Paperwork/Files

Now that we are nearing the end of January and all of your w-2's, 1099's, 1098's, etc will be coming in, it's time to think about your paperwork and filing.

As you start to receive things you will need for your taxes, create a folder or envelope with the year on it and place everything in there.  You will have everything at your fingertips when it's time to file your taxes or visit your accountant.

If you run a business or own rental properties, there is a lot of paperwork you will need to file your schedule C's and E's.  The paperwork, receipts that help you with these schedules, should be kept throughout the year and just need to be finalized before you file your taxes. 

You will also begin to receive your end of the year statements for any investments, insurance policies, stocks and bonds, bank statements, etc.  I like to keep my final statement for the year and then I get rid of the previous statements.  I take all of my end of the year statements and place them in an envelope and file them with my supporting tax documents with the year on it. 

What paperwork should you keep and for how long? 
This question is answered on a person by person basis.  Generally speaking anything that is directly related to the filing of your taxes needs to be retained for 7 years.  The IRS can decide to audit you for up to 3 years and once they audit they can look back 7 years.  You should keep the actual tax returns for at least 10 years.

You don't need to keep your bank statements unless you use them as receipts for your taxes. 

You don't need to keep all of your pay check stubs as long as your W-2 matches your last paycheck. 

This is the time of year I like to go through all of my files and clean them out. 

When I get renewal for my auto, homeowners, fire insurance, I get rid of the old policy and replace it with the new.

I like to go through all of the instruction books I have and get rid of the ones that go to items I don't have anymore. 

This is also the time that I empty the big envelope I have been accumulating things in all year and put everything into a magnetic page photo album.
My big envelope is where I put everything I would like to keep throughout the year.  I put the little things in it.  The pictures that have been drawn for me or the cards that I just can't get rid of.  I also put the pictures that come in my friends and families cards especially the holiday ones. 
At the end of the year, I go back through the envelope and put everything into a photo album and start a new envelope for next year.

Well I hope this helps get the paperwork in order!

Recapture Your Space

The Kitchen

I hope that everyone is moving along with their organizing projects.

I appreciate the questions that have been asked and I look forward to helping everyone in 2011 achieve a resolution.

This week I am going to elaborate a little bit more on the previous discussion of the Kitchen.

Before I get to that, there were some questions as to what to do with some things as you are organizing.

Where can I donate toys (that your friends and family don't need)?
http://secondchancetoys.typepad.com/ is a non-profit that takes those toys and passes them along
You can always check your local churches, Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/, hospitals and women's centers.

www.donatemydress.org Where can I donate prom dresses and gowns?
I tried to contact both of these groups, but was unable to at this time. You will begin to hear of local programs collecting prom dresses for those in need to make their dreams come true. Both of these websites have information of upcoming events.http://cinderellaprojectofpa.webs.com/

I hope that helps with the questions I received.

The Kitchen

There are a couple of rules of thumb that I use for my kitchen.

If it is suppose to have a lid and it doesn't, get rid of it.

If I haven't used it, get rid of it.

Now one of these is easier to do than the other. 

I love all my storage containers, but if the container doesn't have a lid anymore, than I get rid of it. 

I also have a designated area for storage containers in my cabinet, if it doesn't fit in that area, then I get rid of it or use it for something else (great for tiny kids toys).  When a container starts to look less than appealing then I use it for something else or trash it (I gave some to hubby for his nails and screws).

If you haven't used it get rid of it.

This is a process that takes a little time.  Partly because when you dig things out to begin this, you may find things you forgot you had and start using it. 

Let's start with your utensils.  If you have matching sets of forks, knives, and spoons, keep all the matching sets and get rid of the rest. 

With cooking utensils, gather all the utensils and put them in a box.  You will work on getting yourself set up from this box.

What you need may vary from what I need depending on what you cook with.  I use non-stick pans, so I need wooden & rubber cooking tools.  You know how you cook, so be honest with yourself when going through your utensils. 

I keep one complete set of wooden tools, one compete set of rubber tools, two complete sets of mini-rubber tools (love them), metal tongs and a couple of different metal spatulas for baking.  I also keep varying sizes of whisks for cooking and baking.

Now for some other must haves, can and bottle openers.  I have limited counter space so I don't keep an electric can opener and only use a rotary hand-held for cans.  I also have a traditional can opener in case I just need a punch which typically has a bottle opener on the other end. 

I also keep 2 vegetable peelers (just in case someone decides to help peel).

The rest of the utensils in your box should get put in the drawer as you use them.  After about 6 months or a year if it hasn't been used, you probably don't need it.

I keep my baking spatulas and measuring spoons separate from my everyday utensils.  I keep one set of measuring spoons for dry and one set for liquid.  I do the same with my measuring cups, one set for dry and one set for liquid. 

Mixing bowls and serving dishes.  This is another one that will take some time to go through.  Once you go through everything you have, you may find something you would have used if you knew you had it.  So pull them out and put them away as you use them.  If I haven't used it, I get rid of it. 

I like to keep one set of plastic bowls, one set of stainless bowls and one set of glass bowls. 

The casserole dishes depend on your style.  If you make a lot of casseroles, you may want two sets, but I don't so I keep one set. 

On to baking pans:    I bake all sorts of things, so I have an extensive baking collection.  Follow the same rules, if you don't use it, get rid of it.  Also, if any of your non-stick pans have scratches or peels in them, you should get rid of them.  It's not safe to use non-stick anything once they start to peel.

Plates and cups:    I have formal china for dinner parties, so my casual dinner plates I keep a service set of 8.  I also keep the matching salad plates, bowls and coffee mugs.  I know some of us have oodles of coffee mugs, it's time to let some of them go.  I decided where my coffee/tea mugs were going to go and then I consolidated and got rid of what I had to.  The infamous plastic cups we all bring home from restaurants and sporting events.  It's time to let them go too.  Designate a space for them and get rid of everything that doesn't fit.  I keep extra kids cups for painting and craft projects.  This goes for travel coffee mugs too. 

Last but not least kitchen appliances:    We have all bought something thinking we would use it someday and we did, but then it just sits there.  Well it's time to unbury the kitchen appliances.  See what you have and what you can donate.  This will make space for the things you do use.  I only keep what I use at least 3 times a week on the counter top.  Everything else has a home.  Of course if it hasn't been used in forever and you may even forget how it is used, then it probably won't be missed.  I do have things that I only use once a year and I keep those things in an out of the way spot.

Well I hope that this elaboration on the kitchen is helpful.

I welcome any questions and comments. 

I welcome suggestions for next week’s topic!!!

Thank you,

Recapture Your Space

Start the Year off Right

Happy New Year! 
It's another year past, but not too late to get organized for 2011. 

The first thing I like to do after I put away the christmas decorations is clean house.  As you are putting away your new gifts, take one old item and give it away.  Putting away a new toy, give away an old toy.  Let the kids help you with this.  It will give them a sense of satisfaction, organization and teach them about donating to others.

This is the month to get your year off on the right foot and be happy with your accomplishment.

Some simple tips to get you started:

The Kitchen
Go through your cabinets and get rid of anything that has expired.  Pull forward anything getting close to expiring.  If you are not going to eat it or make it, donate it.  There are plenty of local food banks just waiting for donations.

The Bathroom
Go through your cabinets and get rid of any medication that has expired (discard of these properly).  If it is a prescription you are not using and it is expired, write down the information from the label.  If it is something you may need again in the future and you have refills left it will save you a doctor's visit copay down the road.

The Cleaning Supplies
If you bought cleaning supplies last year to try and you weren't thrilled with them, get rid of them.  These too can be donated to local churches or non-profits.  This is a good time to refill any of your cleaning supplies you buy in bulk and write down what you are running low on.

This will get you started for 2011 and next week we'll organize some more.

I welcome your comments and questions.

Recapture Your Space