Here are 5 more of the most common filing mistakes along with solutions to make your filing chores much easier!

1. Mixing folder colors randomly. This just makes a big chaotic mess. To get the most out of using color, make 5 6 master categories, such as Household, Financial, Health, Legal/Critical, Career/Work, Special Interests/Hobbies, etc. Assign each category a single color.
2. Not using any color at all. This is just plain ugly and boring. People who use color appropriately, and don't overstuff the file drawers, are 3 times more likely to keep up with their filing.
3. Having a separate folder for every credit card and monthly utility bill. I used to do this and will never ever do it again. I now have one folder for all Credit Card Statements and one folder for Utilities. Utilities includes water bills, light bills, phone, cable,etc. Keep only 3-6 months worth unless they are tax-deductible. filing is simpler than ever when you have fewer files. If your files get thicker than 1 inch, then break them up into Credit Card Statements Jan - June and Credit Card Statements July - December.
4. Staggering the tabs on your hanging folders. This makes it a pain to insert a new folder into your system. Just put all the plastic tabs to the right or to the left and you can add a new folder easily any time. Plus it looks a lot neater!
5. Shredding ALL paper. This is not necessary and makes extra work for you. You only need to shred paper with critical information like credit card numbers, social security, etc.

Ariane Benefit

Ariane Benefit is a professional organizer, speaker, and author of the popular Neat Living Blog which provides free organizing tips, home makeover photos and much more.

Her mission is to inspire people to simplify, clear clutter, and get organizes so they can get things done easily, and have more time to enjoy the things they really love!!

Contact me at 973-429-2100 or abenefit@neatliving.org. Article or book writing requests are welcome! I am also available to provide content expertise to other writers.

Background: Having grown up in an extremely cluttered home and having moved frequently, I learned first hand how to overcome the need to keep everything. Being the first and only person in my family to go to college, I also learned early on how important it is to organize yourself to achieve your dreams and goals.

I am especially empathetic to creative people, people in crisis, people with ADD/ADHD, young people, students, packrats, sentimental collectors, people moving, merging households, and anyone who needs to downsize.

I have a Master's Degree in Education with a minor in Business and a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish from the University of Miami in Florida. With over 20 years experience in corporate performance consulting, I am also certified in Process Facilitation, Management Development Training, and Accelerated Learning Methods.

My personal and professional qualifications uniquely enable me to help people not only get organized, but acquire new skills and habits so they can STAY organized.

I am an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (where I am currently pursing the newly established Certified Professional Organizer designation), the American Holistic Health Association, and the International Society for Performance Improvement.