apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Heh heh. I always keep an empty un-labeled folder in my files... it's not the miscellaneous folder, it's not any folder really, it has no label... but it always ends up full of stuff that either can get thrown out, get its own new folder, or be put into a pre-existing folder.
I could just not have that extra folder, but I know if I take it away then everything that normally takes up residence in it will just find another home on a desk or tabletop somewhere. :/

I don't have a miscellaneous drawer, I have a coffee table ....

I start off with great intentions but many of my files become the misc. I need file therapy

I call it my to-be-filed folder.

I have a desk in my office with many yet-to-be-made miscellaneous files on top of it.

Misc. is the story of my life!

If there are at least 3 items with something in common, they are no longer miscellaneous. Three things can have their own folder.

Good point, thanks for this post. There's a kit at The Container Store that lays out filing categories for you. My neighbour swears by that system. My "misc" files are inevitably filled with content that came in over the transom. I am mercilessly eradicating these files now. No utility.

Why do we need to wait 'til we have three things? I have folders with only ONE item in them. This way I know where everything is, and it doesn't take up that much more room.

Or instead of "Miscellaneous" use more specific generic terms: "Magazine Clippings," "Assorted Receipts," "Recipes," "Free Postcards I Pick Up at Galleries and Stores That I Think Are Cute." Wordy? Yes. But super organized.

I have a to-be-filed folder, too. I also have binders for the major categories: recipes, decor ideas, craft projects, finance, etc (with dividers). If I can't be motivated enough to put in the piece of paper in the right spot in the binder, than I chuck it; its not that deep.

I love my msc folder. Every so often (every so seldom?) I browse it and re-sort and invariably something in there makes me smile.

What if I call it "Stuff"?

We all too much paper clutter. My biggest problem is what to keep and for how long. Example, my household file is huge!! It contains appliance/equipment information booklets, repair history of major items like furnace and well. Is it necessary to keep all the appliance/equipment info? How long should I keep paid utility bills? Insurance papers? Medical info?

I'm with hmr.

I periodically review my miscellaneous file and find categories of things that belong together in a new, named file (and throw other stuff out) . This is how I got my Funny Wisdom file and my Wise Wisdom file. Also, my Cartoons file and my Little Bits of Information I don't Want to Throw Away.

I find I use these files pretty frequently.

Also, during times of change in my life (new job, moving house etc), I've found that pretty important things can end up in my miscellaneous file just because I don't have an existing file for them.

Suddenly, I'll realize that I have enough items for a new file while some other file is no longer useful.The problem with anyone else's organizing system is that it would never work for me because it would not be flexible enough.

wow, i never thought of my misc folder as a "big no-no" and "mistake." thanks for the heads up, but i plan to keep mine around anyway. it actually doesn't hold anything at the moment (because i'm completely OCD about tossing everything that's not taxes and bills), but it exists so that i don't sit around freaking out about my bad organizational skills if i ever do get something that doesn't fit in a predefined category.

i thought the point of a filing system is that you do whatever works for your life to make it easier. i could pick on my boyfriend for having eighteen million different files to my fifteen, but he has a lifestyle that requires more paperwork than mine, and he'd probably be pretty unhappy about having to follow someone else's system, just as much as i'd go crazy if i had to downsize to five or six.

I have a file labeled "Thought-provoking."

Cartoons, editorials, could be a lot of stuff.