Organizing Mail Clutter

A Where’s My Desk Wednesday  post

Now that I am back on track with my blog (which feels SO good by the way!!), I am going to start answering some reader questions that I have been getting. On my last Where’s My Desk Wednesday I talked about Creating an Efficient System for Mail, both physical mail and email. Today I will talk about physical mail.

Susan Gunelius of BrandCurve made this comment:

Mail clutter is one of my biggest organization problems. I’ve tried many systems to keep the clutter to a minimum and avoid using the kitchen table as a flat filing cabinet, but alas, the mail clutter piles up again. I have yet to find a solution that works for me. I’m open to any and all ideas!

Well Susan, let me take a crack at this by telling you what works for me and what I have set up for a few clients who are still using this system today. Next Wednesday I will tell you about some ideas I have read online or in one of my organizing books.

This is what we do around my house:

Step 1: Go through the mail immediately (with a trash can near).

Toss the junk magazines, ads and other items that you don’t want into the trash can right then and there. Do not throw any credit card offers, bank statements or anything with an account number into the trash can. You would be amazed at how easily identity theft can happen to anybody. Which leads me to my next step…..

Step 2: Put the items that need to be shredded in the “To Shred” file.

I do not throw away anything with an account number, even if it’s fake. I have a file box on my counter with a “To Shred” file folder. I put all credit card statements and other items similar to that in there and then we have a once a month shred party. No, we don’t invite the neighbors. It’s just a family party.

Step 3: File the bills to pay.

The majority of our bills are automatically withdrawn so paying bills isn’t really a big deal around our house. If you do have a problem keeping up with your bills I would highly recommend checking into the company being able to withdraw it or check with your bank.

We do have just a few of those though and they go into a “To Pay” file. We know to check that file at the very end of the month and the middle of the month.

Step 4: Put anything we want to read in the appropriate person’s file.

Everyone in my family, except for the dog and my 3 year old, has a file with their name on it. If one of us comes across a piece of mail that we know that person will want to read, we put it in their file folder. I go through my folder when I am headed out the door to a doctor’s appointment or any other kind of appointment that I know has waiting involved. If I am really in a hurry, I can just grab the whole file and go.

So, those 4 steps literally take a few seconds and it helps tremendously at taming the mail beast. There are days that our mail gets piled up because, well, we have a life but it takes just a minute or two to go through it.

This system will not work for everyone, but no system will work if you’re not consistent with it for several weeks. Give it a shot and see if it helps. I’ll have some more tips next week.

Products Pictured:

simplehuman Stainless Steel 8-gal. Trash Step Can

Eldon / Filing Crate, Collapsible, Rolled Mesh Steel, Black / ELD45309