It's funny how I'm no longer overwhelmed or stressed but just super busy. We have a central calendar that is literally just about full for the next 3 1/2 weeks. Meeting with friends before we go - letting Julia say her goodbye's, packing, moving into the storage unit, meeting with realtors, making phone calls to shut off services, planning for a 2800 mile drive across country... let's just say we're busy.
It's a good busy though. It's incredibly cathartic. We're are getting rid of things at light speed. Freecycling like a demon. If you don't you should - it's awesome and helps keep things out of the landfills (click here for more info) . It's a great way to get rid of things you no longer need and wouldn't consider donating. Trust me - people want just about anything you have. :)
I have realized that about 80% of my organizational woes are related to paper. I have papers from my childhood. Those I've weeded through and gotten down to a small amount. The papers that are really the problem are the bills/receipts and things that I think I might just need someday. Let me tell you - I don't.
Here are the guidelines I came across - (click here for the whole article)
Tax documents: Save any of the paperwork needed to back up your income tax return for at least four years. The Internal Revenue Service can audit your return for three years after it has been filed — four years after you’ve earned the income.
Some experts say that’s long enough to save W-2 forms, proof of medical expenses, donations and other items for which you may be claiming deductions, and other such items. But other experts say it is wise to retain such records for up to seven years, since the IRS can revisit your filing if it believes there’s been fraud, or that income has been substantially underreported.
Personal papers: Marriage certificates, birth and death records, social security cards and other personal documentation should never be discarded, and should be kept in a safe place.
Investment records: Items like stock certificates can be turned over to a broker for safe keeping. Save brokerage statements, trade slips and similar documents until stock is sold, then follow same guidelines as tax papers to documents taxable gains, said Cindy Hockenberry, tax information analyst at the National Association of Tax Professionals.
Without backup documentation, the IRS will determine the original cost to be zero, greatly amplifying the gains on which tax must be paid. Permanently retain paperwork related to the status of pensions and retirement benefits.
Banking paperwork: Generally, there’s little need to hold on to statements or most canceled checks once they’ve been reconciled. Some experts advise holding on to these for up to a year, some for as little as three months. Save mortgage and loan documents until those loans are repaid.
Bills: Save credit card bills long enough to check for accuracy, ensure you’re credited for returns. Some experts advise retaining them for a year. It is also advisable to retain three months of utility bills, which are frequently required to establish place of residence in applying for a mortgage, library cards and the like.
Pay stubs: Some experts advise retaining these for a year, then discarding and retaining the final stub showing total annual income.
Receipts: Save those for major purchases until warranties expire. Save records of improvements to your home until it is sold, to document the size of the gain that may be taxable.
We are also trying to arrange a furniture pick up. We're getting rid of our couch, a chair, dressers and a bunch of clothes, toys and books.
Oh yeah - and my butt is still falling off. I haven't done a formal weigh in - but when I hopped on the scale I'm losing just fine without workng at it. Amazing what staying busy 18 hours a day will do for you.
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