February 23 - File Cabinet 30 minute paper toss!

Morning everyone.  Sometimes out of my own necessity, the task of the day is decided.  I really had to find some medical ID #'s as I try to go online more w/ the kids' medical records and thus have to send in more forms in order to try to have less forms!  hmmm!  (I'm a bit in a medical-forms frenzie finally getting some other long overdue ones on Eliza in, too, so stayed on the same type task.)

What might it be for today, Thursday, February 23:

***Spend 30 minutes throwing-away as much filed paperwork as you can***

As I was looking for these medical ID #s (found 2 out of 3, ain't bad) in my overstuffed file cabinet, I could fairly quickly pull several papers that at a glance, I knew I could toss out or don't want to keep (like how kids teeth erupt, that I can look up online!).  Or my old paycheck stubs from 10 years ago!  So, the idea w/ this one is similar to your clothes-closet cleaning for this first time through--try to just flip through as quickly as you can to get rid of as much excess to just thin things out.  It will make later steps of this task when we go through papers more closely, a lot more bearable.  

If you need to paper shred some of it, put it in a bag marked "paper-shred" and if you or a spouse work in an office w/ a shredder, or you have one at home or buy one w/ a friend, you can try to get that done when you can.

If kids are home, a way to involve them is during your 30 minute task, have them also clean out some of their papers for 30 minutes.  (Backpacks, desks, anywhere they also pile-up paper.  For those on February winter vacation, cleaning out some of their school papers in their backpack or desk will help them feel good when they go back to school on Monday.)  I give my kids each a "basket" at the desk they work at downstairs to keep current books they're reading, homework-related papers, or other magazines, knick-knacks they like handy.  If you limit them to a basket/area, it can help them have to manage their "stuff" when it gets too full and needs a clean-out again (or on a weekly basis, etc--can help them develop a good habit).

See you on our favorite day tomorrow...Friday! --Aimee

Here's the pile I came up with in 30 minutes, ahhhh:

Example of Xander's basket:

Quick reference what we've done so far:

1. File Cabinet--30 minute paper toss!
   
2. Clothes Closet-YOURS!
3. Dresser/clothes-own, if haven't done yet
4. Books
   
5. Food cabinets (canned goods, grains)
6. Dresser/clothes
   
7. Coat Closet
   
8. Cookbooks
   
9. First Aid supplies
   
10. Rx/meds
    
11. Pet supplies
    
12. files
13. under the sink(s)
14. bathroom vanity(ies)
    
15. 1 paperwork pile
16. that "other" junk drawer (flashlights, keys, menus, batteries)
17. a desk drawer
    
18. gift wrap
19. office supplies
20. night stand
21. make-up
22. linens
23. laundry products
24. shoes
25. board games
26. tops of frig and mircrowave
27. jewelry
28. coats
29. vases/serving dishes
30. media (CDs/DVDs/video games)
31. baking goods
32. socks/pjs/undergarments
33. tupperware/pots/pans
34. junk drawer
35. utensils
36. spices