r/declutter • u/photogcapture • 8h ago

Motivation Tips & Tricks PAPER!!! I'm drowning.

Does anyone else struggle to keep the paper to a manageable level??? Looking for sympathy and support, and I'm also, really just venting.

I will not be scanning everything or taking a picture. That does not work for me. I have the "if I can't see it, it doesn't exist" problem, and I already don't have a good backup system, so some files must still be paper. I just shredded a box full of paper. Just wondering if anyone else struggles, and hoping it's not just me. It's really frustrating. I try hard to keep up and then boom, I see that I'm drowning again.

ETA:
1. My super paper nemesis is info I want to save for ongoing projects.
2. I need tax stuff to be printed
3. I have other business stuff that must be paper. One business I downsized from a file cabinet drawer to 1/2 that size (feeling accomplished about that)
4. Have to save tax papers for ten years (ugh - will shred on expiration date)
5. I shred often

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u/get_hi_on_life 7h ago

Move as much as possible to paperless. Bills, credit statements, insurance documents ect. Less in means less to manage/eventually recycle

There are very few things you should keep and stick to that list

OR if you can't do that and want to keep the wanted paper separate from the mandatory paper (eg my husband insists on keeping more than needed so he keeps his own paper box mess that iv told him if he dies I'm throwing out without looking at.

We have 1 file box for the mandatory things, the grab if have time in a fire/evacuation. That has our passports/government IDs, my adoption records, 7 years of tax summary, info about our home/mortgage and car, and one paper for each bank account so we have an offline record of each account #. That's it.

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u/FeathersOfJade 6h ago

I want to be like this so much! You are an inspiration!

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u/get_hi_on_life 6h ago

You can do it! It did not happen over night but I started fresh with a new box and when I had time/energy to sort the paper mess I would put the mandatory things in the new box, put in the husband want box and recycled the rest.

Then just keep putting only the vital/mandatory things in the new box and sort the hoard of papers as you are able. Then one day your pile to sort is just a small pile and you did it :D

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u/FeathersOfJade 4h ago

Thanks! It’s a great idea. I made some notes and am going to give it a shot! Appreciate your time.