Preparing the Office Get Your Papers in Order: Start Now with FileThis.com

October 21, 2014 by Momstart 3 Comments

This is a partnered post all opinions are my own.

I stink at being organized, it’s just not my cup of tea but it is so very very important. If I was to get organized and file things as they come in and not in March right before taxes were do it would be a whole lot less stressful. Am I organized today? No, is it time to start thinking about it yes yes it is. And it’s not just about tax season, it’s also just being organized and having less paperwork lying around. I hate having papers laying around everywhere but if you looked at my house you would think it doesn’t bother me at all. We have papers on top of every single surface in the house.

Important papers range from permission slips, school notices, financial statements, write-off paperwork, etc. and if you’re like me you are overwhelmed on where to start organizing them. There is a new app that helps sort through the clutter. FileThis – an easy-to-use platform that fetches and organizes important documents. They have tips and great organizational ideas on their blog like:

How to get started tackling the paper pile
What documents are important and what’s not important?
Which documents are easiest to go paperless
The benefits of organizing online – including emergencies like hospital visits, or car accidents

Here is how it works:

1. Create a free trial account at FileThis.com/.
2. Pick a destination – that’s the place where FileThis stores your documents. This could be FileThis Cloud or even your cloud storage at Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive or Box
3. After you sign up and connect FileThis with your bank, insurance, payroll, and other accounts, FileThis starts fetching your documents, including historic documents from up to three years ago

Different Plans

Forever Free:

Up to 6 connections
Runs once a week
500 MB total storage on FileThis Cloud — OR — use your local computer or a cloud storage of your choice.

Premium for $2.00 a month

Up to 12 connections
Runs once a week
1 GB total storage on FileThis Cloud — OR — use your local computer or a cloud storage of your choice.

Ultimate for $5.00 a month

Up to 30 connections
Runs daily
10 GB total storage on FileThis Cloud — OR — use your local computer or a cloud storage of your choice.
Plus optional Add On Packs

Signing up is easy. Inputting my information was easy. I chose to store everything on the FileThis cloud and then it wanted all my connections:

They have banks, stores, pretty much anywhere you have an on-line account they have thought to have it added to their site. It’s so nice to have everything in one place and with it on the cloud you have access to it no matter where you are, you just need an internet connection or your cell phone. Not only can you connect on-line accounts but you can upload any documents

It’s a really great way to get organized and lose the paper trail.

Staples “Shed, Shred and Get Ahead” Organized in 2013 & Save

March 1, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

The world’s largest office supply company and second largest internet retailer, announced a new industry-leading U.S. Staples Rewards program that gives members five percent back on everything, including technology and services, and provides free shipping on Staples.com. Starting March 15 and free to all customers you can sign up for free Staples Rewards membership or find more information about the Staples Rewards program, at StaplesRewardsCenter.com.

The only exclusions to the Staples Rewards program are taxes, postage stamps, gift cards, delivery charges, coupons, pre-paid phone cards and purchases made on third-party Web sites. Free shipping is available on all Staples.com orders. Currently, orders on any third party Web sites, purchases on staplescopycenter.com, print.staples.com, and staplespromotionalproducts.com do not apply.

And of Course Staples is your one stop shop for office organization. You can increase efficiency and organize your office with an expanded assortment of products in a few easy steps.

Shed – purge unwanted files or papers and organize the documents in binders. The Internal Revenue Service recommends keeping important business records from three to seven years, depending on the documents.
Staples recently launched its Binder Recycling Program, which gives customers $2 off the purchase of a new binder for each binder they bring in to a Staples store to recycle.

Shred – protect your business and identity against fraud by shredding unneeded paperwork with sensitive information. For larger jobs, consider Staples Copy & Print, which offers confidential shredding at great prices.

Get Ahead – The New Year is also a good time to make sure electronic files are secure and protected. It’s critical for any small business owner to have the right organizational tools such as network storage devices to back up files especially as tax season gets started.

Staples’ expanded assortment features top organizational products for staying organized all year, such as:

Staples New BETTER^®Binderwith removable FileRings™ – the first of its kind binder features file rings that detach from the shell for easy filing in any standard filing cabinet. Now available in black, white, red, green and blue covers exclusively on Staples.com (Staples 1-inch BETTER Binder: $12.99 and removable FileRings: $4.99).

Staples One-Touch™ Aero Stapler – Perfect for the consumer who has an eye for design and likes to personalize their desk supplies. The 20-sheet capacity Aero offers contemporary designs with a raised handle that makes stapling effortless. Available in black, silver or blue. ($14.99)

M by Staples™ Arc Customizable Notebook System –Available in durable poly or leather covers with premium, heavyweight paper, this customizable notebook has repositionable sheets that can moved from one section to another making organization a breeze. (Starting at $7.99)

Relay Flash Drives – The easy and smart way to transfer files from one computer to another. (64GB-$69.99; 32GB-$49.99; 16GB-$27.99; 8GB-$17.99)

We received samples.

Get New Years Resolution Inspiration and Organization From Springpad

January 5, 2013 by Momstart 10 Comments

In honor of the ninth annual National Organization Month, Spring bad is launching NationalOrganizationMonth.com, a new site featuring 31 themed notebooks with expert organizing ideas to help people get organized and achieve your resolution in 2013.

I was looking at their organizational tips and found things like how to organize your suitcase, How to organize your family vacation, how to organize your grocery list and shopping experiences, and I love the organize your pantry tips. Last weekend I spent Saturday organizing my pantry. I was using large wicker baskets to organize my sprinkles and icing gels, and also one to organize my tea, and one to organize my medications. Well they weren’t really organized they were all thrown in the baskets, so I purchased some clear plastic bins and organized by person for the medication and all my sprinkles fit in one and the gels and icing in the other. My husband loves it now. I never realize that a mess bothers him but it does so I’m looking forward to exploring more ways to organize my house.

Here are some ways Springpad can help people get organized this January:

· Get fit by creating fitness routines, saving run routes and planning healthy meals

· Have more family dinners by collaborating to create grocery lists and weekly menus

· De-clutter your home and find organization tips and design inspiration

· Save money with Springpad’s notifications letting you know products or food items you’ve saved are going on sale

· Keep track of everyone’s busy schedules by sharing calendars

· Reward yourself by collaborating with family or friends to plan parties, activities or vacations

About Springpad

Springpad is a smart cloud-based application that helps you discover, save, share and act on the ideas and information that matter most. Created by Boston-based Spring Partners and available for free for iOS, Android and on the web, Springpad’s smart notebooks help you get things done. TIME Magazine named Springpad one of the 50 Best iPhone apps of 2012. To learn more about Springpad, visit www.springpad.com.

Know Where Things Are, and Keep Your Car Clean One Step Ahead Family Car Organizer

September 13, 2012 by Momstart 13 Comments

One Step Ahead Family Car Organizer – Know Where Things Are, and Keep Your Car Clean!

By: Ashley

I know that the summer travel season has passed us by, but just because you’re not loading up the family car for a long road trip does NOT mean that you’re not spending time in your car. Now that school has started, so have carpools, rides to extracurricular activities, shuttling kids to school, and weekend sleepovers. Or, if you’re like me, you don’t have school age kids yet, but every time you go anywhere, the backseat ends up looking like a toy box exploded (along with some snacks and drinks…). I feel like anytime is the right time to get more organized and the One Step Ahead Car Organizer helped my backseat go from toy/juice explosion, to neat contained chaos in no time.

One Step Ahead is an awesome company that brings solutions to those every day challenges we face with kids. We actually purchased an awesome inflatable bathtub from them when Atticus was younger. They have great high quality products.

Okay, back to the car organizer. I’ve always kept a stockpile of toys in the car. I also keep spare diapers, a couple of snacks, and a change of clothes for those moments that inevitably happen when you’re out and about. I’ve tried a ton of different ways to keep it all organized – bags, plastic tubs, trunk organizers… but none of it worked. When I got the One Step Ahead Family Travel Organizer, I wasn’t sure it would do the job. Boy was I wrong! Everything from the boxes on the floor and the stuff all over the seat was easily organized in seconds.

The Family Travel Organizer has a ton of features that I LOVE!

– Mesh cupholders that are easily accessible and hold a variety of sizes.

– A sturdy snap-on lid that can serve as a snack table or play table.

– A carry strap that allows the organizer to work as a bag.

– 8 outside pockets for storing and organizing all of the extra stuff.

– Repositionable dividers to create the space you need – like splitting it in half for 2 kids.

You can see from the before and after pictures that this organizer really cleans up the space in your car. We’ve been using it for 3 weeks now, and it STILL keeps things within arms reach and nice and tidy. The best part is, Atticus understands what the organizer is for, and where things go in it. AWESOME!

This Family Travel Organizer is now on my recommendation list for anyone who drives around with a little one in your car! It will help you keep your car clean… and your car time a little less stressful.

About Ashley (Managing Editor at MomStart): Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at Momicles and follow her @Momicles2010 .

Disclosure – I received a product to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Organizing Your Home With Better Homes & Gardens at Wal-Mart

January 2, 2012 by Momstart 390 Comments

With the new year comes all kinds of resolutions and goals. One of mine is to get this house organized and Better Homes & Gardens is just the place to do it. I’m going to show you a few products in different price ranges that you can afford to get your house organized quickly and easily.

In the $25.00 price range

We throw all of our shoes in a rubber bin. I’d love to replace all of our rubber bins that we use to just throw things in with a fancier bin or basket. Plus these baskets would work great for your office, bathroom or kitchen organization. This timeless Better Homes and Gardens Whole Willow Basket is great for storing items efficiently. It combines function and fashion to add a special touch of charm to any home.

In the $20.00 price range

I love things that you can hang on the wall.

The Better Homes and Gardens Wall Shelf is a beautiful mix of fashion and function suitable for any decor. The shelf features two shelves and a handy towel bar, adding to its usefulness. Strong and fashionable, the Better Homes and Gardens Wall Shelf is a great way to dress up your bathroom or add extra storage without taking up valuable floor space.

In the $15.00 price range

Better Homes and Gardens makes really great picture frames and I think they’re great to use to decorate and organize your office. Maybe you have something sitting on your desk that needs to be framed and I always get more work done when I have pictures of my kids to look at for inspiration. Highlight your cherished memories with the Better Homes and Gardens Henry Photo Frame. A mahogany finish with gold edge beading gives this 10" x 13" frame a timeless look. Multiple mounting options let you display your favorite family photo on a tabletop or wall.

And another options is this double frame. This multi-purpose white picture frame by Better Homes and Gardens is perfect for your wedding, baby, or family photos.

In the $10.00 price range

Glass jars are quite fun to organize buttons, coins, paint, beans, rice, cereal, flour and all kinds of other items. You can also enjoy homegrown produce all year long with the Better Homes and Gardens Pint Glass Jar with Lid and Ring. This patterned glass jar is perfect for your home canning projects. They come in many different sizes, are dishwasher and freezer safe.

Also good for this type of organization are the plastic containers, but I like to put plastic ones in the pantry instead of out on a shelf for people to see. Seal and store dry foods in this Better Homes and Gardens Square Flip-Tite Storage Container. It brings a relaxed look to any kitchen area for a fresh touch of simplicity.

In the $5.00 price range

I love baskets in the kitchen, we put fruit in one, papers in a another and I’d like to have one like this just to empty our pockets into everyday. Add an inviting touch to your dinner table with the Better Homes and Gardens Round Wire Serving Basket. This functional basket is perfect for serving bread, rolls, or fruit. The sturdy, steel wire construction makes it an ideal choice for everyday use.

Now I was supposed to get this post done in December but things happened and I didn’t. So in hopes to make this up to Better Homes and Gardens I want to host a giveaway to you guys.

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