• Pare down your paperwork. Make room in your files by clearing out documents you won't refer back to, or which you don't need to save for tax or legal reasons. Ask your accountant how long you need to hang onto old financial records. He or she will probably tell you to save old tax returns forever, but that you can destroy supporting information anywhere between 3 and 6 years after the date your tax return was filed. Here's a link to the IRS website that can give you some additional guidance. There is also a comprehensive list in The APPLES Resource Guide. Be sure to shred anything that contains account numbers or other information you don't want others to see. 

• Organize your property records. Update (or create) your home inventory, documenting any significant purchases with photos and receipts. Keep this information in a safe place such as a safe deposit box or fireproof safe. Better yet, store it at a friend or relative's home in another geographic region so that if your area is hit by a widespread disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, your records won't perish with your home. If appropriate, upgrade the replacement value of your property insurance.
• Update your legal documents. Review your will, power of attorney, etc. to make sure that any changes in your personal situation (e.g., marriage, divorce, birth of a child, etc.) are properly reflected in these documents. 
• Update your list of account numbers. This would include numbers for bank accounts, credit cards, investments, insurance policies, etc. You should also update your list of important contacts, including attorney, insurance agent, investment broker, doctor, accountant, etc. Notify a close friend or family member on the location of this information so they can find it in case of an emergency. 

• Check your credit report. According to federal law, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report (but not your credit score) each year from each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies. You should check this information, available at AnnualCreditReport.com, not only to evaluate the information that is used to calculate your credit worthiness, but also to check for signs of fraud or identity theft.

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The Situation:

The Solution: Janice and I met regularly to systematically organize each room in her home. We pared down the mountains of clothes, toys, papers, kitchen gadgets, toiletries, etc. to what she agreed were the essentials: things she needed for tax or legal reasons, things she would use in the next year and things that were sentimental. She donated, tossed, or shredded whatever didn't meet these criteria.  We determined where the remaining things would live, based on her lifestyle, and labeled everything to make it easy for her, and especially her daughter, to find what they needed and to put things away.

The Outcome: "Thanks to your help I've been able to maintain the house, which enables me to exercise, which allows me peace of mind, which has led to less mental stress, which clears my head so I can focus on other things," gushed Janice. "I was even able to spend over 2 hours working in the yard. I was so proud because I've never been able to focus my attention on one thing for that long. I was able to do that because I knew the inside of the house was in great shape. The fun, outgoing person I used to be is coming back, but even better! What a great feeling to have when your head and house are together. Thank you so much for all of your help."