Get it sorted today, so you don't need to waste most of your time looking for things! More help with handling paperwork.

You don't need to get down to paying a bill as soon as you receive it - most of us don't anyway as much as we swear we will. Instead, keep one or two days aside every month, that are designated as 'bill paying' days. On these days sit down, make out all the checks and mail them out. If you set aside a specific date for this, chances of you forgetting to pay a bill are lower. You could set a date sometime around the first week of a month, and a second date could be towards the end of the month, for bills that may have arrived later.

Applications

Keep a slim file for any pending work that may be going on. This folder can be empty for most of the time, and can fill up when you are working on something like filing your taxes, applying for a passport or visa and so on. Essentially this should be a file where you keep all the various documentation you may require when making some form of application. Once the application is completed, the documents can go back to their places.

Credit Cards

The more credit cards you own, the greater the hassle. You really don't need that many. Keep a maximum of 3 credit cards, and cancel the others. It will make paying your bills that much easier.

Keep important papers such as your marriage registration certificate, passports, car registration papers etc. in a separate folder or box, and keep them somewhere safe such as in a cupboard drawer. You don't need these papers everyday, so they can be tucked away safely. You could also keep copies of any passport photographs you may have, in this drawer.

Bank paperwork

Keep a separate folder for your bank statements, correspondence and booklets. You could keep your checkbook in this folder, or separately, in your drawer along with envelopes, stamps, a pen, glue, and other things you may need to write out your cheques. Some people keep their bill pending folder next to envelopes, stationary and other items, so they can quickly just send out their bills. If more people were this organized, the banks, government, universities and other collecting agencies would lose millions in penalties for late payments!

Warranties

Put all your warranty cards, guarantees and product information booklets together. If certain items come with software in a CD (like an IPOD), store the CD too along with the brochures and guarantees. You could consider investing in transparent Ziplocs, and put all information relating to one product, inside one Ziploc. Place all the Ziplocs inside a single box - perhaps the box your printer came in, and trash all other boxes.

Post Its

These little yellow sticky sheets of papers are ideal for keeping track of things, and some swear that jotting down things on a post-it is more effective than making lists in a notebook. The advantage of post its are that you can keep the pad on your desk, and stick the note in a prominent place that you are sure to see it, like the computer screen, mirror, or refrigerator door. Also, you can simply pluck out the note and carry it along, and the pad stays where it is - so there is no chance of misplacing it.