Don't Take No For An Answer

                                                       

 Keep good records, don't take no for an answer and never give up.

1. I was in a billing dispute with a company over payment for a service. I had been a customer for 8 years.
2. I paid what I owed, but the company charged me an early termination fee that was not documented in my agreements and other paperwork. 
3. I asked for a copy of the policy stating the early termination fee - no response.
4. The company forwarded my account to a collection agency and neglected to inform the collection agency of the payments I made.
5. I filed a complaint with the BBB. I provided substantial documentation to dispute everything the company said. I was not aware that my account had been forwarded to a collection agency until I filed a complaint against the company.
6. I requested a refund of my deposit. 
7. I am happy to say I got my deposit, my account will be reported as "paid in full" with the company, the collection agency account is closed and my account with the collection agency will be reported as "paid in full".

If you want to get results like this inbox me or email at consulting at hefreemanenterprises dot com for your personal and business financial needs.

20 Tips for Organizing Your Home Office

                                                                     

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

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.  Here are 20 ways to organize your home office for less.

1. Clean.  Put similar items together in one location to help assess what you have. 
2. Small. Start with a small room or area.  Identify the steps you want to achieve, know what you want to do, when and how you will do it.
3. List. Make a list of what you have and the quantity, and make a list of what you need and the quantity needed.
4. Put it together.  Throw away worn out items that can no longer be used.  Donate items in good condition to charity. If you have not used an item in the past 6 months give it away.  Put Items you are going to keep in a storage container. 
5. Categorize. Categorize your items either in alphabetical, numerical, color-coded.  Put smaller items at the bottom, larger or heavier items at the top.
6. Assistance. Ask for help when organizing.  Show the person how you want tasks done.  Don’t get frustrated if the person doesn’t get it right the first time.
7. Time.  Save time by multi-tasking.
8. Space.   Efficiently utilize as much space as possible and leave extra space for future needs.
9. Usage. After you finish using an item put in back in its proper place to help keep clutter to a minimum. 
10. Storage.  Use items you already have as storage (crates, cardboard boxes, storage bins, Ziploc bags, etc.)
11. Schedule. Schedule a set time when you will organize and clean.
12. Folders. Use accordion folders or a storage box instead of a file cabinet to store important documents and files.
13. Hide. Conceal cables and wires to save space.
14. Stack office equipment and use separators to keep air flowing between equipment that has vents.
15. Supplies. Buy adjustable office organizers to allow expansion for additional space.
16. Label. Name computer files an easily identifiable name so you know the purpose of the file. Categorize files into subfolders.
17. Email. Categorize emails into subfolders. Delete read emails. Unsubscribe from lists that you no longer read or want.
18. To do. Make to-do lists and post in your office where you can readily see them on a daily basis.
19. Store. Store business cards in a shoe box and create dividers using cardboard or manila folders.
20. Reuse. Use CD/DVD cover (round cover for multi-package of CDs) to store paperclips, rubber bands, binder clips, etc.

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.