Sort Out Your finances

Find a good work space to organize and keep track of all your bills. If you don’t have a desk, try your dining room table or even the floor in a spare room.

Next, gather the materials you’ll need: a pen, paper, good lighting, a garbage can, and a filing system for your paperwork.

Open the bills and sort them by category. Within each category, sort them by date — newest to oldest — and by significance:

• Housing, Mortgage, Home Equity Loans, Rent (also property taxes if they are not included in your mortgage payment)

• Utilities: electric, oil and gas bills, landline and cell phone bills, internet access, water and sewer charges, cable television or satellite TV fees

• Credit cards

• Car or lease payments

• Insurance payments: auto, healthcare, homeowners/renters, life, disability, long-term care

• Medical bills

• Education bills/child care

• Miscellaneous: health-club memberships, professional dues, extracurricular activities (such as dance class, music lessons, etc.)

If you find a lot of unnecessary papers — especially those that might tempt you to spend, such as upgrades, insurance products, and other merchandise offers — toss them directly in the garbage can. If any of these offers — such as convenience checks from a credit card company — contain personal information, shred or otherwise destroy account information with a wide-tipped permanent black marker or scissors.