In today’s digital world, a binder system that uses (gasp!) paper may seem old-fashioned. And while I love organizing and budgeting apps just as much as the next person, having one central location where everything important is kept makes life so much easier and more productive.
When I first created my home binder, it was a pretty hodge-podge assortment of papers, receipts, and printables from different websites. I was trying to find a system that worked for us, and I slowly added what we needed and tossed what we didn’t.
I also created my own Homemaking Toolbox of printables that covered the areas of our family life that needed the most organization in the simplest form. (You can download it for free here.)
So if you are wondering how to create your own home binder, here is a list of supplies to get you started:
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3-ring binder – I prefer the 2-inch binder because it’s big, but not too bulky. It also keeps me from amassing too much paper clutter when it’s not necessary. But go with the binder size that works for you.
Dividers with pockets and tabs – These are important not just for organization, but also to hold things like receipts and business or appointment cards. They also work in a pinch when you have a paper without holes and just need to file it before you lose it.
Loose leaf paper – I like to have some blank paper to write on, especially if I am working out a master plan for something big, like a family vacation or move.
Clear sheet protectors – These help keep my paper clutter down by covering the printables I use and reuse. I can just put a printable in one of these plastic covers and then use dry erase markers on it.
3-hole punch – Let’s be honest, we are not going to monkey around with a one-hole punch, lining up holes with our binders over and over again. Make your life easier (and avoid just stabbing papers on the binder rings like you did in middle school) and get one of these.
Dry erase markers – You can go plain black, but I prefer multi-colored because it’s more fun because it makes categorizing certain lists easier.
Permanent marker – Perfect for labeling.
Once you’ve got your supplies, the real fun starts. Put the kids to bed and find a place to spread out. I like to get everything together first so that I’m not moving things around repeatedly when I discover a divider I am half-sitting on (ahem, not that that has ever happened…) and need to fit it in somewhere.
- Before everything goes in, place the printables and papers that you want to write on with dry erase markers in their clear covers.
- Then, begin organizing your dividers. You may already have categories in mind, but if not, here are some suggestions:
- Budget (spending tracker, password log, list of bills, debts, etc.)
- Cleaning (schedules, calendars, spring cleaning checklist, etc.)
- Home Maintenance/Warranties (list of websites for instruction manuals, log of maintenance, warranty cards, etc.)
- Grocery (price tracker, recipes, meal plans, etc.)
- Important contacts (phone numbers, addresses, business cards, etc.)
- Kids (chore lists, clothing sizes, medical forms for school, etc.)
- Babysitter info (instructions, schedules, phone numbers, etc.)
- To-Dos (daily dockets, lists, plans, etc.)
- Projects (vacation plans, moving checklists, home improvement paperwork, etc.)
Once you have everything ordered into piles with the correct printables, dividers, and loose-leaf paper (if needed), start labeling your tabs.
- Let’s put it together. Make sure all the holes are punched and start putting your sections in the binder in whatever order you prefer. I like to keep my more urgent and often-used sections near the front, such as To-Dos, Budget, Grocery, and Cleaning, but do what seems natural to you. You may land up switching it up as you use it.
- Marvel at the beauty of your creation.
With everything assembled, your family and home are now more organized and efficient. Add and fill in information as you see fit, and tweak things to make your home binder work even better for you.
Try not to make any drastic changes (or ditch the whole idea!) without first giving yourself enough time to get accustomed to it. If you were pretty unorganized before, it may take a few weeks for you (or your family) to get used to this new method.
But it will pay off the next time you are trying to find the addresses to send the yearly Christmas cards, searching your brain for the last time the air filters were changed, or guessing what size your child is before you order birthday presents online.
The time you spend creating a home binder is nothing compared to what you will save by having one!
Does your family have a home binder? What are your favorite and least favorite things about a binder system? I’d love to hear in the comments!
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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