Here's a GREAT post showing how Gina Trapani, the editor of Lifehacker created herself a neat file system! Geek to Live: Extreme makeover, filing cabinet edition - Lifehacker.
Her photos are great, her system works, and she explains in detail how she did it! There are lots of comments from readers providing even more tips and variations on the process. This is as good or better than most of what I've read in books about how to create a filing system! My only suggestion would be to make sure you separate ACTIVE or OPEN files from ARCHIVE or CLOSED files. She shows tax folders from 2001 - 2005 which should be Archive or Closed files since they are no longer frequently used.
FILING TIP: GIVE YOUR SELF SPACE
Keeping only active files in your office takes up much less space and makes it much easier to file. Also, you should have at least 25% of the space in your file drawers free so you can easily move the files and open them to add more files. This is the biggest most common mistake people make and is far more important that having typed labels. If you don't leave room for yourself to easily use the system, you won't keep it up!
You can get more of my FREE FILING TIPS (not found in Gina's article) in a 3 page booklet when you sign up for my newsletter!
FILING WITH BINDERS
My next newsletter is going to cover a super-easy system on filing using binders. It will provide a list of supplies you need to make it easy and 10 creative ways to use binders! So why not sign up now?
SEE MORE ORGANIZING MAKEOVERS like the one shown below at www.neatandsimple.com/gallery
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