I can already tell that the task of de-cluttering and digitizing nearly all of our documents and photos is going to be a long one.
So far I’ve set up a new g mail account (that we can both access), moved the printer/scanner to a waist height position (very important if you have sciatica, lol), sorted out all the photos (discarding all the really bad/trashy ones) and looked into online storage (thank you Warren!)
It’s a big job folks. One I think for my own sanity will be best tackled in 15 minute time slots! I’ll keep you updated on my progress.
**Edited. Here’s how I’m doing it in more detail which may change as I go along…
- I’ve set up a g mail account to scan and attach (into emails sent to myself) any papers/old invoices/bills that I want to keep but don’t need the original for. These are the not so important documents.
- Any important documents (house purchase/deeds/life insurance etc) I’m going to store with Sugarsync ( an online storage company) I’ll then keep the originals in our fireproof box.
- Loose photos, of which I have 150, I’m probably going to get transfered to disc (by a company for about £35)
This is a learning process for me fuelled by the need for less clutter and paperwork…if I’m doing anything wrong then please let me know 
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Laura – I’m about to start doing this but keep putting it off as I feel I don’t quite understand what I’m doing! Would you mind sharing exactly how you’re going about this? Why the gmail accounts?
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laura Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
HI Anna I’ve updated the post a little, I hope it helps.
This is a learning process for me too…….I feel like we’re drowning in paper despite managing so much online and being paperfree on a lot of accounts.
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So what you’re saying is that you don’t want to come do mine after yours is done?!
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@ Carla LOL no! although I would like a trip to Canada?!
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This is definitely a noble cause…one I am not yet brave enough to tackle. But maybe one day with your inspiration!
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Laura Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
@Lindy it does require bravery!!
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Do you know Dropbox?
and it is update to the last version.
You need only a mail account and you can download it and then you create as many folders as you want. You can access your dropbox from every computer and have access to your folders. And you can share any of the folders with everyone, just send a mail to the other person and voila!! everyone can update the folder. I use it when i was writting my PhD, the documents could be so heavy, so my teacher could change it
I don´t know if i explain it well but you can check it, it is free!!!
I remember scan old photos my mother had, i mean photos from the 40´s, 50´s and then i store them in my hard disk, just in case…
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Laura Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Hi teresa and thanks for dropping by. I’ve heard good things about drop box, thank you for the suggestion
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Ugh Laura. This sounds like a HUGE task. I try to keep most of our photos in digital storage, but the problem is with the organization of them all. I seem to organize them differently as we move through different computers and storage solutions. Some day I need to sit down and get them all straight!
Would you consider outsourcing this task? It may be worth the money spent for what you would gain in time.
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Laura Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
@Jenny I am going to out source the photos as they’re all old photos of my kids when they were young and I want them doing properly..they’re too precious to lose…as for the photos I have already stored on my pc….urgh I forgot that they need organising too!! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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You just gave me a great idea. I have boxes and boxes of photos I can’t bring myself to throw away, I’m going to digitalize them and then trow them away. Thank you!
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I really want to use a company to scan all my photos onto a disc for safekeeping, but I’m just so nervous to send all my precious memories to someone I don’t know..
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Laura Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@a dose of tlc I can understand that. If I sent my photos (which are all pics of my kids when they were small) I’d would send them by a secure fully tracked delivery service. It will cost more but worth it just in case
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Decluttering paper and photos seems to be the area where I have the most problem with.
You seem to be well on your way!
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Laura Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@littlegreenvillage it’s going to be one of those jobs I wish I’d never started lol
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Thanks for the extra info. Going to find a company to do a lot of them for me. Many have comments written on the reverse by my mother (passed away) so I can’t bear to let these go. Going to have to scan BOTH sides!!!
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I don’t have anything as valuable as that Anna, so I would definitely get them done professionally. Are you keeping the originals too? I would. There are just some things that we shouldn’t let go of.
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