The sixth and final episode of this series! I hope you get some helpful tips to declutter paper in your home! Don't forget to LIKE THIS VIDEO & subscribe to join our family. :) Full playlist here: kzfaq.info/sun/PLuvKKRbMBrm9b-iXPda-WzldtSYloOpfK

When I finished my Masters degree, I realized that books and paper Can be clutter. It was the first time I donated a large load of books to the library, and got rid of tons of supporting paper from my thesis. It really was a life changing revelation.

Tip 1. Time to Clutter Ratio. Tip 2. Prepare in advance (shredder etc) Tip 3. Reduce incoming paper clutter. Tip 4. Gathering the paper to sort. Tip 5. Sort into 5 categories F.A.S.T.R File, Action, Shred, trash, Recycle. Tip 6. File important & "Identity" papers (sentimental keepers, too) Tip 7. Take Action Tip 8. Shred Tip 9. What to Trash vs recycle Tip 10. Use the once touch rule - apply it to every piece of paper that enters your home.

We have a lot of things in common, I really like that you talked about the college papers story and what it meant to you. I have kept these papers because they reminded of the struggle, the debt and how far I have come. I am now letting them go with gratitude. Thank you for sharing your story.

When my dad died, mom wouldn't let us help her go through his stuff, she made us move it all to a shed. When she died 17 years later, we had to go through all of that stuff plus all of hers. Furniture, tools, clothes, those were easy decisions. Paper was a demon. There was a box of newsletters from dad's union days, no brainer. EXCEPT, as I tossed the one magazine across the room into the recycle, a photo of my dad and most of his siblings at a wedding fell out. A photo that I had never seen, nor had any of my cousins. It is the ONLY photo I have of that many of his siblings together, as they were raised in foster care. Then in another box of papers, we found my dad's DD214 discharge papers from when he served in the military in WWII. Now here it is, 12 years later, and I'm still storing those boxes of papers, knowing each and every piece of paper in that box needs to be examined.

Thank you for this video ❤️ I was a hoarder since childhood,luckily my mom is a minimalist and she used to declutter our things in the childhood days.But when I got into adulthood I was struggling to declutter.As an organized person I didn't realise that I was holding onto clutter for no reason and it was just 'organised clutter'.It's been 3 years I've been into minimalistic lifestyle.But to me the great struggle is in decluttering books and papers especially the college books.I could relate to almost everything you said about it here.And thank you I'm going to declutter my college books today itself. Love from Kerala, India 💜

I use crates to store my kid's school art work. The crates live in the garage. At the end of every school year the kids go through the crates to see what they have from previous years and throw out anything they no longer want. And add the art work brought home from school that they value from the previous year. Works well as they get to see it annually. And learn to go through an discard their own items regularly.

The whole "higher education costing an arm and a leg" is so strange to me as a European/Belgian. I have a masters degree in architecture and it costs my family maybe a 500 euros a year. After I graduated I threw away some many class-notes without feeling guilty. You will be really grateful that you've moved to Germany, when your kids go to college there.

This is such a helpful video! As far as cards, I have found that it is more meaningful to send a letter instead. My mom actually wrote me a letter instead of a birthday card and I felt very loved. I have begun to do this for others and I find it makes the holiday a bit happier and more meaningful. Plus, it makes it easier to recycle!

Wow, that story about your dad and college papers was so powerful!! But now that you're aware of the emotional tie I'm sure you can see how incredibly proud of you he is/would be, and a photo of him on your wall next to a framed college degree would serve those feelings much better than boxes and boxes of class notes and schedules :) I don't even know you and I feel incredibly proud of your college accomplishment, so I can only imagine how proud your folks feel, wherever they are. Much love and thankyou for sharing and helping us all get more functional, organized, and let go of stuff-baggage!

Wow, the timing of this video is incredible. I've recently been forced to declutter a lot of stuff, and while it was painful at the beginning, its getting easier. But there was one day when we got in the storage shed and I had tubs of my University books. notebooks, essays, and was pretty upset about having to get rid of most of them. But then I realized I hadn't looked at them in like 15 years and realized that I probably wouldnt be able to keep them forever, and would probably not lool at them in the future, so i begrudgingly got rid of a lot of them. I still have more to declutter, but im hoping it wont be so hard this time, knowing that others actually struggled with this very same thing. Thank you so much!

You can also put shredded paper in the compost and on your garden as a layer to improve your soil 😊

I so appreciate the recycling system here in Germany! 😀💗 And about recycling receipts, many of the traditional receipts spit out by the cash registers in shops are not recyclable, they have some kind of a film or something on them. Here in Germany some places are printing receipts on kind of blue/gray paper that is recyclable. So many of my receipts I throw into the “rest trash“ meaning not recyclable.

I'm currently on my declutter journey and paper is hard for me as I used to hoard tons of school papers and also text books. But I'm on the right way so it makes me feel proud because I've reduced them to the half and still working on it. Sorry if my English is not correct, Spanish is my mother tongue 😅 I'm going to subscribe to your channel as soon as I send this message. 😊 My kindest regards from Spain 🇪🇦 Btw... 🛏

I'm late today, but I really liked this F.A.S.T.R. Method idea. Easy to remember. Here is the bed: 🛌

Loved this! All of my important papers are in a fireproof waterproof document bag from Amazon ❤️❤️ I'll be going through online stuff from my phone and laptop soon--thank you for the reminder!

Love this video and your story about your college papers really hit home. I was the same , my parents didn't go to post secondary so there was a lot or pride about my school paperwork and papers....Thanks for this video 💜

Can we devote an entire video to decluttering sentimental paper? I still have cards received from when I was born and various birthdays, I am definitely to the point of decluttering, where it’s all the sentimental and emotional stuff 🙁 I have been decluttering for about two years and you definitely have to build a decluttering muscle! But this stuff is the hardest stuff!

🛏 I am thankful for bed too, maybe a little too thankful 😏 Love the reminders for controlling paper clutter. This is one area where a good system (meaning one you can stick to) is key to keeping it manageable. My "today self" is very thankful for the time I spent a few years ago getting this under control.

OMG!!!!!!!!! ME too!!! Every single piece of paper since college. Every single draft of my dissertation!! I’m going to have to listen to your other videos. My mom passed away and my clutter started taking over!! And emotions flood every time I touch it!

I save instruction manuals. I have appliance manuals so I have quick access to phone numbers, replacement parts codes, purchase dates, and troubleshooting advice that saves on calling out a service person. I keep them organized and discard after I purchase a new appliance.

Thank you for tips about a paper shredder, I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while now. I love the one touch rule! Also everything that takes 2 minutes or less should be done right away, that’s a bit harder but really makes a difference. I’m thankful for by 🛏 as well 😊

Marissa, you're my favorite minimalist. Thank you! And thanks for the 2 great belly laughs today!

Wow! I almost didn't watch this one because I told myself "I don't have any paper clutter," and then throughout this video I thought of sooooo many papers I need to declutter 🙈🛏

oh Marissa.. you created in me a deep click today.. about the study subject.. my father came young by migration and did not have chance to go to school at all.. and wished me to do good at school to allow me to have more confortable job than him too.. so what you shared did resonate so much and deep in my heart.. felt very emotional listening to your words... I accumulated a lot of jobs to payed my studies too.. and changing career path now.. I realised that I can do this change and having choice now, thanks to the study I did in fact, even if not working more into that field, but it is indirectly an evidence link continuation... and so, I feel a lot what you expressed.. and felt nearly to cry too.. as it is letting go this emotion with these too.. so thank you.. as sometimes we do not realised what things can represent and what you expressed created me a deep click... thank you for your channel full of humanity !!

I toss the junk mail in the trash right when it comes in, it helps so much. Nice tip, I love your videos!

Wow! I had never seen the college paper clutter tackled before. I didn’t ever even associate that with paper clutter as if I understood that it would always be in my life. Yet, now that I think about it, it’s cluttering up my cabinets even though it’s organized and tucked away. That was such a good concept!

You have helped me a ton! Keep up the good work. I am in the process of doing a major declutter project, and your videos are keeping me from having a meltdown. LOL!

The one touch rule is so good. I have been using for years.

Marissa, this is such a great video! So many practical, helpful tips!

I like this method. I re-did my paper clutter system a few months ago. The things filed are now stored in a fireproof box for those long term things that are harder to replace. Also Friday's are the best because I love watching your videos in the morning 🙂

Great video! The Semisonic song closing time is also about the womb closing (when his daughter was born). Take a listen again, it’s cleverly done! “Much of the song is pretty clearly about a bar, but there is a line in the second verse that has nothing to do with that storyline, but goes along with the birth meaning: This room won't be open 'Til your brothers or your sisters come According to Wilson, the "room" is a womb, waiting for brothers or sisters.” Also: “The line, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end," sounds like it could be a zen proverb or part of a famous poem, but it's an original line. In a Songfacts interview with Dan Wilson, he said: "The phrase does have a kind of timeless, proverbial vibe about it. It does seem to be literally tattooed on people's arms and reprinted in thousands of places. And it's been falsely attributed to ancient Roman philosophers, actually. So I guess there's definitely something about it. If it's been useful to people, I can only be grateful for that."

I was wishing for help on this topic just a few days ago and here you are! 👍🏻

We moved to Germany in September and I have yet to organize our papers 😩🤣 I am avoiding it like the plague lol.

Needed this !

Just came across your channel. So helpful, thank you for your content!

Great shredding tips! Thanks!

I really enjoyed your video! Thanks for sharing!

I have way too many papers! Ugh. They're just so overwhelming. I can relate to what you said about college papers! I did get rid of a lot of them a few years ago but I think there's more to get through. 😬 I'm a teacher and I fall into the habit of I might need this again or this has great info that I'm going to read again! I'm working on getting rid of more though bc I really don't need it all and I know it will be a really great feeling when I do get rid of more of it. I just found your channel today. Glad I did! Thanks for the tips! ☺️

I love your house since it’s so perfect. It’s just amazing! I can hear an echo while you are talking! Awesome! Clean and fresh and nothing is on the way not to get irritated. My stuff just drives me crazy. I just started. I was trying to do it at once but it’s impossible. Now I feel more inspiration when you said it took you five years.

You videos have been so so helpful! mom passed away a few years ago and I, just now come to the emotional readiness to

I have been putting this off but must face it now Thank you for this!!

So so helpful! Thank you! Great video.

I love the F.A.S.T.R. method. I need to see more videos about that. Thanks for the tip on making photo books for my kid's art. I love 🛏 too ❤.

So hopeful ☺

I have a rolling clear drawer cart that I use to sort my paper clutter with these exact categories! The only other drawer that I have is one labeled "goes elsewhere" meaning anything that I find that goes in a different room (usually not paper). That way I can pull the drawer out and go around the house and put things where they go. I am an emotional hoarder too. When cleaning I used to just shove things in storage boxes and hide them away. So I created the drawers so I can sit with each hoarded box and easily separate where things need to go. I love your videos :)

Looked up ikea shelves, kept saying "bully". Not sure what that means. So your instructions for the bully bookshelf got my attention. I want it all behind doors, out of sight. Clean lines. Always favored victorian/country but now I believe that is way to cluttered and hard to keep clean. And, time consuming. This new version of me is opposite what I was. You keep leading the way, Marissa. Thank you.

This is my third time viewing this video. Each time it reinforces and reminds me that this project I have IS doable. Again, my thanks Marissa. ❤

Hello. I started your FASTR method last night. OMG! It was the best thing. I haven't finished, but I feel so much better. Thank you so much! 💓

My problem is....I’m a scrapbooker, paper crafter and make junk journals. Cards like that one you got from Etsy are perfect to use in art projects. I’ve decided to limit myself to one box/bin of this type of paper, then I can toss the rest. Good tips here! TYFS ❤️🦋💜

I found your comment about the college papers very helpful. Thank you for sharing your insight.

Recently found your channel and I am really enjoying! One of the best tips I found a while back was to get a pair of herb scissors to cut out the information from papers that you don’t want others to see. It’s like a “mini-shredder” for just a small part of a document. Hope you and your subscribers also find this helpful!

If you have trouble getting rid of college papers it might help to find someone in that area of study it might help. That way you still feel like it has meaning

Appreciate Your support. Especially the categories for sorting. The 20 yrs of moving has accumulated boxes of paper work. And work it will be to make this 2 bedroom apartment a home. Appreciate all your ideas and especially your sensitive attitude🫂 Love your sharing family too💞 THANK YOU 🤩

Thank you for explaining! Now I finally understand why I kept all this paper Danke für die Motivation 🤗😊

Thank You for sharing this helpful information!🙏😁😁

I deal with receipt clutter by taking a photo of the receipt as soon as I get home or at the latest, when I clean out my purse/wallet. I send it to my email and route it to the appropriate folder ("Re: file in taxes") when I check email. I have one for taxes, another for credentials, etc. This is the only part of decluttering I have under control. Thank you for helping me with the rest!

@AtoZenLife Thank you for being so transparent about your emotions. That really validates the feelings that many of us have about some of our stuff. I appreciate seeing - and NEED to see - not just the “After” picture but ALSO what it took to get there. I’m a week new to your channel. I have followed A Slob Comes Clean for many years. You truly complement what I’ve learned from her…better than any other (for me).

I love decluttering 🥰

Gosh, you actually made me cry... :( such attachments to paper!

Hi Marissa, I appreciate all your videos and I’m working hard to get rid of crap that doesn’t really matter any more. Especially the 30yrs of paper from my Occupational Therapy career which really hurts to part with, but like you said it has has served it purpose. Thank you for being so honest and humble and sharing your life with us all! Do you have any more videos on paper especially the filing part and keeping organized with the paper to keep. Thanks Kelly PS thanks for the Mint Mobile info definitely gonna switch from AT&T I’m spending way too much!

I totally get what you were saying about the sentimental papers and the college stuff! So hard. 😞

Oh. She is so correct about college clutter. 😮

Hi Marissa! I loved the video! I am addicted to your content 😁... Would love to know more about the one touch rule, as I do pretty much that, but would love to have more tips on that! And also, if possible, to see how you actually file your paper and use the acordeon file and others, for the long term papers etc! Love from Portugal 😘

💖 I tink I enjoy post apocalyptic movies a bit too much- I prefer having manuals on paper😁 and a bit of cash🤔😀

thank you

Love your makeup!

Next week I am going to declutter books and papers. This video will help me very much thanks❤👍👏💐

Yes, please do a video on "1 touch rule". You explain things very well. It's a gift 🎁 ☺️

I’m grateful for 🛏🚪 and you! Thanks for the helpful content

Yes, please one touch roule!

Paper clutter for me is the worst! It's so tedious and mundane and exhausting to sort. Ugh! Thx for this vid :)

I like your eyebrow and eyelash makeup. It looks very natural also minimal

Oh that's good to know about the amazon paper shredder! We haven't replaced our's that we sold before we moved to Germany.

Best paper clutter advice... (i am at a point in life i was ready to listen too) i tried before with other advice. This resonated and stuck this time... i enjoyed and felt motivated more than i have before this time. (New subscriber here👍🙂) I think i am more open to trying this method, " Practical "and the way you showcased the method has helped my mind set Getting ready ... i will revisit this as i am at the start of my declutter journey I feel i have the mental tools now to tackle paper declutter That has weighed heavy on me for over 10 years! Up to 12 pages with a domestic shredder ...wow this will help greatly 🤩

You remind me so much of me...I cry all the time about all sorts of things. My children think I'm mad 😂

Great advice! I wish I known this before I did my big paper sorting and declutter. It would have made it so much easier. About the scanner, there is also a lot of apps for that. So easy because you always have it with you. 🛏

Loved it. The rule is a great help. I usually do something similar 😊. Do have a bit of paper to sort. And I'm sooo thankful for my 🛏️🤣🤣. Thanks my friend 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

I didn't know about recycling part, thanks :)

This was so helpful! I had no idea how little paper stuff is actually recyclable which makes me sad. Definitely going to skip the gift cards and just give money! Also, not sure if you know or someone has told you, the song is about closing bars but it’s a metaphor for his child being born. So for him, that quote is about the pregnancy ending but now the journey of parenthood begins. Totally not important but I loved the song more knowing that 😌

💕💕💕unable to lid my gigantic plastic bin💕💕💕

I can relate to college papers and how I had to work so hard to pay my college education, and now I’m a stay home mom too!

Marissa, a "One Touch Rule" video would be awesome! Thank you for bringing so many helpful ideas to us!

🛌! Yes, do a one touch rule video! 🙏🏽

Hi Marissa! I absolutely LOVE your channel and I can't wait to see where it goes! I have done ton of decluttering but I'm nowhere near where I want to but we just bought a house a couple months ago and your channel couldn't have been suggested to me at a better time. I am so looking forward to declutter and furnish my house in a minimal way that I'll love (we don't have furniture cause we were renting a furnished apartment). Also, I know this isn't minimalist related but I'd love to know what it took to move to Germany, like paperwork, becoming a resident and that kind of stuff. Also all the things that you've had to get adjusted to moving to a new country. That sounds so interesting!

I have university folders. They're in the UK at the moment. I collect so much paper! That's because I take notes all the time when I am watching videos. I need to start filing. 🤔 I like the idea of action paper.

Hi! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I’ve been saving the paper declutter for last.... I did do quite a bit already (like get rid of my school stuff Kinder through masters! 💪🏼) Still have to tackle pictures, admin stuff and kids’ art! Thank you for the tips, as always!!! 🥰

Salut ma belle! Thank you for those tips ! Bisous from Alsace 🤗😀😘

I just finished my paper, four garbage bags of shredded paper. Only thing is I went a bit mad and shredded quite a few papers I needed for tax ,so people double check paper stuff...lol

I'm terrible at paper clutter I just threw away some electric bill from 2017 and phone bill from 2018. but I'm tackling it thank you for the inspiration. ALSO, this is hilarious but my son also was obsessed with his bed in kindergarten and said that was thankful for his bed AND his wish for everyone was that everyone has a bed. lol. i love their imagination at that age

Interested to see video on "one touch rule".

I love the F.A.S.T.R method!! Also, I’ve been trying to decide what to do with my kids school papers and artwork that I want to keep long term. I’ve been trying to decide between the keepsake portfolio that you have and a bigger bin...I’m thinking the portfolio will take up less space and is the best way to go! I have 3 kids, a bin for each would take up a lot of space. Thanks for sharing! Great tips!

because you live in germany, instead of just tossing the mail clutter directly in the recyling, you might also just put a sticker on your mail box with "keine werbung". most likely you won't get that amount of flyers and stuff nobody needs.

I need all the help I can get with the office. Our office is house office and I work from home . . . lots of papers. I would love to hear about the One touch rule. Love your viedoes. thanks

"Closing Time" has an interesting story beyond just last call at a bar. Wikipedia has the short version of the story, but you can find interviews with the writer Dan Wilson fairly easily. It's worth looking up and reading.

I have decided to make books with my college art work and papers. Lot of work was put into them .

I hear you on the sentimental paper! I have medical information and records from my late husband and he died in 2011. I have never been able to sort through those without starting to cry and feeling ill because I go back to thinking of how he was doing what we were doing as a couple just everything that was going on with our life and of course I didn't know when his would end. Part of the reason I'm keeping it is for insurance purposes but I don't know that the insurance will even pay at this point😢

I thankfully have been able to remove pretty much all my personal paper clutter (mainly college notes). My goal soon is to help mom get rid of our old homeschooling paper clutter, there is no reason to still have our old math workbooks for example. When I have kids I plan on scanning work pages we may need for records into the computer then recycling the paper, any sentimental school items I am going to try the memory box method. Depending on your area you could start a burn pile for those nonrecyclable papers. I know someone who adds a step to the 7Rs and will burn anything that they can before resorting to the landfill.

I have never heard of black toilettpaper before! I looked it up and found out that there are red too! Feels so unnatural to me! 😲

I needed this video lol im looking at those medical records for long haha