Filing Cabinets For Paperwork (What I Like To Do)

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Keeping all the paperwork for the home in the same place makes a lot of sense. Getting it out of the way and in order is a great strategy for keeping things neat and tidy. 

But managing all that paperwork in boxes and drawers doesn’t look good. That’s why filing cabinets make the most sense. These have been used from time immemorial for all sorts of household purposes, so why not continue the tradition?

Choosing A Filing Cabinet

Choosing the right filing cabinet isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Metal cabinets are best for durability since they can withstand the harshest punishment over a long period. 

You can also get them with lockable drawers, which is helpful if you have valuable documents you want to keep, like a quit claim deed. Cabinets have plenty of space and give you room for everything you need to store. Some offer handy organizers, just in case you use your filing cabinets frequently. 

Use A Labeling System

Once you have your filing cabinet system in place, start labeling. I like color-coded labels to categorize documents, but you can do what you want. 

Ideally, the labels should be clear and bold. Once you open the filing cabinet, there should be no doubt about what goes where and how to label everything. 

Using consistent naming conventions is also helpful. For example, stick with the same labels if filing away your tax returns, but only change the date. 

Implement Your To-File System

Another pro approach to using filing cabinets well is to adopt a “to-file” system. Here, you create a tray of paperwork that you file at the end of the week. 

To-file systems can be an excellent way to get into a weekly filing routine. You could do it every Friday evening once the paperwork for the week has been collected, helping you stay on top of everything. 

Organize By Frequency

Another pro tip for using filing cabinets for paperwork is to organize by frequency. For example, you should put paperwork that you use regularly at the back of the filing cabinet and move items you use less often further forward. 

This approach means you don’t need to open the filing cabinet all the way out every time you want to access something. You just open the drawer a little, and the things you need are right there in front of you. 

Digitize What You Can

Finally, it’s worth digitizing what you can. This way, you can stop filling your office with filing cabinets you’ll never use. 

Digitizing everything means recycling and shredding more items. It also means using a scanner to upload everything. 

If you can go paperless for bills and statements, that’s even better. Many utility providers allow this these days, storing them online in your portal. 

Keep A Quick Access Section

Finally, make sure your filing cabinet has a quick access system. These are handy when you want to get at things immediately (and don’t want to wait). Binders and accordion folders are helpful for this purpose.