A filing system is only effective, if you can find everything you need, when you need it--without a struggle. And all good filing systems have different categories of papers. Your papers are either going to fall into a MAIN category, or a SUB-category.

For example, a main category might be FINANCIAL. Some sub-categories within Financial, may be:

• Savings Account

• Checking Account

• Money Market Account

In your filing cabinet, your main categories should always be hanging file folders with a labeled tab. Your sub-categories should be labeled manila file folders inside the appropriate main category hanging folder.

For the most part, people choose to use one, or a combination of, these basic filing systems:

• Alphabetical (A, B, C, D, etc.)

• Numerical (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.)

• Chronological (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, etc.)

The one you use, depends on what you're using it for. For example, if you need to keep files for all of your customers (or associates, friends, etc.), alphabetical by last name usually will work best.

For sequential case numbers or projects that are numbered, a numerical system would probably work best.

If it is necessary for you to find things by date, then chronological may be your choice.

Some people get really creative and use a combination of these systems. For example, you may want your main categories to be chronological, but the sub-categories inside to be alphabetical.

If a file isn't labeled properly, it's not going to be quick and easy to find:

• Always write your subject on the tab of the file folder, close to the top of the tab, so you can easily see it when you're looking through your files.

• Use a medium point, black marker to label your files. Print; don't use script.

• Use as few words as possible on the tab.

About The Author

Maria Gracia, owner of www.getorganizednow.com and author of the book, 'Finally Organized, Finally Free' can help you organize your home, your office and your life.

Get Organized Now! FREE Idea-Pak and E-zine filled with tips, ideas, articles and more to help you organize your home, your office and your life at the Get Organized Now! Web site!

getorgnow@wi.rr.com

Google News Updated : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:45:43 GMT What Should Uncle Sam Do? - Newsweek StarPhoenix What Should Uncle Sam Do? Newsweek - 39 minutes ago NEWSWEEK's Business Roundtable takes stock of the real damage—and offer solutions to the economic crisis. Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link. Freddie Mac Paves Way For Major Stock Sale Washington Post AFP - DesMoinesRegister.com - Financial Times - Los Angeles Times all 572 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:06:17 GMT Economy Down, PC Sales Up - New York Times SINDH TODAY Economy Down, PC Sales Up New York Times - 17 hours ago By Eric A. Taub The worldwide economy may be faltering, but PC sales are in growth mode, according to numbers released Tuesday by Gartner and IDC, two information technology research firms. Apple Now Third In US PC Market As HP, Dell Lead Sales Increase dBTechno PCs Show Double Digit Growth in Q2 CRN Computerworld - Bizjournals.com - Register - eFluxMedia all 265 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:55:43 GMT Yahoo proxy may come down to battle of big funds - MarketWatch Washington Post Yahoo proxy may come down to battle of big funds MarketWatch - 2 hours ago By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - It looks like the bar room tete-a-tete in Sun Valley, Idaho last week may have helped one of Yahoo Inc.'s biggest institutional shareholders make up his mind. Yahoo takes on Icahn on its web page Bizjournals.com Major investor sides with Yahoo board Los Angeles Times BusinessWeek - BloggingStocks - San Jose Mercury News - New York Times all 2,409 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:02:11 GMT McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap - The Associated Press BBC News McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap The Associated Press - 54 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with a spending cap for his fall campaign, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is aggressively spending more money than he is raising during summer months and methodically reducing his cash reserves. A Deputy Dilemma For McCain Washington Post McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap Olberlin Bloomberg - Los Angeles Times - New York Daily News - New York Times all 1,334 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:51:07 GMT Norman ties Choi on blustery day at British Open - The Associated Press CBC.ca Norman ties Choi on blustery day at British Open The Associated Press - 1 hour ago SOUTHPORT, England (AP) - Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry couldn't have picked a better place to be on Saturday. Anywhere but Royal Birkdale. Video: Greg Norman Surprises at British Open AssociatedPress Norman and Duval turn back the clock Boston Globe New York Times - The Canadian Press - Washington Post - Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck all 2,217 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:41:24 GMT Music, co-op games the dominant trends at E3 - CNET News Canada.com Music, co-op games the dominant trends at E3 CNET News - 22 hours ago Among the dominant trends at E3 in Los Angeles this week was music games. Everywhere you looked, publishers were announcing new ones and players were rocking out to them. GameSpot News Blog GameSpot Postal 3 Heading to PlayStation 3, Slightly Delayed Shacknews BBC News - TG Daily - X-bit Labs - Dallas Morning News all 1,269 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:51:54 GMT Live Press Tour Diary: CW Day One (Shannen's Officially Returning!) - Entertainment Weekly KGET 17 Live Press Tour Diary: CW Day One (Shannen's Officially Returning!) Entertainment Weekly - 34 minutes ago MIA: Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Shannen Doherty, David Silver, Steve Sanders, Brandon Walsh, Dylan McKay, Andrea Zuckerman and Valerie Malone. Shannen Doherty Returns to 90210 People Magazine Shannen Doherty back in '90210' 'hood this fall San Jose Mercury News BuddyTV - Just Jared - BuzzSugar.com - Us Magazine all 18 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:11:43 GMT Rss Feed Reader Increase Web Traffic