old bills, how do you sort them?

[RCT]

I was paying the bills last night with dh and all went well...LOL...we had the money to pay them, thats always a plus....:lol: any how, I always file them away in a little file cabinet I have.....you know car insurance, phone bill, electric...etc....anyway how long do you keep old paid bills, and how do you all keep track of all this paper that comes into your house....I hate that part of paying the bills, we pay them through the online banking, but I still end up filing for 1/2 hour sometimes....its maddening....I shredded a bunch of old bills, from 1999.....any advice would be helpful

[momtomonkeys]

Sounds like you are very organized to me. I file everything in a little filing cabinet in our closed. My biggest problem is that I have a huge pile on top of the cabinet that has been there forever (started when I got pg w/ my son who is now six months!). I don't do too much online bill paying yet, but some bills are done by automatic withdrawal from checking...however, I still get the statements in the mail. I also shred old bills from years past. I used to keep them for five years ...now it is more like one.

I helped my mom get organized a year or two ago by making her a bill folder. I put those pocket inserts in a three ring notebook and then glued a sheet on the front of each pocket where she could record payments and such. It was nice. However, she couldn't keep up with it. I thought she could file at the end of each month and simply take out the statements/receipts and such from each pocket and put in the file. I did this once myself and liked it but had a hard time keeping up with it myself.

Good luck!!

[momtomonkeys]

Sounds like you are very organized to me. I file everything in a little filing cabinet in our closed. My biggest problem is that I have a huge pile on top of the cabinet that has been there forever (started when I got pg w/ my son who is now six months!). I don't do too much online bill paying yet, but some bills are done by automatic withdrawal from checking...however, I still get the statements in the mail. I also shred old bills from years past. I used to keep them for five years ...now it is more like one.

I helped my mom get organized a year or two ago by making her a bill folder. I put those pocket inserts in a three ring notebook and then glued a sheet on the front of each pocket where she could record payments and such. It was nice. However, she couldn't keep up with it. I thought she could file at the end of each month and simply take out the statements/receipts and such from each pocket and put in the file. I did this once myself and liked it but had a hard time keeping up with it myself.

Good luck!!

[SMB]

I try not to keep old bills much longer than six months. I keep receipts and tax related items for 5-7 years(or until warranties run out) All of my monthly bills, car ins, mortgage, etc. fits into one of those file boxes you can carry around. I pay bills twice a month in front of the tv, and I file it away at the same time.
Sheryl:)