Filing Piling Smiling
FILING PILING SMILING — They should not all rhyme!
Does anyone love to file? I don’t think so.
But of course, we have to store our paper somewhere.
In my quest to find the easiest, best-looking pre-fabricated file systems, I have run across several that made the top cut.
About pre-fab systems:
The good - you don’t have to think of categories and labels. All that has been done for you.
The bad - every pre-fabricated file system will need tweaking to personalize it for your own use.
The ugly – Some of these are cute and sexy looking and will entice you to buy for the wrong reasons.
The way to choose which is right for your needs is to look at the way that papers are sorted and categorized and determine if it matches the way your brain thinks. If they don’t match, move along little doggie.
Here is a round-up of the prefab systems:
JOYS – Just Organize Your Stuff
The acronym seems like a bit of a stretch. But let us not quibble over that.
This is a very pretty system, designed with design in mind. I love it for that.
It also appears to have the right categories for the average homeowner and they’re set up in a way that is sensible. That means you don’t ask, “huh?” when you look at a label and wonder what it’s for and why it is grouped with the other labels.
Because it is primarily a set of labels with instructions, the price is very reasonable.
justorganizeyourstuff.com
I have used this system for myself and for clients successfully. This system differs from others in that the first question you ask yourself is not, “what is this paper?”, but “when am I getting rid of this paper?”
The categories are based on paper retention rules, then alphabetized within those categories. My favorite category is the remove/replace section for things like insurance policies.
The system has some drawbacks. The worst in my opinion is it suggests keeping two years of files for financials and in doing so, doubles the space needed for storage. Of course you can tweak it and set it up any way you choose.
The best part is that the system is “self purging.” The tab colors remind you to get rid of paper at the right time.
This set isn’t enough for a full sized family, but would be a great kit for the new college grad.
And it’s very smart looking to boot.
It has only 12 files, just enough for someone just beginning to collect papers.
Buttoned up also has great little notebooks for tracking valuables, emergency info, medical information and more.
File SolutionsThis is a great system for the person who doesn’t want to think at all. Each set comes with a booklet of instructions so you know exactly where to put the stinkin’ paper! And of course where to find it again.
The system has a basic set for the home and also special sets of tabs for business, students, realtors, doctors and more.
I especially appreciate the system for high school and college students because it teaches kids to file before the paper in their lives gets ridiculously overwhelming.
My Vital Fileshttp://www.myvitalfiles.com/Library/Folders162k.jpg
This is hands-down the best looking set of files I have ever seen!
I can’t believe that no one else has created something as fabulous as these.
I only wish that the folders worked as well as they look.
I bought several sets of these for my own use and for clients because I loved the look.
I turned them inside out and put on my own labels because the product doesn’t have enough of the right labels for a full household file system.
The inventor focused primarily on financial information, so it does work for that section of a file system. But most people also need room for hobbies, interest, home projects, etc.
I also found that the shape actually causes them to get dog-eared a little faster than regular manila folders.
I hope they keep working on this product to make it better because it is so beautiful.
The prize for most creative, ingenious file system that won’t work for most people, but definitely will work for someone:
The Pile Cabinet
This is a system for people who need to see their papers and think chronologically, as in, “when did I receive that paper?”
I bought it because I am a bit obsessed with finding the easiest method of filing and I had to know how it worked.
Here is how it works:
*Essentially, you turn a file cabinet on it’s side (but instead use a sturdy crate or box) and pile your papers from the bottom up.
* Each paper gets a date/time stamp and gets entered into a database that is provided. And the date stamp is provided.
* Next you must enter keywords or you won’t find your papers. For me, that step makes this system difficult rather than easy.
* To find a paper, you look up the keyword. It points you to the date, and you dig down to the right day and ta-da! Your paper is there.
* You place a marker of some sort in that place, such as a clip board. And that way you can re-pile the paper in the right spot.
I know, it’s really “out there.” But it must work with the way certain brains work and the only good system is one that works.
I applaud the inventor for being so bold and unafraid to do what needed to be done to organize his papers.
There are more systems out there so if these don’t grab you, keep on looking around until you find what you like, and what works with your brain.
– Allison Carter, CPO®
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I just wanted to thank you for doing a review of all of the prefab filing systems. I believe there many right ways to file your stuff. Different system will work for different lifestyles and ways of thinking. Whatever works for an individual is what is important.
Although, IMHO JOYS is not a stretch.
I also believe that getting organized and controlling your papers can bring you time, money and peace of mind and that for most people is a bit of joy. The system was designed with gratitude in mind.
Again, thanks!