Ladies of a Certain Age ~ for those invisible powerful, dynamic, vital women

Just got my taxes done.   What a relief.  I hate this yearly chore.

Frankly, I was a little peeved with myself when I went looking for a document in one of my desk drawers and came across information dated from 2008.  It was seven years old, taking up space, and I did not need it.  I discovered this information, plus checkbooks with the address of my home I sold in 2010! Good grief.

Since I have moved twice since 2010, I have done a lot of cleaning out.  Perhaps, I should not be so hard on myself.  However, bookkeeping materials can be hidden from potential buyers by stuffing them in drawers and are not nearly as hard to move as say an old bookcase.  Consequently, my desk needs serious attention!

The past nine months, I have had several dear friends die unexpectedly or after short illnesses. Their family members have told me how hard it has been for them to take care of their many final financial requirements.   Having gone through some of my own mother’s personal items many years ago, I want this miserable tedious job to be as easy as possibly for my loved ones.  They don’t need to deal with archaic checkbooks!

I am glad I got rid of those obsolete materials immediately, instead of putting them back in the drawer thinking I will review all of the contents “in the near future.”  It was easy.  I ripped them up and tossed them in the recycling bin.  I felt like I had just cleaned house.

Yes, I do need to go through each drawer and pitch what is no longer needed.   I’m a planning type of gal and have found for me “doing a little bit at a time” on a set schedule is the best way to whittle away this unpleasant task.  That is the method I used to get my houses ready for sale.  It worked.  Another part of my strategy is to only keep essential stuff in the first place.  That way I do not have to store it or move it.

When the mailman (mailperson, really, Elizabeth!) leaves the mail each day, I go through it on my porch and separate it into two piles – called keepers and chuckers.  The chucker pile I immediately bring to the recycling bin, so none of this correspondence ever gets into my house.

Then, there is email to deal with.  I have not been good at setting up folders for important information or people.  A month or so ago, I had about 1400 emails!  Recently, I pruned that number down to less than 400.  I am planning on setting up folders for receipts, golf information, dog training, specific friends, children and grandchildren and moving pertinent emails into their specific folders.

It occurred to me that I should give each of my daughters a copy of all of my passwords.  After all, they would be the ones that would have to deal with most of my stuff if I went to visit the angles unexpectedly or had a serious health problem.

My daughters already have a list of bank accounts, investments, pensions and contact information for my financial planner.  Several years ago, I added their names to my safety deposit box.  I went over with them my will, living will and durable power of attorney for health care.    I believe I would have done these things even if I had a husband.

I know several couples who think they have to do these things together.  I also know that they have not gotten these things done because either the wife or husband keeps putting it off.  Perhaps, what they don’t know is that the law requires each of them to have their own final papers and arrangements.  One friend’s husband suddenly died this autumn.  He did not have anything in place and it has been very trying for her to finalize his financial responsibilities.

One last thing I want to include about my strategy for cleaning up stuff I really don’t want anything to do with.  I promise myself a treat when I get the job done.  It is amazing how an ice cream cone can motivate me!