When it comes to owning a home and making changes to it, there are a lot of receipts, manuals, warranties, documents, maintenance reminders, and other things to keep track of! My middle name is “organized,” so you can bet I like keeping things in order. Here is what I do.
This week, I was thinking about a wallpapered house from 1910, my backyard reveal, design that is erasing heritage, what photographs are doing to our memories, un-designing a home to sell it, toddler pool floats, historical clothing, a small $14 change, old house sounds, the design show the world needs, a friendly reminder, and more.
It’s easy to keep track of files you don’t want to keep on your computer by putting them on a CD or DVD. There are two types of CDs: R and RW. The CD-R can only hold one copy of each file, and nothing on it can be changed or added to. If you choose CD-RW, you can always change the files on the disc or add new ones. It’s easy to remember that R means “recordable” and RW means “re-writeable.” When working with big files or a lot of photos, a DVD is a great way to store them. You’ll need a DVD burner to copy things to this kind of disc. The problem with using discs to store things is that they are easy to scratch, break, or lose.
Your desktop or laptop computer can be a useful tool. It can connect you to the Internet, give you a place to store your photos and papers, and help you do things that were hard to do before. But if you don’t know how to keep things in order, your computer could end up looking just as messy as your desk. Keeping your computer’s files in order makes it easier to find what you need.
Most computers will automatically put your files on the hard disk, which is usually called the C drive. This is where most people store their files. But if your computer crashes, you might lose your data, so you should always save a copy of your important documents. There are several things you can do if you don’t want to store your data on your computer.
The trash can or the trash/recycle bin on your computer can be your best friend. If you don’t need it, you should get rid of it. Get rid of old papers and photos that are just taking up space. By getting rid of things, you can free up a lot of memory on your computer and make it easier to organize the files that are left.
How should I handle the files at home?
No matter how small or few the people who live there are, every home needs a place to keep and file papers. This can be done with a cardboard bankers box, a file drawer or cabinet, or a rolling filing basket. It should be at least the size of two file drawers, or a similar size if you choose a different way to store it.
How do I get my paperwork in order at home?
How to fix it: Sort the things that need to be kept into three groups: long-term storage, an emergency kit, and a safe filing cabinet. Documents that are hard to replace should be kept in a box that can’t catch fire (such as birth and marriage certificates, passports, Social Security cards, wills, and copies of prescriptions).
How long must I keep my records?
If you file a claim for a credit or refund after filing your return, keep records for three years from the date you filed your first return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever comes first. Keep records for seven years if you want to get a tax break for bad debts or a loss from securities that are no longer worth anything.
Where should I store my digital assets to protect them?
The safest ways to keep sensitive information are to keep it on a thumb drive that is only connected to a computer when it is being used, turn off the machine’s network connection, and start it from a CD.
Why is putting files on your desktop a bad idea?
You shouldn’t save files to your desktop for a number of reasons. First, it is hard to put together. On the desktop, you can sort files by name or date, but you can’t use a third way to group them. Also, it is more likely to get full than a folder that can be grouped and searched.
What kind of file system is used the most?
The most natural and common way to organize files is by alphabetical order. Even the simplest alphanumeric system needs filing standards. These include things like codified filing procedures, cross-referencing techniques, and ways to submit duplicate name changes.
Which two types of filing are most common?
The most common ways to file are the Loose Leaf method and the Collective method. Before being put in a standard file, documents that are filed individually are punched with holes. Adding and removing documents from a file is easy.
What papers do you need to keep for 7 years?
TIME TO KEEP: 3–7 YEARS Keeping this in mind, it’s a good idea to keep for three to seven years any document that backs up information on your tax return, such as Forms W-2 and 1099, bank and brokerage records, receipts for tuition payments and receipts for donations to charities.
How long do I need to keep old bills?
Tax returns and other paperwork should be kept for at least seven years. The IRS can choose to audit you three years after you file, or six years after that if it thinks you didn’t report at least 25% of your income.
Why should I keep my bank statements from the past?
Keep them for as long as you need them to file your taxes or settle a dispute or fraud. If you used your records to prove facts on your tax return, you should keep them for at least seven years.
What kind of storage is the safest?
The most reliable way to store information is on a tape drive.
How long can information be kept?
Even if you keep a magnetic platter in a cool place, it will not last forever. There are also tape drives, optical media, and more advanced media like the Rosetta Disk. Most people will find that a hard disk is the most practical and reliable balance.