This morning I managed to get all of my 2010 tax info entered into a spreadsheet to send off to my best friend/accountant. Well, by email that is ,since she lives out of province. I'm actually ahead of the game this year which is a nice feeling since the last 2 years I waited until the June 15the deadline. That's the deadline for business owners, just in case you're wondering.
Just before I started, I looked at an envelope containing previous tax returns and was thinking about how long I have to hang on to them.
As a professional organizer, I have helped clients organize their home offices and you can't even begin to imagine the amount of papers that have taken over desks, have been stuffed into file cabinets and have migrated to the floors. Some clients have had documents and paperwork dating back to the mid 90's! There are some things you need to keep forever but a lot of stuff can be tossed after a short period of time. I highly recommend using a shredder so that you can safely discard your documents and protect yourself from identity theft.
If you're wondering how long you need to keep a records of things, here is a guideline that you can follow:
Anything tax related: 7 years
Bank statements and cancelled cheques: 30 days (make sure you check your statements and go paperless if you feel comfortable)
Financial statements: 30 days
Stocks and bond records: length that you own them
Credit card information: 30 days if you want to dispute something; up to 7 years if you need it for tax purposes. If you've purchased something that has a warranty, keep the statement/receipt as proof of purchase until it's no longer valid.
RRSP - permanently
Major purchaase, warranties, instructions: for the length of time you own them.
I hope this allows you to do away with a lot of unnecessary paperwork that may be cluttering up your space. Setting up a filing system for your personal papers will make it easier for you to find those important those important documents when you need them.
If you need help getting started, just email me at info@theurbanorganizer.ca
Marie
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
How Attached Are You To Your "Stuff"?
I was going through some papers and came across this. Thought it may be of interest as spring cleaning is just around the corner.
Clearing a Space for Change
The Weight of Objects
In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.
It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.
When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.
I've been very good at letting go of stuff that is no longer working in my life and am learning to live with less and quite enjoy it. I have to say though that even though I hardly ever use them, I will probably never let go of the china dinnerware that I inherited from my mom. It's in a place where I can see it everyday and it reminds me of all the special occasions and holidays that they were used. Ahhh memories!
What is something that you just can't let go of and why?
Marie
http://www.theurbanorganizer.ca/
info@theurbanorganizer.ca
P: 647-341-7370
Clearing a Space for Change
The Weight of Objects
In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.
It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.
When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.
I've been very good at letting go of stuff that is no longer working in my life and am learning to live with less and quite enjoy it. I have to say though that even though I hardly ever use them, I will probably never let go of the china dinnerware that I inherited from my mom. It's in a place where I can see it everyday and it reminds me of all the special occasions and holidays that they were used. Ahhh memories!
What is something that you just can't let go of and why?
Marie
http://www.theurbanorganizer.ca/
info@theurbanorganizer.ca
P: 647-341-7370
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