Well, being a housewife has change so much since June Cleaver's day. For one thing, no one uses the term "housewife" any more. Well, except the IRS. Some of my friends cringe to enter the occupation code for "housewife." No, no code for SAHM. Odd.
One big change, other than semantics, is that SAHM (working moms for that matter) have gone high tech. I cannot imagine trying to manage without my cell phone or PDA. These are essential tools to make our family household run as smoothly as possible. Another high tech tool is the internet. Many early mornings I spend researching medical questions, first aid questions, or behavioral issues. I can access information on my crazy schedule when I have no knee-knockers screaming about. It is also great for renewing library books, confirming book club information, setting playdates, and checking the times the jumping place opens. Parents of older children tell me it is a great tool for homework.
I want to share this high tech tip that I borrowed from my days at the firm. The firm was paperless. Paperless and proud of it. It was a flawless system. So, I borrowed it for our household. I scan in any important papers and subsequently toss them in the trashcan. This is so helpful not to have to go searching for some important receipt. It is important to give some thought as to how you are going to organize these virtual files, just like real files. You have to have a system that makes sense to you. I have a folder just for Christmas receipts. Another folder for Costco receipts.
Let me tell you how it works. I scan in all of my receipts for Christmas presents. All the stores I asked said they take copied receipts for returns. I scan in all of my Costco receipts. Because of Costco's customer service policy, they will accept a return for any reason. My Costco envelope full of receipts was busting at the seams. I do this for my tax documents as well.
The final step, and a very important one, is to back up my files. I back up on a CD. but there are also webhosting options to consider for offsite storage.
No paper is safe. I even scan in my layouts and some important pictures.
It works for us.
Great tip Sudie! I have had a phobia for years that I need to keep every piece of paper, and I'm now overwhelmed with files full of who-knows-what. I'm gonna start scanning and start shredding!!!
Posted by: Bonnie | October 06, 2006 at 07:58 PM