April 1, 2009
In a previous post we talked about the types of documents we generally have:
1. Identity
2. Financial
3. Historical
One method of keeping documents safe is to store them in a safety deposit box. These can be either the original – Last Will and Testament, deed, bonds – or a copy of an original you use, but want to ensure you have a backup if needed. Don’t misplace the key, and you might consider having the duplicate key held by your lawyer, or Power of Attorney.
If you’d like to keep your documents at home, consider purchasing a home safe. There are many models available – look in the yellow pages for a security or safe company. Ensure the safe is waterproof, fireproof and cannot be easily opened.
There are some digital methods of keeping your documents safe, also. Make copies of your documents by scanning them into your computer.
Make a movie of your home and all you have in it. You can keep this in digital format on a CD and store that it in your safety deposit box. Store an accompanying written list of the items shown on the movie – this will help with an insurance claim.
Another method of keeping either the original or copy of an important document is to store it offsite – consider storing the item with a friend or relative in another city. Some people keep photocopies or CD’s of scanned images of important papers in their office drawer.
If a document is important to you, then finding and implementing a method of keeping it safe from any disaster – natural or man-made – should be on your to-do list.
1 Comments
March 18, 2009
In this post we’ll tell you about the types of documents you should keep. In a future post we’ll discuss how to keep them safe.
There are at least three types of documents you should keep:
1. Identity
2. Financial
3. Historical
Identity documents include:
- Birth certificates
- Driver’s License
- Health Card
- Passports
- SIN cards
- Military documents
- Death certificates
- Marriage and Divorce Certificates
Financial documents include:
- Your Will
- Power of Attorney
- Insurance
- Property deeds
- Car ownership
- Investment and retirement plans
- Tax returns (and the documents and receipts that were used to complete the return) for the past 7 years
- Receipts for items under warranty
- A Will or POA for which you are the executor
Historical
- Your most advanced Graduation Diploma
- Family photographs
There are also items you don’t need to keep. Keep only those bills and receipts that you may to refer to in the future, for example for warranty information. Once you’ve recognized the purchase has been properly recorded on your credit card statement you can destroy the receipt.
Bank transaction stubs are not required once you’ve confirmed your bank statement has captured the information correctly. Pre-approved credit card solicitations should also be discarded.
For any document you’re destroying use a paper shredder to make it unreadable. Some of these documents will have enough identity information on it that thieves could use it to steal from you.
We encourage you to seek professional advice; your lawyer and accountant can provide expert advice. This post is to help you begin thinking about, and doing something about all your papers.
0 Comments
November 19, 2008
Think. This most sedentary activity can save you the most physical labour. Think about what you will need in your new place. Think about what you no longer need in your current home. Think about who may benefit from those items you no longer need. Think of what you’ll need to help you move – the people and the companies or organizations. Keep notes on the important items you’ve thought of for the next steps.
Investigate. You’ve figured out what you need, now find how to get what you need into your new place. As Seniors Move Organizers we know who will take the items our clients no longer need. We know the people, companies or organizations needed to make the move. This might include movers, painters, electricians, cleaners, or handymen.
Sort. The size of your new home, and its storage space is probably smaller than what you have now. We help our clients sort through possessions to figure out what to keep and move, what to donate, and what to discard.
Recycle. One of our tasks when helping our clients move is to find the best place possible for their unwanted possessions. A short list includes: content sale resellers, charities, consignment shops, and buy ‘n sell websites. If the item is simply not usable, we ensure that it goes to the proper recycling facilities.
A few choice words, for a few choice tasks to help your move go smoothly.
0 Comments
July 3, 2008
We’re cheering you on … go for it! Do you think a move is in your future? We do. As a matter of fact, for most people at any time in their life, a move is in their future.
And for many older adults, a downsize move is coming up. You may be moving because your children have left home – finally! – and you no longer need all that space. Or, you may find that looking after a large home is physically, or financially stressful.
One way to prepare for a move, especially when downsizing, is to “get rid of it.” Now is the right time to get rid of the hundreds of plastic bags you’ve been storing, or the collection of toothpick holders, or the file folders of your work documents you’ve saved from your first real job 40 years ago.
There are five things you can do with your stuff: do nothing; sell it; give it to friends or family; donate it to a charity; or, dispose of it.
If you know that moving is in your future, do you really want to move everything? If you’re moving to a smaller home, you simply may not have the space. It seems, “do nothing” is not an option.
Selling “it” can be a viable, and financially rewarding, alternative. However, you need to be realistic. A majority of your items will sell for considerably less than you paid for them. Furniture, clothes, and electronics that were the height of fashion or technical achievement will not bring a lot of money. Very few of our personal possessions would be shown on “Antiques Roadshow”.
Items can be sold through newspaper classified advertisements, auctions, content sales, on-line, or through word-of-mouth. Just remember that some methods of selling may actually cost you more in time and effort than you’ll realize in the sale.
You can divest yourself of some your possessions by giving them to friends or family. You may have decided to give your favourite collectibles away, and put this desire in your will. Why not give the intended recipient this collection now, while you’re still able to see and share in their pleasure in receiving it.
Donating to a favourite charity can ensure your possessions will be put to good use. Some charities are interested in only certain items, and some will even pick up from your home. Contact them to find out what they need, and for information on how to move your donated item to them.
The final destination for some of your possessions may be the recycler, or to trash. Check with the bylaws in your area of how to dispose of items; you may need to hire a trash removal company to help with disposal.
Whatever method of “getting rid of it” works for you, do it now. And when it comes time to move, you’ll have that much less work to do. Hurrah!
0 Comments
subscribe to our RSS feed