Finance Binder

This binder is my life saver when it comes to keeping track of bills, work, and taxes. My friends and family think I'm crazy because of the multiple categories, but, it works for me, and it's incredibly useful. Inside I've got my time cards (I have to hand write them and turn them in so I keep a copy), any mileage logs, all of my payroll stubs, medical test results, medical bills, tax information, and school information, a must if you're a struggling college student like me.

• First, here's a list of the things you'll need to make this binder. 
• 1 binder, mine is a 2 inch. 
• Duct tape for decorating (optional)
• Tab dividers, 12 for each year. 
• Sheet protectors. 1 for each year.
• Sharpie/Pen
• 3-hole punch

Next, you'll need to figure out what kind of categories you want to make for the binder. Here's a list of mine, in order.

• 2014
• Work
• Time Cards
• Mileage Sheets
• Payroll Stubs
• Medical
• Medical Bills
• Medical Tests
• School
• Finacial Aid
• Disbursement Checks
• 2014 Taxes

Next is the easy part. Putting your binder together. The categories I use the most are in the front, since I get a new time card, and payroll stub every week, work is first. Followed by medical bills because they still need to be paid. Usually with payroll stubs, there is a part you can tear off which will leave you with about 3/4 of a page. Usually there's an empty space, where you can punch the holes. You'll be punching the "hamburger" way so horizontal across the paper, leaving only two holes punched.

Just get your sharpie and write down the category title on the tab divider and you're ready to file.

I keep mine updated by date, the oldest goes in the back. So each week, I put the new time card on top of the previous week's. With the medical bills, I make sure that after I pay them, I write "PAID" on the bill somewhere. It's not always right away, especially for a broke college student. But, when it comes to taxes and you need to figure out how much extra you paid because your insurance didn't cover it, you've got a detailed record.

Now, the sheet protectors are for your taxes. There is virtually no room to punch a hole where you won't be cutting off something important, so just slip your W-2's into a sheet protector and you've got a nice safe place to keep them.

Hopefully this helps some of you the way it helps me.