One of most basic ways to find papers when you need them is to retrieve them from an effective filing system. A good filing system will allow you to find what you're looking for in 10 seconds or less.

Here are 3 simple filing guidelines that can help:

1. CATEGORIZING. A filing system is only effective, if you can find everything you need, when you need it--without a struggle. And all good filing systems have different categories of papers. Your papers are either going to fall into a MAIN category, or a SUB-category.

For example, a main category might be FINANCIAL. Some sub-categories within Financial, may be: --Savings Account --Checking Account --Money Market Account

In your filing cabinet, your main categories should always be hanging file folders with a labeled tab. Your sub-categories should be labeled manila file folders inside appropriate main category hanging folder.

2. BASIC FILING SYSTEMS. For most part, people choose to use one, or a combination of, these basic filing systems:

A. Alphabetical (A, B, C, D, etc.)

B. Numerical (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.)

C. Chronological (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, etc.)