Getting Your Household Paperwork in Order

Do you frequently miss bill payments? Is your desk a mess of papers, unopened mail, and unpaid bills? Does your credit card statement frequently include a late charge? Are you avoiding phone calls from collection agencies? Were you surprised to learn that you have a low credit score? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to get your household finances in order.

Even though advances in technology have made going paperless feasible, many of us are swimming in more paper than ever. Gift cards, rebate coupons, meeting registration forms, subscription renewals and other paperwork get lost under a growing pile of newspapers, magazines, and junk mail. According to a Harris Interactive Poll, close to 25% of us pay our bills late and incur late fees, most commonly because we lose them. Newsweek magazine reported that the average person has 37 hours of unfinished work stacked up on the desk and spends 3 hours per week trying to sort through the papers in order to get things done or find the next project.

The hardest part is knowing where to start. Your goal is not only to clean up but also to create a system that keeps your financial paperwork organized going forward. You may be able to do this on your own with the help of a shredder, plenty of file folders, and a label maker, or you may prefer to work with a professional, such as a bookkeeper, who specializes in the management of home finances.

Working with a bookkeeper can improve your finances, your lifestyle, and your pocketbook as you organize paperwork together to: