Guest Post: Organizing With Binders
I am excited to share with you an organizing idea from one of my blogging friends, Jennifer, from The Deliberate Mom. Her honesty, life as a Christian, mom, homeschooling mom, recipes, and practical ideas will keep you coming back for more! I have really enjoyed getting to know Jennifer! By reading her blog, you will feel you are sitting down for a cup of coffee as she welcomes you into her life while you read!
Here are some of her unique ideas on how to organize with binders!
I am often heckled for how organized I am. I regard being organized as a way to survive in this busy, crazy, world. As I reflected on some of my favourite organization tips, I quickly realized how much I rely on binders to keep me organized. 3-Ring, D-Ring, 2-3 inch, and multi-coloured… here are some of the ways in which I use these treasures to keep my household organized.
Make a personal phonebook:
I have a binder which is divided into various sections; personal phone numbers & addresses, services (e.g. hairdresser, dentist, and vet), work numbers (co-worker’s phone list) and a section with plastic sleeves for take-out/delivery menus. The binder is in an easy-to-access place so I can quickly reference any phone number I need.
The personal phone number and address section were done on an Excel spreadsheet. That way, if I need to add someone, I simply add a new row in the proper alphabetical place on the spreadsheet. It’s quick and easy with no fussing about formatting.
A tip (I can’t remember where I heard it from but I think its genius), every time you have to look up a phone number in the yellow or white pages, highlight it. If you’ve looked it up more than twice, add it to your phone book.
The information binder:
I have a binder which is divided up into the following sections:
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Banking and investments
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Utilities
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Bills/credit
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Insurance
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Health
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Other
Each section is filled with plastic sleeves and holds the applicable paperwork. Therefore, if I need to call my gas company, I take out the binder, open it to the utility section and I quickly have my gas company’s phone number and all of my account information readily available.
The user manual and warranty binder:
I have a 3″ binder that is filled with plastic sleeves. When I buy a new appliance or household item that has a user manual and/or warranty, I add it (and the matching receipt) to a plastic sleeve in this binder. This has been so handy for times when my phone went on the fritz or when I’ve had to return an item to the store because it malfunctioned before its warranty expired. I’ve also given appliances to friends and they were thrilled that I still had the instruction manual.
The magazine binder:
I actually started this when I was pregnant. I was addicted to all of the parenting and pregnancy magazines. There was always at least one or two good articles in every magazine, but I didn’t want to save the whole magazine. So I began to tear out articles and put them into plastic sleeves in a binder. I then organized the articles into common sections (e.g. nutrition during pregnancy, labour and delivery, tips for dad, etc.).
My general interest binder has sections on health, beauty, finance, fitness and relationships. I love revisiting old articles in the magazine binder!
The computer binder:
I have a binder (once again, with plastic sleeves) that holds all of our computer-related information. Start-up disks for programs, activation codes and instruction manuals are a couple of examples of what I archive in the computer binder.
The family health binder:
I started this binder with my daughter’s information but it has now grown to include all the family members. This binder is divided into sections by family member. Immunization records, eye and drug prescriptions, health care numbers, insurance policies and claims/forms are filed into their respective plastic sleeves. Also, if we receive any medical-related information (i.e. information about my daughter’s dairy allergy) we add it to the binder too.
The Lego binder:
If you have Lego sets then you might be in need of this organizational tool! Store all your Lego instruction manuals in plastic sleeves in a binder. This way, your Lego plans and instructions are organized and easily accessible. You can even divide your binder into related sections; Lego Friends, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Lego Creator, etc.
I hope these tips have inspired you! Feel free to share any of your organization tips (especially if they’re binder-related). After all, I’m always looking for an excuse to take a trip to Staples!
THE DELIBERATE MOM
Check out her website and add her to your favorites!
You are so correct in that keeping everything organized helps you get through this crazy world. I have a binder all ready to go. I need to get all of my manuals in order… I went through the stack last week and threw away about 15 that we don't even have the appliance anymore.
Isn't that a good feeling? There is something about getting organized that gets our blood flowing, increases energy, while preparing us for the next days, months, and years ahead!
Great ideas! I really need to start a user manual and warranty binder. For whatever reason keeping these organized is a challenge for me!
I would say the user manuals and warranties are one of the biggest things that tend to clutter our filing cabinets! Definitely a challenge for many :)!
Great ideas, I love when I feel organized!!!
Isn't it such a GREAT feeling :)?
I love this! I'm obsessed with all things pertaining to organization, you have some really great ideas in here. I REALLY need to make a computer binder! Thanks for sharing how you keep everything organized 🙂
Aren't these such great ideas from Jennifer? I love these ideas – so much more organized! So easy to just pull out a binder too!
Love! Binders are such a great way to keep things organized. We have a user manual/warranty binder and it's so nice to keep them all in one place so they don't get tossed by accident.
You really are an organized lady!
xoxo
The warranty/manual binder I think is such a great idea from Jennifer! I need to implement that one into my life :). Thanks for sharing Tiffany!
I'm such an organizing lover too 🙂
Great post!
AJ | http://www.TheAJMinute.com
This is a great idea! I need to do a binder for my sons Lego instructions, I had never thought about it. Thank you for this tips Jen…
Great ideas! Thanks Jennifer!
This is great! One of my resolutions this year is to start something like this!… though I probably won't get to it until the Summer… lol And hi, Kristen! Following from Jennifer's page! 🙂