Tri-Valley Mortgage News

Hello and Happy New Year! I am willing to bet that many of you have resolved this year to tackle the paper clutter that can invade your space and peace of mind. There is no shortage of advice out there regarding how to go about this. I've compiled a simple list of solutions that have worked for me and can work for you too.

• Bank and pay bills online. You can sign up for your bank's online banking services and always have an archive of statements available to you. Most credit card and service companies have online bill paying options. Check out www.mycheckfree.com. You can often pay more than one of your bills using this service.
• Sort your mail before you plop it down! You will need a sorting bin and a paper shredder (well worth the small investment!). Immediately recycle junk mail. Shred any mail or offers that contain your personal information. Pieces that require your immediate attention should be filed. This step alone will work wonders!
• Newspapers and periodicals can easily pile up as well. Most people just don't have time to read everything they'd like to. If you find that your newspapers are going unread consider just subscribing to the weekend edition or perhaps you can switch to an online news service which will allow you to only read those articles that interest you. As for magazines, if you have many subscriptions consider how many you are actually reading on a regular basis. Cancel any that are just taking up space. For those that you must keep, make sure you recycle the previous edition when the new one arrives. If there's an article that you feel very strongly about reading, tear it out and slip it into the new edition.
• For tax receipts designate folders for each type of deduction (ie: Schedule A, Schedule C). Keep these folders handy where you can access them frequently as you gather receipts. Make sure each category is clearly labeled. This will save you lots of time come tax season.

I hope you will find one or all of these suggestions helpful in keeping you clutter-free this year.