Pending Files
 

For future and pending items, make a file with 42 manila folders. Mark 30 of them sequentially from 2 through 31. These represent the days of a month, though as I’ll explain below you won’t need a folder marked 1. Then mark 11 folders to correspond with February through December. Mark the final folder “Next Year”. Whenever you have papers related to a task, for example a bill to be paid, file it as follows:

If it’s due this month, put it in the folder corresponding to the day you need it. If it needs to be paid by the 27th of this month, file it in the folder marked “20”. You’ll pay and mail it on the 20th, giving you a seven day cushion.

If it’s for a later month this year, file it in the folder for that month (“August” for example). If it’s for some time after the current year, file it in the folder marked “Next Year”. Each day, look in the file for the current day. If tomorrow is the 12th of the month, start the day by looking in the folder marked “12”. Do all the tasks in that day’s folder.

On the first day of each month, go through that month’s folder and sort the file into each day’s folder (this is why you don’t need folder “1”). For example, on the first of June, take all the papers out of the June folder and put each one of them in the folder corresponding to the day you’re going to need it. Do the same on the first day of the year with the “Next Year” folder (that’s why there is no need for a January folder). This way you have an organized method of filing papers and documents you’ll need at a future time.

This technique is also useful for work related activities as well. So get in the habit of using it every day. Before you leave for weekends and days when you’ll be away, look ahead in the folders for those days that you’ll be gone to make sure you take care of items before they’re due.

Once you’ve paid a bill or reviewed a statement, take it out of the “Pending” section and file it in the appropriate “Past” folder. For example, once you’ve paid your phone bill, file it in the folder marked “Phone Bills”. Put the newest statement in the front so you’ll also have them in chronological order. This makes it easy to find should you ever need it.

By using this system you will lay a solid foundation from which to build your wealth, reduce stress, and save tremendous time. You will not only benefit by having all your papers organized in one convenient place, you will also reduce the time and effort of correcting mistakes caused by the disorganization of not having a filing system.

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