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Back to School Help: The Paper Shuffle

© Anna-Marie Hawthorne

Back to school is a great time to think about the paper that is floating from surface to surface, never really finding a home. We need products that serve our familes' needs while keeping the shuffling to a minimum. I know of people who never touch a paper twice. They put it where it goes and don't mess with it again. Won't it be nice to be caught up on the bills and other correspondence, leaving you free from the stress of late fees and missed appointments. And locating homework on school mornings won't be a time waster either. Here are some unusual product ideas to lighten your paper load.

EZ Pocket $32.95. This is a handy hanging file with a pocket for each day of the month. When a bill comes in, stuff it in the day you want pay it and forget it. You'll never miss another bill again with this system. That is, if you don't hang it up and forget about it! One drawback I see is with privacy. You must consider where you hang it so that you ensure your mail is kept private. They also produce weekly hanging file organizers. They can come in handy for tight spaces and areas that you need papers at your fingertips.

Gripping Stuff $4.46 to $16.95. Like giant sticky notes, their low tack adhesive felt holds your papers without pins or staples. Handy tape strips, poster tabs and large bulletin board-sized sheets give you a variety of choices to fit your needs. And they offer several color choices as well. Great alternative for spaces that forbid holes in the wall or areas that wouldn't support heavy bulletin boards. You can run strips under cabinets, next to computer monitors or even along a cubby divider, wherever you need papers within easy reach. And the low tack surface won't damage pictures and other documents.

Paper Swing $19.99. This is an ingenious product that holds five papers on arms that swing for easy access. Useful for home and office, it keeps documents upright and easily visible. It can maintain papers you refer to frequently in your vision at all times.

File Ladder () $39.99. Holds a set of tabbed and color-coded hanging files in a descending rack on your counter or desk. It can come in handy in the kitchen to keep homework and other important papers organized yet accessible. The color coding makes it easy to designate topics or assign people for easy reference.