Home Archive: What to Keep and What to Throw Away
The Fly Lady method transforms document chaos into organized peace by categorizing papers into three priority levels and creating labeled folders by life area. Regular yearly reviews and digital backups keep your home archive functional, saving time and reducing stress when searching for important documents.
When Documents Turn Into Chaos
Sound familiar? You need last year's income statement, but you've been digging through a pile of papers for half an hour? Or you're searching for the washing machine warranty among children's drawings and old receipts? Your home archive often becomes a source of stress instead of a helpful tool.
The Fly Lady method teaches us that organized documents aren't a luxury—they're essential for peaceful living. When every paper has its place, you save time and nerves.
Three Categories of Documents by Importance
The founder of the Fly Lady system suggests dividing all documents into three groups. This helps you understand what truly deserves space in your home.
First-priority documents are those without which life would stop:
- Passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates
- Property and vehicle documents
- Insurance policies
- Wills and power of attorney documents
Second-priority documents are needed regularly but can be replaced:
- Income statements from the last 3 years
- Medical records and test results
- Appliance warranties
- Contracts with banks and utility companies
The third category is what you can safely throw away: old grocery receipts, manuals for broken appliances, expired coupons.
A Storage System Without Headaches
The LadyFly app reminds us: the best archive is one where you can easily find what you need. Create separate folders for each area of life: medical, finances, home, work, children.
Within each folder, arrange documents by date with the newest ones in front. This way you'll always see current information first. Be sure to label folders clearly and boldly—in a year, you'll forget what your mysterious abbreviations meant.
The One-Year Rule for Simplicity
Fly Lady advises regularly reviewing your archive so it doesn't turn into a warehouse of unnecessary items. Most certificates and statements lose relevance after a year. Keep receipts for major purchases until the warranty expires, and small ones for a month at most.
Medical documents are a special case. Results from important examinations are worth keeping, but prescriptions for medications you've already taken can be thrown away immediately.
A Digital Assistant for Modern Life
Photograph important documents and save copies in the cloud. This protects you from losing originals and saves space at home. Just remember: digital copies supplement paper documents—they don't replace them.
Start small—organize one desk drawer in 15 minutes. The LadyFly system will help you remember regular document reviews and turn this task into a simple habit. After all, order in papers means order in thoughts and peace of mind.
