I just came across another useful tool to reduce your paper clutter and help you PRINT LESS!  You’ll also lower spending on ink toner and help save a lot of trees.  GreenPrint is a simple-to-use software that eliminates unwanted pages and reduces printing by 17 percent or more.  The application lets you preview documents and has options for deleting text, copy or entire pages before you hit print.  Use it at home or at work.  Check out the enterprise version for your business.

One of my top recommended products is Freedom Filer - a self-purging system that will have you saying farewell to file clean-up day. Whether you decide to use it for organizing your personal finances or your business, this filing tool is highly functional and versatile. The system provides color-coded tabs that keep your papers sorted so you can find them in a glance. The tabs are perpetual which eliminates the need to set up new folders and re-label files each year. Unwanted documents are automatically rotated and replaced when their useful life has ended. You will never have to spend time digging through files and deciding what to keep or toss.

The Women to Women Committee is a networking group for working and non-working women who meet once a month to discuss ideas and share experiences, both business and personal.  This month, I’ll be speaking on a variety of organizing topics at their luncheon at the Columbia Tower Club this Wednesday, January 27th.  Club members are admitted free and it’s only $25 for guests or non-members.

This event has passed, but check out our upcoming events page!

Last week, I held an email management seminar at an event hosted by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. It was very well attended and really showed how people are interested in more processes and tools to help them with electronic organization, especially email!

To see all of Innovatively Organized’s upcoming events this month, check out our website.

Files not piles! No matter your preference, there are a multitude of ways to file your documents that can work for you. It can be as simple as using in and out boxes or hanging bins on the wall - here are some of my favorite recommendations:

• Traditional File Drawers: Great for when you want to file quickly and retrieve easily.
• Accordion Files: This is best for treating papers like files and it’s also portable. Hint: Use this to file monthly receipts.
• Wall Sorters: Use this to contain mail and sort many files at once. Hint: Use one that can be easily removed when its time to pay bills.
• Paper Trays: Besides acting as the obvious Inbox/Outbox, adopt this for sorting printer paper and holding filing supplies.
• Vertical Sorters: Keeps active files at eye level. Also works well for sorting mail. Very versatile.
• Magazine Files: Great for holding magazines and project files that are still “works in progress”.
• Binders: Best for storing information you use regularly and flip through quickly. Hint: Great for recipes when using  clear protective sleeves.

Need a product recommendation for a paper organizing project you’re working on?  Just send us a message and we’ll help you out!

Click here to read more on my blog post about organizing with binders.

When I help clients organize their homes or help them prepare for a move, the topic of the housing market often arises. I decided to ask for some professional insight from a realtor. His observations might surprise you!

“Reasons to be Optimistic about the Housing Market” by Dan Faulkner

I spent all of December hand-delivering holiday gifts to clients, and without fail, I heard  the same question from everyone, “So Dan, how is the market?”

Well, From the end of 2008 through much of 2009 there was  a deep pessimism and fear about where the market was headed. However, the reality is that we have most likely bottomed out. Consider these facts:

• Closed sales in King County are up 33.4% over the last 12 months
• Pending home sales are up 85%
• Months of inventory is at 5.9 months (6 months is a neutral market according to the National Association of Realtors)
• Interest rates hit their lowest point ever  in early December at 4.71% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage

And, we are entering a new era where the Echo Boomers, the children of Baby Boomers, will  be coming of age. There are 6 million more Echo Boomers  than there were Baby Boomers, and households are expected to increase by 1.25 million annually over the next decade. This means there’s going to be a lot more people to buy a lot more stuff!

Nobody expects the market to surge anytime soon. In fact, we may not see any significant appreciation for a number of years, but one thing seems abundantly clear… there are reasons for optimism!

Sometimes checking your mailbox every day is not an option - maybe you’re on the road, on vacation or just plain busy with work and family. Sorting through postal mail can be a huge burden on your productivity, not to mention that the physical mail we receive is mostly unwanted, unsolicited and unwieldy.

Earth Class Mail is an online service that manages your incoming paper mail, scans it and then sends you an electronic version! Then you can take all types of action just as you would handle e-mail - file, delete, recycle - or you can even have your envelopes opened to pay bills, deposit checks, or to have documents turned into PDFs and forwarded to you.

This service is an eco-friendly and organized way to oversee and regulate the seemingly non-stop influx of paper mail no matter where you are or where you go!

It’s no wonder the 3-ring binder is a required school supply - it’s a versatile organizing tool. Invest in a sturdy binder that you can use over and over, and if you’re storing receipts or time-sensitive items, remember to clean it out at the end of the year and archive important documents.

Binders can serve a lot of different organizing functions:

• Using clear sheet protectors, file away warranties and manuals for electronics - keep the one for kitchen appliances in a cabinet and store the one for home entertainment in the living room.
• Apply the same idea above for recipes and create your own cookbook.
• Binders are portable, so they work well for projects that are active and require lots of meetings where you need to bring all your files and materials.
• As a reference tool, many people can share binders to store ideas, guides, contracts, etc. Create a table of contents in the front of the binder so people can quickly flip to the tab they need.
• Binders are excellent for filing chronological documents such as annual events, financial records or data logs, and school year activities.

My favorite closet organizing tool from The Container Store is on sale! Versatile, durable and easy-to-use, elfa® is a modular shelving and drawer component system that helps you maximize your space, increase storage and boost productivity. It works for tiny closets as well as walk-ins and is also great for the garage, home office and kitchen. Check it out!

Did you resolve to be more organized and productive this year?  Join me at this well-timed seminar to learn how to overcome email overload and detox your inbox! 

EMAIL MANAGEMENT 101

Thursday, January 14th - 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. (includes lunch)

Rainier Square Conference Center

1333 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

$20 pre-paid ($25 after 1/12)

Hosted by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce

This event has passed, but check out our upcoming events page!