Digital Storage of Photos And Documents

Digital storage of photos and documents can be risky proposition. Always have a physical backup. Do not use sticky album pages. Use photo corners to mount pictures in albums. Use acid-free tissue paper to interleave with valuable/important/irreplaceable items.
Keep your photos in boxes designed for the purpose. At the moment, Costco has some very nice leather ones with plastic ‘file’ envelopes inside. But you know how Costco is…you never know if the item is a one-time thing.

One easy way to keep on top of ordinary household records is to file everything in 3-ring binders. Of course, you’ll need a 3-hole punch. Just punch and file all your account statements as you either receive them or pay them. Use binders that have pockets or buy separate pockets. These are for the envelopes and for ‘pending’ action items.

For actual files, those can be stored in a document storage box. Arrange them chronologically, then by type within the same year. Let’s hope you don’t end up with too many of these—paper is heavy, bulky, and flammable. Try to make electronic copies as you go. But you need to keep the hard copies, too. Some papers need to be kept forever, some for only ten years or so. The ones that need to be kept forever, birth certificates, death certificates, citizenship papers, property deeds, contracts, legal documents, should be kept in a secure place like a safe deposit box or your own wall or floor safe. A free-standing safe is not all that secure. If you got it into the house, someone else could take it out.

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