Label Index Label Index

FreedomFiler® FreedomFiler®

Resource Labels Active Labels Monthly Labels Use

articles, clippings, flyers, papers requiring action or January thru December month folders are strongly recommended for filing all paid bills, monthly statements, petty
brochures, notes etc* immediate follow-up** (By Month) receipts, and any other miscellaneous items that do not have a home (note: if you prefer to
keep monthly statements separated by account, you may use any of the labels listed below)
Astrology Days 1-31 of Month
Bank, Checking Etc. bank statements, deposits, withdrawals, ATM receipts, cancelled checks, notices (or file by month)
Business Resources Days 1-8 of Month
Credit Card #1, #2... credit card statements, reconciled receipts, notices (or file by month)
Career Ideas Days 9-15
Investment Account monthly statements for brokerage, 401K, or money market accounts, trade confirmations, notices (or
Child-Future Activities Days 16-23 file by month—note: file 1099 in Income, W2, Misc.)

Child Rearing Days 24-31 Loan/Lease Payments monthly statements for loans and leases (or file by month—note: file 1098 in Income, W2, Misc.)

Clothing/Fashion January thru December (By Mortgage Statements monthly statements for mortgage (or file by month—note: file 1098 in Income, W2, Misc.)
Month)
Educational Programs Utility/Telephone/TV... paid bills, notices (or file by month—note: you may file contracts, rates and service information in
Future (By Service) Service Providers or according to the type of service)
Entertaining/Parties
In Box (To Sort) Receipts a place for petty receipts if you do not use month folders (e.g. groceries, supplies etc.)
Entertainment & Arts
Bills To Pay
Financial/Investing Tax Labels Use
Calls/Letters Etc.
Food/Wine Tax Documents “catch all” for any tax-related documents (use just this folder if your tax deductions are few)
Coupons/Offers
Games & Puzzles Deductions if applicable, set up a folder for each category of tax deductible expenses
Current Projects (By Category) (see label sheet 2A for categories you might use)
Gardening Tips
Entry/Photocopy Income, W2, Misc. records of income, W2, 1099, 1098, K1 etc., annual gain/loss summaries, income from sale of home
Gift Ideas or property, miscellaneous year-end statements (e.g. social security)
Estimates
Health & Fitness Bank Statements personal bank statements, deposits/withdrawals, cancelled checks, notices (use this folder only if you
Events, Upcoming rely on your bank statements to determine your taxes, otherwise file in Monthly)
Hobbies
Legal, Unresolved Credit Card personal credit card statements, reconciled receipts, & notices (use this folder if you rely on your
Home Decorating credit card statements to determine your taxes, otherwise file in Monthly)
Meetings (To Discuss)
Household Hints Business Bank/Income business banking statements or records of income (e.g. deposit slips, invoices)
Reading
Humor/Inspiration Business Credit Card business credit card statements, reconciled receipts, notifications (use this label if you rely on
Reconcile (Receipts) your business credit card statements to determine your expenses, otherwise file in Monthly)
Maps & Directions
Waiting For Response Business Expenses receipts for any business related expenses (see label sheet 2B for detailed categories that may be
Music/Songs (Also By Category) used to begin a new section)
Out Box/Errands
Recreation/Parks Rent/Royalties Rcvd. records of rental or royalty income

Relationships & Love Rent/Royalty Expens. receipts for expenses related to rental property or royalties (see label sheet 2B for detailed categories
(Also By Category) that may be used to begin a new section)
Sciences/Technical
Unreimbursed Expen. business related expenses which your employer will not reimburse (see label sheet 2A for detailed
Self/Improvement (Also By Category) categories that may be used to begin a new section)
*Use Remove/Replace files instead of Resource files to hold any current policies, contracts, and up-to-date administrative
Shopping “I Wish” documents. See label sheet 5A for examples.
Tax Archive Labels Use
Social Issues **You may use labels for individual days of the month (1-31) to create a “tickler file”. A “tickler file” allows you to file any paper
requiring action into a folder according to the day of month you plan to act. Set up a separate folder for each day of the month Tax Year 0..9 tax returns and supporting documents for the last ten years (also any expired policies, contracts, and
Travel/Vacation or group days together (e.g. Days 1-8, Days 9-15, Days 16-23, Days 24-31). agreements to be retained for ten years or more)
Optional: Place color-coded dots called “Document Path Indicators” on top of Active labels (e.g. Bills To Pay) to remind you in
Will & Estate Plan Info. which color-coded section you need to re-file papers after they have been acted upon. See dots on sheets 1B, 2C, & 4B. Tax Decades 0..99 if needed, actual tax forms such as 1040, W2, 1099 etc. to be kept beyond ten years (also any expired
agreements that must be kept for more than ten years in case of extended statutes of limitations—see
COPYRIGHT © 2005 BY FREEDOMFILER® Questions & Answers for document retention guidelines)
 Label Index
FreedomFiler®

Permanent Labels Use Remove/Replace Use

Labels
Auto Records documents useful for the resale of your car or truck such as the title, original papers, smog tests,
service and improvement records (you may use separate folders for improvements, oil/lube, service/ 911/Emergency List** important emergency contacts (e.g.: friends, relatives, neighbors, doctors etc.—or file in Insurance,
repair, and title/papers—see label sheet 4A—note: file monthly auto loan payments in Monthly) Health)

Certificates, Birth Etc. certificates of birth, marriage, adoption, baptismal, naturalization etc., also social security cards and Address/Phone List** list of phone numbers etc. (consider keeping a dedicated address book or contact file)
passports (originals may be kept in a safe deposit box)
Associations/Clubs recent association newsletter, meeting times (current schedules), policies, membership info.
Education Records grade reports, academic transcripts, credentials, evaluations, honorary achievement awards (set up (Also By Category) (note: file trivial memos and correspondence in Monthly***)
separate folders for each family member)
Business Licenses business licenses, fictitious name registration, re-seller permit, etc.
Genealogy family trees, ancestor history, biographical records (you may set up separate files for each parent)
Career/Resume current draft of resume, career counsellor profiles, letters of recommendation (or file in
Home Records documents useful for the resale of your home—title/deed, escrow closing, improvement records (you Employment Package—you may re-file historical resumes in Education Records***)
may use separate folders for improvements, maintenance, and title/escrow—see label sheet 4A—if
you sell your home, re-file all records of improvement costs, the original purchase price, and the final Child’s Files children’s school & club schedules, newsletters, rosters, & policies (or file in Associations/Clubs)
sale price in Income, W2, Misc.*—note: file home loan payments in Monthly and file year-end
1098 forms in Income, W2, Misc.) Credit History Report recent credit reports (or file in Mortgage/Rental when using “Quick Start” system)

Investments Owned investment purchases not tracked by your broker such as stock options, treasury bonds, notes, CDs Elder Care Admin residential/day care info. for elderly, medication schedule, related contacts & support services
(certificates of deposit), appraisals of antiques and art owned, cost basis for inherited stocks (if you
sell an investment, re-file any records showing the original purchase price and sale price in Income, Employment Package employment contract & benefits package (you may re-file previous employment packages in
W2, Misc.*) Monthly or Tax Documents to keep for additional time***)

Loan Payment History Optional: for keeping a record of all payments toward a loan or to a creditor—you may use this tab Events/Birthdays List** list of birthdays, anniversaries and special dates (consider using a paper or electronic calendar)
to document your payment history for purposes of applying for future loans (otherwise you may rely
on bank statements, ten years of tax records including yearly loan payment summaries, and letters of Financial Plan/Budget** budget chart, statement of financial goals and written plan (or keep with Monthly in current month)
credit which are easily available)
Home Inventory** list of all items of value in home for insurance purposes (or file in Insurance, Home)
Medical Records laboratory results, diagnostic reports, actual treatments received including operations, surgeries,
and prescriptions taken (set up separate folders for each family member—note: file medical bills and Ideas/Goals List** lists of goals and ideas (consider using a daily planner or keep with Monthly in current month)
payment receipts with Deductions or Monthly)
Insurance, current policy with all related addenda, most recent declarations (you may re-file previous insurance
Memories memorabilia and keepsakes including saved letters, family news etc. (these items are best kept in a Auto/Home... policies in Monthly or Tax Documents to keep for additional time***)
photo album or memorabilia box)
Legal, Family court orders and ongoing legal agreements: e.g. custody, alimony (or file in Will/Trust (Legal))
Pet Records your pet’s veterinary records, registrations, pet show awards etc. (set up a separate folder for
each pet) Loans/Leases loan or lease agreements (e.g. auto loan, educational loans—or file in Mortgage/Rental)

Rental Records if you own rental property, keep the title, escrow closing, and improvement records here (using labels Mortgage/Rental mortgage/rental agreement (re-file previous mortgage agreements in Tax Documents***)
provided, you may set up separate folders for improvements, maintenance, and title/escrow—if you
sell your rental property, re-file records of improvement costs, the original purchase price, and the Passwords/Codes** list of passwords & codes for alarms, locks, accounts, internet etc. (or file in Service Providers)
final sale price in Income, W2, Misc.*—note: file loan payments in Monthly and file year-end 1098
forms in Income, W2, Misc.) Rental Management property management agreements and landlord administrative files (if you own rental property)

Warranties & Manuals important product warranties and manuals along with receipts (you may use separate folders for Safe/Sorage List** lists of items in safe deposit box and in storage (or file in Insurance, Home)
various product categories—see label sheet 4A—note: oversize manuals belong on a shelf or can be
stowed nearby the product—file trivial warranties and manuals in Monthly) Service Providers contracts, benefits, rates & customer service info. (you may re-file previous service provider
(Also By Category) agreements in Monthly or Tax Documents to keep for additional time***)

Transit Schedules frequent flyer miles program policies, current accumulated credits (or file in Service Providers)

Travel/Miles Programs bus, train, trolley, shuttles etc. timetables, map of routes (or file in Service Providers)

Wallet Contents** list of wallet contents, phone numbers, photocopy of ID etc. (or file in Insurance, Home)

Will/Trust (Legal) active wills, trust agreements, LLCs etc. (you may set up a separate folder for each will or trust)

**Visit www.freedomfiler.com to print free blank forms and lists.

*Optional: Place light-blue dots called “Document Path Indicators” on top of Permanent labels to remind you to re-file property ***Optional: Place color-coded dots called “Document Path Indicators” on top of Remove/Replace labels to remind you in which
or investment records into a Tax folder when sold. See dots on label sheets 2C. Also see Questions & Answers for document color-coded section you need to re-file outdated papers at the time they are replaced. See dots on label sheets 1B, 2C, and 4B. You
retention guidelines. may use different Tax folder names to suit your needs. Also see Questions & Answers for document retention guidelines.