Have a file or folder for everything

Dear Susan: When I was younger, I designated a kitchen cupboard for cookbooks and file folders. Of course, I had fun with colors and "Letraset," if you know what that is (fancy letters that you burnish onto a surface. I am an artsy person at heart). Over the years I did expand to filing cabinets. One thing I did every year for my children was to buy a simple expandable envelope with a velcro flap (11x14 or 11x17). I would buy one color for each child and have a new one for each school year. So if you choose this method, you may want to buy multiple envelopes and save yourself the headache of trying to find them or match every year! They are less than $2 a piece and are usually at WalMart, Meijer, or a similar store. I label the front with their name, grade, year, and teacher's name. Inside I include some interesting facts about that year; perhaps what is happening nationally; what they love to eat; what is the latest fad...  Any papers, collectibles, awards, letters, photos, artwork or general items that you have no idea where to put is "scrutinized together" to determine if it "rates" to be placed in the envelope. If so, file it away in their "School File" as we called them. I have a shelf of their entire school years which I intend to give them some day. They are a riot to look through. Now we are ready to scale them down further, but like I said, what a fun walk down memory lane with your child as the years go by. I also had large art portfolios for "just their best" artwork over the years. I wanted to protect and preserve their most special pieces. Sometimes I frame them and hang them in my house. I gave one to my new daughter-in-law. You cannot beat "original art"! Hope this helps! We share many more tips on organizing receipts and such in the notebook of the class, if you have been in an "Entrusted with a Child’s Heart" study. We hope to keep adding helpful ideas to our website. It was so sweet to receive your comment.  Happy organizing to you!