Get Organized to Stay Motivated to Achieve Your Goals

                                   

January is National Get Organized Month. Many people start New Year’s Resolutions to earn more money, lose weight, eat healthy, get their finances in order or make other changes in their life but before you start all of those things you have to get organized. Organizations helps you create goals and sticks to them.

January is the start of a new year and the start of new beginnings. The best way to start the New Year off right is to get organized. Some people need help with organizing in many areas of the lives such as their home or office. Sometimes we get so busy with work, family and friends we forget about or are too tired to maintain our household.

Many people spend time on the weekends on during the week cleaning their house, putting things in order, throwing away things, organizing, updating, replacing and moving things around. Some people do more extensive cleaning of their house when spring arrives. Some people clean their house and donate unused items to charity. Whatever the case – everyone cleans their house or place where their live but do you get organized?

Organizing helps you easily find things, helps you evaluate what you have and prevents buying duplicate items. Being organized is a sign of hard work, discipline, dedication and attention to detail. These characteristics can carry over into others aspects of your life. Some people find it hard to start organizing. The thoughts of trying to get organized can be overwhelming and frustrating because you don’t know where to start. But just take the first step and start somewhere. Here are some practical ways to get organized to stay motivated to achieve your goals in 2016.

Shred Documents

1. Shred. Buy a shredder and shred documents that are no longer needed.
2. Yearly: social security statements, insurance policy paperwork (once you receive the renewed policy paperwork), expired warranties
3. After 3 years: financial statements, monthly or quarterly policy statements, utility bills, monthly debt accounts, paid past due accounts, paid loans, past due account letters
4. After 7 years: yearly credit reports (after 10 years), income tax returns, W-2's, 1099's, check stubs, bank statements, savings account records, monthly statements for financial accounts except records for nondeductible contributions to an IRA to prove you already paid taxes, car titles, warranties unless they have not expired

How to File Documents

1. Organizer. Choose one person in your family that keeps tracks and files documents. Assign a backup person.
2. Categorize. Categorize your items either in alphabetical, numerical or color-coded. Put smaller items at the bottom, larger or heavier items at the top. Possible categorizes are: home, health, financial, auto, personal, appliances or electronics, policies, loans, creditors, utilities, bank statements, retirement, etc. 
3. Use Storage. Use items you already have as storage such as: crates, cardboard boxes, storage bins, Ziploc bags, etc. Use accordion folders or a storage box instead to store important documents and files if you don’t have or can’t afford a file cabinet. Store monthly expenses in envelopes. Keep all receipts for purchases in a shoebox, envelope or accordion folder. 
4. File. Name computer files with easily identifiable names so you know the purpose of the file and can easily find them. 
5. Separate. Categorize files and emails into subfolders.
6. Scan. Scan documents electronically and store on your computer. Back them up on an external hard drive.
7. File cabinet. Use hanging folders and labels to categorize files.
8. Copies. Make copies of everything you carry in your wallet.

Streamline

1. Gather. Gather all receipts, monthly, quarterly and yearly statements, medical bills, student loans, credit card statements, prescriptions, financial statements, etc. and place in one easy to find location.
2. Go Green. Scan important documents and store electronically in categorized file folders. Keep paper originals of important documents.
3. Store. Store all original documents and copies if you don’t have the original in storage such as a safe deposit box or waterproof fireproof safe at home. Store documents in a Ziploc bag to protect them.
4. Archive. Archive older files or files that are not accessed on a frequent basis to save on storage space.
5. Paperless. Request electronic copies of bills, disclosures and account statements to reduce paper and save money on paper statements fees.

Use Technology

1. NeatDesk. Scans documents that can be stored on your computer.
2. NeatConnect. Scans documents and uses a cloud-based service that stores and indexes your documents. Makes the data they contain available from your computer or a mobile device.
3. Dropbox. Use Dropbox to store documents.
4. Paper Tiger. Provides an indexing system for your paper documents that is stored on your computer that lets you identify which documents are filed where for easy retrieval.
5. Google Drive. It indexes your files and makes files searchable.

How to Keep Track of Documents

1.  Index. Create an index or list of where each document is stored and how to access it.
2.  Calendar. Create a bill calendar to keep track of bills. Set email or text reminders for dates and important actions.
3. Document. Create a Word document, Excel spreadsheet or Access database and enter basic columns for accounts such as: name of company, account number, date account opened, type of account, customer service number, website, username and password, secret questions and answers, monthly payment amount, and any other information you need to know.
4. Automate. Use apps or software to keep track of documents, personal and financial data. 
5. Dates. Use software tools or appointment tools to keep track of appointments and other important dates if you don’t want to track them on your cell phone or using software.
6. Review. View documents monthly to verify accuracy. Shred documents that are no longer needed. Remove duplicate documents or files. Add new documents to the filing system as they arrive.

8 Efficient Ways to Get Organized Before Filing Your Taxes

Every year millions of Americans have to file their taxes.  Many dread filing their taxes because it can be a tedious and time-consuming process. However, there are tons of user friendly tools available to help prepare your taxes and determine if you will get a refund or owe money.  You can file your taxes on your own and hire a CPA to file your taxes.

One of the reasons many Americans end up owing taxes or miss out on claiming deduction is because their they are not organized.  Many taxpayers throw away, misplace, destroy or damage receipts or even falsify documents because the original documents cannot be found. 

Don't wait until the last minute, this year start early and gather all of your receipts and financial paperwork.  You can use an automated tool to track your spending and deductions; use a piece of paper, or word processing software such as Excel or Access.  Getting organized will help you to see right away what deductions you are eligible to receive.  Organizing your paperwork makes it easier to file your taxes because all your informations easily accessible.

Using a tax preparation tool has all the tax laws imbedded in the tool which makes it easier for you to see what deductions and credits you are eligible to claim.  Here are 8 smart ways to help you organize before filing your taxes.

1. Duplicate. You can ask for duplicate receipts or financial statements if you have misplaced your copy.
2. Gather. Gather all receipts, monthly, quarterly and yearly statements, medical bills, student loans, credit card statements, prescriptions, financial statements, etc. and place in one easy to find location.
3. Categorize. Categorize all receipts such as medical, loans, financial statements, purchases, business expenses, debt, charitable donations, income, etc.
4. Deductions. Identify all items that can be used as itemized deductions and put them in one folder. Determine if the standard deduction for your tax bracket is greater than your itemized deductions. If not, calculate your itemized deductions.
5. Automation. Use a tax software package like Quicken, Turbo Tax or Tax Cuts.
6. Go Green. To save money file your taxes electronically. You will receive your refund in approximately two weeks from the date of filing and this will you help save the environment. 
7. Free Filing. If you salary is less than $60,000 or less you can file your taxes electronically for free.
8. Companies. If you use a chain tax preparation company you can bring all of your receipts and they will enter the data for you to prepare your taxes.