Taming the Paper Tiger: Organizing the Paper in Your Life

Washington, D.C., organizing consultant Hemphill (The to Do Book) outlines a complete personal paper management system in this easy-to-read guide. ""Clutter is postponed decisions,'' Hemphill states, and the key to her system is a sorting pile that generates flow to either the wastebasket, a reference file or an ``action file.'' She describes specific tools (including X-Rack, calendars, peel-off file labels, Pendaflex hanging files) and strategies for paper management in the categories of bills and receipts, tax records, family documents, medical records, greeting cards, correspondence and photos. She tours the average household as well, covering the organization of newsletters, computer paper, books to read, slides, films, videotapes, travel papers, telephone messages and recipes. (Parents will appreciate the chapter on organizing children's paperwork: ``Your children produce enough paper to fill a small art gallery within a week.'') (January)