One item that makes great use of space and effort is an accordion file. Go to your local stationery store and purchase one or a few. Accordion files are wonderful and oh, so versatile. You can use them to store bills for future payment, to keep track of important papers, and to gather greeting and thank-you cards for those special occasions.
Set the files up with labels. For example, your bills folder could have pockets labeled “Pay,” “Read,” “Answer,” “Pending,” and “Hold.” Designate a shelf for a row of accordion files. You’ll be able to store many of your most needed paper items in these. And because accordion files are portable, you can take them with you to meetings so your records are handy or to the kitchen table when it’s time to pay bills. Don’t forget to purge them occasionally. The files won’t serve you well if they are full of outdated or unneeded items.