Question:
I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label). So I am searching for some type of hanging file folder seperator that can help me sort the folders into sections for quicker finding. I cant seem to find such a product. Perhaps some of you have some ideas. Thanks
Response:
I don’t know of any either but here his how I handle my files: think color. My files of things I save just because are red. The tabs are all in first position and alphabetized (Addresses, Church, Christmas, Decorating, Documents, Gardening, Organizing, Recipes, Travel. Medical files are purple: Tables are in the fifth position (starting to sound like ballet). Insurance Forms, DH, ME, Health Info. Cars: Blue, tabs in the 3rd position. Two cars, two folders, all service records etc for each car are here. In my other file drawer: Bills: Green, tabs in first position. I keep current year. Tabs are Electric, Garbage, Home Improvement, Mastercard, Miscellaneous, Oil, Phone, VISA Insurance: Blue, tabs in 5th position. Car Insurance, House Insurance, Life Insurance Income Tax: Orange, tabs in 3rd position. 2002, 2001, 2000. Anything having to do with income tax gets dropped in current year folder. I spent about 15 minutes today sorting . Investments: yellow and tabs in 3rd position. I keep the latest version of whatever they send me. About once a year I add a "Morningstar" report to my mutual funds. In a separate portable case are warranties and manuals for appliances etc. They used to be in the drawers but other stuff got "too fat". Hope you can find something useful in this. I’m visual and love the colors. Barbara in CT – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets >with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the >folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in >alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time >I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label). So I am >searching for some type of hanging file folder seperator that can help >me sort the folders into sections for quicker finding. >I cant seem to find such a product. Perhaps some of you have some >ideas. Thanks
Response:
Would it help if you used different colour tab holders for different subjects? The tabs themselves could stay the same but each section would be a different colour. For example, my money tabs are green and then my work related ones are blue, warranty info is yellow, etc. Viv
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets > with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the > folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in > alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time > I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label). So I am > searching for some type of hanging file folder seperator that can help > me sort the folders into sections for quicker finding. > I cant seem to find such a product. Perhaps some of you have some > ideas. Thanks
Response:
> I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets > with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the > folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in > alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time > I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label).
That is why Julie Morgenstern recommends all the tabs to line up so you don’t have to redo them to add a folder, also it’s easier to find the right one if your eyes don’t have to jump back and forth across the width of the folders. There are some folders she recommends at the bottom of the page here: http://juliemorgenstern.com/products.html
Response:
Oh man this is WAY more than anyone else needs to know. Maybe you and OP can get together and start a relationship over filing. >….. are red. The tabs are all…. >….. are purple: Tables are in the…. >…. Blue, tabs in the 3rd position…. >… Green, tabs in first position…. >….. Blue, tabs in 5th position…. >….. Orange, tabs in 3rd position…. >….. yellow and tabs in 3rd position…. >…..In a separate portable case are …….
LOL, -v.
Response:
>…. The problem is thats its tough finding the >folder I need when opening the drawers.
Well, it would be even harder to find them WITHOUT opening the drawers…. > Putting them all in >alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time >I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label).
You would HAVE TO "re-sort"? Why, would the filing police come down and cite you for a tab out of sequence? This is making a mountain out of a molehill! We presently run four restaurants and a real estate development project out of our home office, we probably have at least 10 times the volume of filing that a typical homeowner does, and we don’t struggle with it as much as is being described by the OP. Since the OP’s drawer is presumably closed most of the time, it seems like putting the cart before the horse to try and make it LOOK at certain way, if that interferes with FINDING things; the function of a filing system is to FIND things. wow. -v.
Response:
> I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets > with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the > folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in > alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time > I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label). So I am > searching for some type of hanging file folder seperator that can help > me sort the folders into sections for quicker finding. > I cant seem to find such a product. Perhaps some of you have some > ideas. Thanks
Maybe I’m dense, but I just don’t get the problem. If you are using Pendaflex, well, every one is ‘portable’ and self-separating from the others. Or are you trying to use one folder for more than one topic? btw, I like to stagger the labels – I can’t stand to have a label blocking another, so to speak. Moving a label takes three seconds – I don’t see the problem. as an aside, maybe you should be putting more stuff into your computer instead of storing paper? val
Response:
Just to horn in here– my system: all pendaflex in the desk are in alpha order – labels staggered – stuff I file at least once a month goes in here. I have a separate filing cabinet I call the archives for stuff I file into or retrieve from less than once a month. At end of year, stuff goes from desk to archives or shredded. I don’t get hung up on color systems – I’m anal enough about the labels looking the same! we had the discussion here a while back about whether to devote a pendaflex for a single piece of paper you need rarely – my answer is yes – will save some gnashing of teeth when you try to retrieve it. val
Response:
I also use a color coded system. You don’t even have to use folders that are all one color. You could just use a marker or label that is colored. My money related files are green too. Yvette
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I don’t know of any either but here his how I handle my files: think color. > My files of things I save just because are red. The tabs are all in > first position and alphabetized (Addresses, Church, Christmas, > Decorating, Documents, Gardening, Organizing, Recipes, Travel. > Medical files are purple: Tables are in the fifth position (starting to > sound like ballet). Insurance Forms, DH, ME, Health Info. > Cars: Blue, tabs in the 3rd position. Two cars, two folders, all > service records etc for each car are here. > In my other file drawer: > Bills: Green, tabs in first position. I keep current year. Tabs are > Electric, Garbage, Home Improvement, Mastercard, Miscellaneous, Oil, > Phone, VISA > Insurance: Blue, tabs in 5th position. Car Insurance, House Insurance, > Life Insurance > Income Tax: Orange, tabs in 3rd position. 2002, 2001, 2000. Anything > having to do with income tax gets dropped in current year folder. I > spent about 15 minutes today sorting . > Investments: yellow and tabs in 3rd position. I keep the latest > version of whatever they send me. About once a year I add a > "Morningstar" report to my mutual funds. > In a separate portable case are warranties and manuals for appliances > etc. They used to be in the drawers but other stuff got "too fat". > Hope you can find something useful in this. I’m visual and love the colors. > Barbara in CT >I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets >with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the >folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in >alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time >I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label). So I am >searching for some type of hanging file folder seperator that can help >me sort the folders into sections for quicker finding. >I cant seem to find such a product. Perhaps some of you have some >ideas. Thanks
Response:
> I have a nice filing system I set up in a couple of filing cabinets > with hanging file folders. The problem is thats its tough finding the > folder I need when opening the drawers. Putting them all in > alphebatical order is tedious, since I would have to re-sort each time > I added a new folder (5 positions for the file tab label). So I am > searching for some type of hanging file folder seperator that can help > me sort the folders into sections for quicker finding. > I cant seem to find such a product. Perhaps some of you have some > ideas. Thanks
What resorting? I put everything in alphabetical order by either name or category in simple manila folders. The manila folders go in unlabeled hanging folders. To add a new manila folder or new hanging folder, I simply insert it. It is helpful to keep a spreadsheet cross-referencing the all the names and categories you have used as you archive the folders each year. Don
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