’m on a paper clean out spree. Now to get a shredder to get rid of the monster pile. This is a lifesaver, especially with three kids who are constantly bringing home papers to keep track of. Thanks Brooke!!
Thank you for doing this post! I get so overwhelmed with papers in my house. I LOVE the app idea. I’m hoping to get my husband on board so we can start purging. He is a major saver, as for me, no need to keep papers from like 15 years ago!!! (no joke, I’ve found papers he has kept from that long ago, ahhh) Where are all the documents saved on the app? I know my husband will ask that.
This is a wonderful post full of great information! Thank you for doing all of this research! Downloaded the app and it is so easy to use. This has motivated me to rid our house of all of the unnecessary papers!
I look forward to your instagram stories and blog posts each day! You are amazing! Thank you for taking the time to put together thoughtful blog posts for us readers! So much appreciated! Downloaded the app and can’t wait to get started on decluttering!
Wow! What a helpful and thorough post! I definitely need to devote more time to rereading so I can prepare myself to tackle some paper storage issues in our home! You touched on ALL of the biggest dilemmas and I’m SO thankful that you’ve offered up a plan we can follow to minimize and de clutter the paper problem! THANK YOU!!!!!
Love this post!!! Downloaded the app and love your ideas about what to scan!!
Thank you!!!!! I downloaded the app and immediately eliminated paper clutter on my desk. I use essential oils, so I had printed out diffuser blends. I snapped a picture of each and put them into a file on my phone. Easy access and no clutter. I also had recipes to try, so I scanned those as well We had a house fire a year ago and will hopefully be back in our home next month. I wish I would have had this BEFORE so I wouldn’t have had to recreate so many things.
Thank you so much for this! I am equal parts inspired and a bit overwhelmed but the kind of overwhelmed that feels like an invitation. Going to have my second baby in February (oldest turns one tomorrow!) and any out sourcing/simplifying ideas feel so helpful! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for this post! The information is so practical and I am already using the scan app today, thanks to you! I’ve never owned a paper shredder, but after reading this, I would love to win one!
I am so thankful I came across your Instagram story on this! I downloaded the app and can not wait to become more organized. I also love the storage solution in your kitchen! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Brooke,
Thank you so much for this post!! This is the BEST gift I’ve received in a long time! I’m so excited to get started!
Thank you! This was helpful. That Adobe app makes scanning so easy! I have been wanting to get one of those fire safe boxes for awhile. I like how the one you have fits files.
This is amazing!! Such a great detailed guide! I need to get a safe and a shredder! Our house is almost 1,200 square feet and our twins have largely taken over in the last year so we need all the organization we can get. Thank you for taking the time to share!!
I downloaded the app and am loving it!!!
Brooke I don’t think you could speak any better to my Type A ever loving heart than with this new post! I was just looking at my desk yesterday (currently located in our dining room lol) and thinking to myself “there has GOT to be a better way to organize this mess!” My husband kindly reminded me of it too haha. We are newlyweds living in a just over 1,000sqft house which has been a blessing growing our love in such close quarters, just not with all our growing stuff 🙂 I’m a new follower and you truly have inspired me SO much in these past couple of months with your gifts and talents. Thank you for sharing! Downloading the app now!
This post was perfect timing. We are finally closing on our house on Friday and I struggle with papers! Thank you!
I downloaded the Adobe Scan app as soon as you showed on ig how easy it was to use! I have to get my papers under control and this is exactly what I need! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing!! We have a similar size house and am struggling to get organized. Papers are my biggest madness!! This was all so very helpful!
This is such a good post that I will have to keep going to for tips. Thanks for organizing it all into one spot for everyone! So helpful!
Yo yo yo, I have a stack next to my bed. A stack on my kitchen counter and a stack on my desk. It’s about to get seriously organized around here. Bffff a buufff a bifffff(rap sounds)
The paper app is genius!! Downloaded
I cannot you how much I’ve struggled to keep up with and organize the amount of papers we have. I have yet to find a system that works that isn’t easy to keep up with. As a growing family living in a 1000 sq ft apartment it has also been difficult to figure out storage. So THANK YOU! As soon as I read the post I immediately downloaded the app and started tackling the 3 bins of papers I have scattered throughout. I still have a couple more areas to check for random papers but I definitely made a dent.
Drowning in paper! It is the bane of my existence. Just downloaded the app and plan to try your approach. Wish me luck.
Signed,
The Paper Hoarder
Great post! Very helpful! The app is genius!!!
Love this post! I needed some encouragement to let go of those cards hat I am keeping for no reason. I want to live in an RV one day with my family of 5. I’ve been beating like crazy and getting rid of things I don’t need or love! Thanks again ❤️
Love this idea! I’m going to start organizing this way!
This is exactly what I need! I had no idea there was an app to just scan documents. I tend to over save on the paper stuff. This will be my project in January! Get rid of (almost) all the paper! Thank you for sharing this!!
So thankful to have come across your Instagram account! I needed this information and suggestions on how to get more organized in a small home. I know my husband will appreciate this too! I downloaded the app and cannot wait to get started. Thank you for taking the time to put this together!
Thank you for taking the time to do a blog post on decluttering paper documents! This comes at a perfect time for me especially this time of the year when papers get shuffled around a lot and usually lost.
I’ve already downloaded the app and hope to get going on purging papers soon!!
I always know where to visit to get inspired, thanks Brooke!!
Hi Brooke! These suggestions are so helpful. I was currently using a regular basket for the files you mentioned, and I realize we really need to switch to a firesafe box. I had no idea they were that inexpensive! I also have been using another scan app, but I don’t think it has all of the features of the Adobe one, so I’m switching over. Paper and piles completely stress me out, so your post reminded me how using simple organization and a little daily work is the way to go. Thank you! ❤️
Thank you for taking the time to do a blog post on decluttering paper documents! This comes at a perfect time for me especially this time of the year when papers get shuffled around a lot and usually lost.
I’ve already downloaded the app and hope to get going on purging papers soon!!
I always know where to visit to get inspired, thanks Brooke!!
SO helpful! I downloaded the app and will be going through all of my papers soon. Thank you!
Awesome post! Thanks for the tips. I think the app is going to be so helpful to me.
I just downloaded the app! I live in a 900sq ft house so even just one extra stack of papers is just too much clutter. Thanks for all the tips!
I downloaded the app and can’t wait to get rid of the paper jungle! Thank you for sharing!
This was super helpful info!!! Definitely bookmarking this post. We don’t have a shredder or fire safe box and we definitely need to add them to the list to get ASAP. We have so many old papers in a filing cabinet I need to go through and purge! I didn’t know about the Adobe scan app so I can’t wait to try it out. Sounds like it is amazing to streamline and keep order from the paper mess! Thanks for sharing!
Yay! The never ending pile of family papers. I downloaded the app and look forward to this project during winter break! Thanks
THis post is so helpful! I already got the app and started using it
Ahhhh! This is life changing information!
I get overwhelmed by our papers, and haven’t really had a good system in place. I also have the fear of a house fire in the back of my mind, as my parents had one in 2014. We have a fire box, but of course can’t fit everything in it!
I’ve got the app downloaded & cant wait to get started!
First to-do is the stack in the kitchen.
Thank you SO much!
Liz
Downloaded! Thank you for telling us about this
Thanks for all the helpful tips, I downloaded the app and I’m going to start organizing it. I’ve already started with the school papers thanks to your tips on previous stories about not keep every piece that comes in. Now I need to work on everything else.
Thank you, thank you so much! Very timely and from what I can see from the comments here, it was much needed!!!
I downloaded the app and can’t wait to organize the paper clutter! Can you recommend a wireless printer?
Hi Brooke!y husband and I are doing this with our hard copies as we prepare for a move. It has been so refreshing to free ouselves of the clutter and extra paperwork. I wanted to ask if you do the same with all of your old photos or if you have another method? I can’t quite let go of the pictures yet, until I find a way to upload and store them for possible printing again one day. Would love to hear what you do with pictures and how you save them.
“Keep These Original Documents (in a Fire Safe Box)” – oh yeah , these collections should be kept safe for life time.
there are lot many things lie these in our life like this..
more than these “things to shred” matters the most. your thoughts?