Organize + Energize: 4 Areas to Declutter in December
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Fridge/Freezer. This area was on last month’s list, but Thanksgiving has passed and now onto December’s holidays. Open the fridge and take a peak in and see what’s still hanging around since Thanksgiving. By now you know the drill. Take everything out of the fridge/freezer. Toss anything that you can’t recognize. Toss anything that when you smell it, it turns your stomach. Let it all go. Categorize and itemize as you take items out and then give the fridge/freezer a good cleaning. Place everything back in organized. You’ll be able to maximize space this holiday! Put this item on your to-do list again for the first of the year.
Holiday Decorations. This is the perfect time of year to go through all of your holiday decorations. Toss anything that’s broken and donate or get rid of anything you know you’re no longer going to use. Test all of the lights and throw away any that don’t work. Once the holidays are over, categorize the decorations in labeled bins. You’ll be organized and ready for next year.
Out with the Old. I’m giving you a wild card on this one. Go around the house and choose anything that you’d like to get rid of and don’t hold back! Let me know what you choose and how it felt once you decided to let it go!
Old Tax Returns. If you have old tax returns hanging around, it’s time to shred them. How long should you keep them? I took this information right off of the https://www.irs.gov website. I would refer to the website if you still have questions.
Period of Limitations that apply to income tax returns.
1. Keep records for 3 years if situations (4), (5), and (6) below do not apply to you.
2. Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return.
3. Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
4. Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return.
5. Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return.
6. Keep records indefinitely if you file a fraudulent return.
7. Keep employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.
Stay tuned for next week’s column where I’ll recap all of the areas that I talked about decluttering this year. If you weren’t able to tackle any of the areas this year, you can use it as a checklist for next year!
Related Slideshow: 10 Areas You Find Most Challenging to Get Organized
Related Articles
- Organize + Energize: 4 Areas to Organize With Your Kids Before They Go Back to School
- Organize + Energize: 6 Tools I Use to Stay Organized, Efficient, & Productive
- Organize + Energize: Organizing Your Teen for Back to School
- Organize + Energize: Teachers! 8 Tips to Organize Your Classroom
- Organize + Energize: 4 Spaces to Declutter & Organize in September
- Organize + Energize: 4 Spaces to Declutter & Organize in August
- Organize + Energize: You’ve Organized Your Office. What’s Next?
- Organize + Energize: How Bad do You Want it?
- Organize + Energize: 4 Areas to Declutter in July
- Organize + Energize: 5 Ways Technology Has Ruined Productivity
- Organize + Energize: 5 Reasons It’s Time to Get Organized
- Organize + Energize: 5 Ways an Organized Kitchen Will Save You Money
- Organize + Energize: 10 Organizing & Efficiency Tips for Small Business Owners
- Organize + Energize: 4 Areas to Declutter & Organize in November
- Bravehearts Named 2017 Futures League Organization of the Year
- Organize + Energize: 10 Ways to Reduce Stress This Holiday Season
- Organize + Energize: Give Experiences Instead of Things This Holiday Season
- Organize + Energize: 5 Simple Tips to Tackle Mail Clutter During the Holidays
- Organize + Energize: Organize Your Entryway for the Holidays!
- Organize + Energize: October is “Organize Your Medical Files” Month
- Organize + Energize: 10 Areas You Find Most Challenging to Get Organized
- Organize + Energize: 5 Ways to Create Positive Energy in a Room
- Organize + Energize: 4 Spaces to Declutter in October
- Organize + Energize: Organizing Your Daily To-Do List
- Organize + Energize: Email Clutter During the Holidays
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It