Free Samples, Town News, and Filing

I got some of the samples in today:

• Oatmeal Crisp sample
• Mario Badescu samples including: Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Special Cucumber Lotion, Glycolic Eye Cream, Drying Mask, Collagen Moisturizer SPF 15, Drying Cream, and Strawberry Face Scrub.

I also got the water/sewer/garbage bill today.  It went up to $68.00 from last month's $66.22 so I'll need to look into that, but they do say they are on conservation rates so the more used the more it costs.  We'll see.  

But the neat thing about getting the bill is that it comes with a little newsletter about what is happening in our city.  I knew they were building some new fire stations (3 to be exact), but what I didn't know is that the one replacing an old station I go by all the time is being built for free due to "an exchange site agreement" with Kohl's Department Store.  Apparently they agreed to pay for it to be able to build their new store on the main road where it would get more traffic instead of behind it on the street over.  

1. That is so cool that the city actually agreed to it and was smart enough to see a way to save us taxpayers money and still get a new fire station.  The entire city is a PUD so I supposed it only could take place since both sites were within the PUD regulations to make the switch.
2. I'm excited to know that we'll be getting a Kohl's and so close to where I live.  I've heard a lot about it, but I've never had one near me to shop.  I guess I'll see what all the fuss is about when they finally build it.  I don't expect that will be anytime soon because the old fire station is still there until the new one is built.

The other news I actually got on Saturday from my DH.  He stopped by our local Albertson's, which is across the street from where this new Kohl's is supposed to be, and he found out they are closing down.  We don't shop there much, but it is the closest grocery store for quick pick-ups and stuff.  The cool news though?  Publix bought them and will be opening up there after a little remodeling!  I love doing my grocery shopping at Publix.  The one we usually go to isn't really that far away, but this one will be much closer.  Yay!  

On filing news, I've started scanning a bunch of documents and magazines articles/recipes into folders on my computer.  I am determined to get my papers down to a minimum!  But it will be a long, long time before I'm totally done.  My goal is to do a little bit at a time while keeping up with anything new that comes in as well.  We'll see how it goes!  I also need to buy some more CDs so I can back everything up once I'm done.

Paperless Office

Danny over at Daily Danny mentions how he has a paperless office.  I'm jealous!  I have so much paper that it's ridiculous!  I know I need to do better, but sometimes it's hard. 

Every week I print out pages and pages of lectures from my college classes.  While I also have them saved on my computer, it's hard for me to read them or refer back to them when I need them most--away from my computer.  I am thinking about "recycling" the papers by giving them to the boys to draw on or cut them into pieces for scrap paper.  But I know the best thing to do is find a way to NOT print them all out unless absolutely necessary.  Not only would we save money on printer paper, but ink, too.

The other papers I have a lot of are "important" papers.  Some actual and I'm sure there are some that are imagined important.  Danny talks about how he put them on CD.  And I'm thinking that's a great idea.  The only problem is that I'm still stuck about actually getting rid of some of the really important papers like tax returns.  I guess it's just some sort of stigma on my part that has been pounded into me--"KEEP YOUR TAX RETURNS!"  So when was the last time I needed them in an emergency?  That's right!  Never!  *sigh*  Maybe I can at least start with the less important papers and work my way up to the more important ones.

I really like his idea of returning junk mail to the sender.  Ha-ha!  I used to take everything and put it into their prepaid envelopes and send them back, but it took too much time.  It seems he just puts "Return to Sender" and throws it back into the mailbox.  Much easier and less time consuming!  Maybe eventually they'll get the hint!

Then there are the interesting things I've cut out of magazines over the years.  Such good ideas or articles I just cannot bear to give up.  All wasting space and cluttering my office with more paper!  It looks like I'll need to spend some time scanning all these to CD.

So it seems that I have another project to complete!  But this one will really clear up my paper clutter!  I might as well add scanning all my photos, too!  

Filing Expenses

Lately I've been looking into 2-drawer filing cabinets.  I was planning on buying 4 of the metal ones and creating back-to-back desks from our closet doors and then using the current 4-drawer wood filing cabinet as a clothes storage in my room.

The problem is they are: 1) too short; and 2) too expensive.  I remember when metal file cabinets were cheap--now you can barely find one for under $100!  I did find some at Walmart and Target (not online--in store only) that were around $25 each, but again they were too short.

I believe I'll just buy metal table legs.  I found a scratch and dent section of an online table leg store and even though they are not the right color, I may buy them since they are $20 off the original price.  A little spray paint works wonders!

So you may be wondering what I'm going to do with all my files.  I already have plans to put up track shelving and figure decorative file boxes (plastic is preferable) will do the trick along with a fire-proof safe for very important papers.

While looking around at different file systems I found one that was interesting.  It's a pre-labeled home filing system over at Stacks and Stacks.  Sure it looks nice, but why pay $70 for this?  It's only a bunch of files!  Plus they give a whole list for their filing system right on the website.  I'll definitely be using this to organize my files better into separate file boxes for my shelves.  

It'll probably look something like this:

1) Medical Files--will include one file for each doctor per person plus a health insurance folder

2) Emergency Files--will include files in case of an emergency (death, natural disaster, evacuation, etc.) such as account numbers, passwords, doctors numbers, inventory, etc.  This box would need to be sturdy and possibly lockable, yet able to be easily picked up and carried if there is an emergency.

3) Important Documents--these (social security cards, husband's citizenship paperwork, passports, wills, birth certificates, etc.) will be in the fireproof safe.  In the event of an emergency they will be secure in there, but copies will be in the Emergency Files box.  Carrying a safe wouldn't be that easy to do in an emergency.

4) Tax Return Files--one file for each year saved.

5) Investment Files--will hold files for each retirement account and any other future investments.

I know there are more, but these are the ones that came to mind initially.

Now it may have occurred to some of you that I'll be spending more money initially to set up this new filing system than it would be just to buy those 4 filing cabinets in the first place.  You're probably right!  But I'm looking at it in a way more than money (though I will look for the lowest price I can)--it's also a matter of convenience, safety, and organization (because we just cannot seem to keep the office neat and organized).  A good fireproof safe will probably run me anywhere from $50 on up.  To me it's a lot better to spend this money than keep my important papers in a wood filing cabinet or spend money monthly on a safe deposit box.

I'd love to hear suggestions on other filing system options.  I haven't started setting up the office yet.  I'm still on the first stage of preparing the walls for paint!