When organizing your home office, first and foremost priority is going to be all that paperwork. The worst thing that has happened to me is when looking for a bill, a phone number, or important information...I just can't find it! Even though I know that it HAS to be in there....somewhere.

There are several different ways to organize your important bills, paperwork, and documents. I suggest you choose one that best fits your budget and your lifestyle.

The first method is perhaps easiest method. I call it file-away billboard method. First you will need to get your hands on a filing cabinet. What size depends on amount on paperwork you intend to store - I myself have a 4 drawer metal cabinet since I have a large amount of papers that need to be kept straightened out. Next, label drawers. If you have a 2 drawer you may wish to simply label top drawer "bills" and bottom drawer "documents". If you have a 4 drawer, you can include "extremely important" and "misc." to list. If possible make sure cabinet drawers support hanging folders, if not, then you can cheaply purchase a hanging file folder "frame" to support those. Next purchase at least one box of hanging file folders. Label each folder as specifically as you can. Here are some suggestions:

IN THE BILLS DRAWER:

- Unpaid Bills (put each bill you get in mail in this folder so you will know exactly what needs to be paid. Put each bill in its own folder as soon as you pay it, and write on stub when it was paid and check number. That way you can look back for easy reference if you need to. - Cable Bill/Paid - Water Bill/Paid - Electric Bill/Paid - Mortgage Bill/Paid - Telephone/Paid - Child Care/Paid - Columbia House/Paid - Misc./Paid (this one is for those once only bills that won't get enough to have their own folder)

IN THE DOCUMENTS DRAWER

Dust is public enemy number one when it comes to a home office. It seems to pervade everything, including computer screens, keyboards, bookshelves, and desktops. Of course we all know that leading killer of dust is pledge and a dustcloth, but here are a few tips you may not have known.

To keep your computer and keyboards from getting dusty, purchase plastic covers for them. You can also make your own out of trash sacks, or, if you have a creative streak, by sewing custom covers from fabric or old curtains.

If neither of those options work for you, there are other ways of keeping computers and their equipment dust-free. The keyboard dusters you can purchase are ideal for this. They are an aerosol can that sprays intense bursts of air, and be used for more than just a keyboard!