4 Bucket Method

Overwhelmed by Paperwork?

Start With the 4 Bucket Method

Paperwork has a way of piling up.

Old statements, unopened mail, insurance documents, photos, greeting cards, magazines, receipts, and things we planned to deal with later can quickly become overwhelming.

The hardest part is often knowing where to begin.

The 4 Bucket Method was created to give you a simple place to start.

The purpose is not to handle every document immediately.

It is to make a quick decision about where each item belongs.

Keep

Use this container for important documents, meaningful photos, special cards, insurance policies, financial records, legal papers, and anything you know should not be thrown away.

When in doubt, place in the "Go Through" Bucket.

Go Through

This is for anything that needs a closer look before you decide what to do with it.

That may include unopened mail, old statements, medical bills, insurance notices, receipts, photos, cards, or documents connected to an unfinished task.

You do not have to make every decision today.

Shred

Use this container for documents you no longer need that contain sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, medical information, patient identification numbers, tax information, or insurance details.

Protect your personal information before letting these documents go.

Donate

The Donate category is useful when expanding the method beyond paperwork.

Books, magazines, office supplies, clothing, household goods, puzzles, kitchen items, and other usable belongings may be able to help someone else.

Trash

This is for junk mail, empty envelopes, expired coupons, unwanted flyers, duplicate papers, notes with no meaning, and anything else that does not need to be kept, reviewed, shredded, or donated.

Some things do not need another decision. They simply need to go.