1. GETTING ORGANIZED IN 2012
My first thought on getting
organized always resorts back to
any space I use to do busy
work…such as, things related to
school, work, or the household
budget. So, if you’re like me, you
either have a home office or an
office in your home. In 2011, I
learned that there is a difference
between the two. A home office
should usually relate to a space
where there is some type of
entrepreneurship going on and
you can get a good tax deduction

2. for the space and the equipment,
materials, supplies, furniture…etc;
you use within the space. If we’re
talking about an “office in your
home”, we’re usually talking
about a personal space with a
sign on the door that says “I’m
thinking, do not disturb me or
else”…..!..Either way, no matter
how you refer to it or how you use
it, this space needs to be
organized!
So here we go…point number 1:
Take an assessment of the overall
space. Look for items to toss such

3. as, outdated bills, check stubs,
receipts (all beyond 5 years of
course), outdated magazines,
books you’ve already read twice,
and old love letters. On second
thought, don’t toss the love letters.
They’re good for re-visiting old
memories…especially if they
make you laugh or smile. Toss the
ones that make you cry though.
Point number 2:
After the assessment is complete,
and you have a couple of piles to
throw away, begin by shredding
the important – confidential stuff
like old bank statements and the

4. check stubs we mentioned. Rip the
important articles from the old
magazines and file them away in
a decorative storage box or in the
two drawer file cabinet you’re
going to pick up from the thrift
store to see this project through!
Tie strong cord or twine around
the magazines and toss them on
the lawn with old newspapers on
trash day. Did I forget to mention
that you have to pick up the
cheapest shredder you can find
from a place like Office Max or
some other office supply store. I
believe we can still get one for
around $20 or less. It’s the

5. smallest sized one they have, but
it will do the trick in shredding
the type of stuff we acquire over a
period of time in the home office
or the office at home.
To maintain our sentimental
feelings regarding the books we’ve
read twice, we can stack them
and tie a nice silk ribbon around
them and donate them to a local
senior citizens home. They’re
always looking for good books to
read during their leisure time!
If you can’t find a center near
you, swap your books with a few
books that a neighbor may be

6. trying to rid themselves of. But be
sure to place the books on a
bookshelf or sofa tab le so they
won’t distract you from this
project. You know what I mean?
Good.
Lastly, point number3 of today’s
lesson in getting organized in
2012 is: after you’ve discarded the
items you really don’t need,
finally take an assessment of the
things you do need ,which will
help maintain your organized
space! Examples are, file folders,
ink pen or pencil caddy, one
small legal sized wire, wooden, or

7. plastic basket (8 ½ x 11) to hold
your “do now” stuff, a stapler,
paper clips, a picture of your
favorite pet(framed of course),
and, a set of decorate storage
boxes (small sized). These we’ll use
to hold those items that are not
quite dated and we may need for
tax purposes. Remember the bank
statements, receipts, and check
stubs? Stuff like this we’ll file in
the decorative boxes that stack
neatly in any space. A local Wal-
Mart, or TJ Maxx store usually
have them at a reasonable price
and you can match them up with
your office décor. Yeah! If you

8. rather visit the dollar store first, it
makes good sense. Thrift stores are
still on our list of resources!
Get busy! Get started! Organize
that space……!