(Viking Office Products)
1. When it comes to filing systems, there are no hard and fast rules. Be flexible. Develop a system that accommodates your own requirements.
2. As you design your filing system, it might help to adopt this phrase as your mantra: "Keep it simple"!
3. Computer disks or labels are identified more easily and quickly when you color-code them.
4. Color-code your files. Assign different subjects their own color. This will make it easier to find what you're after. Don't let this system become cumbersome: as a rule, the fewer the colors the better.
Here are six of the best ways to incorporate color into your filing system:

• Hanging Folders
• Plastic Tabs.
• Folders within hanging folders.
• Color of inserts within the plastic tab.
• Labels with different colored stripes.
• Different color dots on manila folders or white labels.

*Remember to write down your color code key and keep it nearby until you have it memorized.
6. Title files based on retrieval, not storage. For example, a clipping from the Wall Street Journal on financial planning should go in a file called 'Financial Planning', not 'Wall Street Journal'.
7. Categorize your e-mails and drop them into electronic folders that correspond with your paper files. Use a straight-line system (All tabs in the same position, one after another) for folder tabs. It's gentler on the eye and not so easily disrupted if you add or delete a file.
8. Make sure your system separates active files from inactive (archive) files.
9. When storing archive boxes, label the contents on all 4 sides of the box as well as the top lid. This will expedite the retrieval process and ensure that the contents will be visible from any angle, no matter who puts the box back.
10. Regularly schedule time to file. Do it weekly, 15 minutes a day, or twice a day to really stay on top of paper filing.
Here are some suggestions sent in by Judy Pate, Chiloquin Oregon
For organization of files, I would like to be a help. As an educated and experienced person in the area of office work, I will submit the following.
Your files should be organized in a way so that when you are looking for a paid bill, information or a way to correlate information at the end of the year you will be able to, easily.
You should have one file drawer for bills ONLY. They should be labeled according to categories and then sub-categories. Categories can be found in a Quicken program or you can use the list that I have below and adjust it according to your personal preferences. Do not make the categories too detailed or too general. As you use this system, you will find the need to adjust either way. The sub-categories would be companies or smaller units in the categories that you use a lot. I usually use hanging files for the categories with larger print and regular file folders with a smaller print for the sub-categories (even different colors).
I have two files that I keep in front for quick references. One is "Banking" and one is "Bill Records". The banking information has deposit slips in it and stubs from checks that I have received (it is NOT information as much as receipts). The bill records are a written list of bills with date, check number, payee, amount, totals, list of individual incomes, balances of checkbooks, etc. (Please keep in mind that I do the accounting for a corporate business for my husband's business).
(Judy included examples of her categories: Here are some of her samples)

• Credit Cards
• Bank of America
• Capitol One
• Cleaning
• Donations
• (Church name/tithe and offerings)
• 700 club
• Red Cross
• Dues
• Magazines
• Costco
• Fuel
• Household
• Insurance
• Business
• Medical