Week #22 Organized Home Challenge
Organize Passwords, Warranties & Manuals
In this week's challenge we're going to organize passwords for websites and businesses we've joined, along with organizing warranties and manuals for items in your home, so you can access all this vital information when needed.
You might wonder why I've devoted an entire challenge to dealing with passwords and other practical documents, like your warranties and appliance manuals.
After all, these aren't exciting topics, and the work for the week won't actually take you very long (hopefully).
The reason is that I used to waste a lot of time trying to find all these kinds of documents, and passwords -- time I can't get back now. Once I figured out how simple organization really was in these areas I wanted to share the joy of working smart, not hard, with you too.
Are you new here? The Organize Passwords, Warranties & Manuals Challenge is part of the 52 Weeks To An Organized Home Challenge. (Click the link to learn how to join us for free for future and past challenges if you aren't already a regular reader).
Step 1: Organize Passwords Into A Password Journal Or Organizer
Website and Internet passwords, along with bank PINS and other passcodes for your phone, alarm system, etc. are quite common these days.
Unfortunately, there are so many that I often get confused with what password and/or username I've chosen, or even what email address I used for that website.
I know that many Internet safety specialist say, use a unique password for each website, and don't write your password down where people can access it, but practically, how the heck can I remember all this stuff? I can't even remember what I need to cook for dinner without writing it down, much less remember this information for a website I haven't accessed for over a month!
That's why I suggest you organize passwords in some way, either on paper or digitally.
Many people use a little book or notebook that you can keep close to your computer for easy access, like a password journal. In a companion article I've shown how many readers have used similar password organizers, journals and notebooks in their homes for this exact purpose.
In fact, if you want to keep your passwords in a journal or notebook you can use this password organizer form I created, if you wish.
I suggest you print off this form, following the instructions provided on the page, and begin filling it out slowly as you access various websites. That means your only big time investment is setting up the system, and then just slowly filling it out as you go along.
Doing it slowly, over time, will also get you in the habit of filling out the password organizer form every time you create a new password and username, since your notebook will be ever-evolving.
No matter what system you choose, try to write down at least these pieces of information:
- Name of website or business
- URL of website to login
- Email address you've provided (if you've only got one, that's no big deal, but if you have multiple addresses this information can be quite helpful)
- Username
- Password
- Optional: date joined
- Optional: Password hints that you provided
Weighing The Benefits And Risks Of Organizing Passwords
You've got to weigh the risk of a security breach when you organize passwords, because just as you can access this information, in theory a criminal or thief could also.
Obviously, don't put a big "PASSWORDS: STEAL ME" sign on the notebook or binder, to really call attention to it, but my personal opinion is that having these things written down is worth the risk for the time savings and sanity involved with having a cheat sheet to reference as needed.
Plus, something to consider is what if something happens to you? You need your loved ones to be able to access certain websites, like bank accounts, etc. to deal with financial or other issues, and how will they know without a helpful reference guide such as this?
I'll be honest, I've been berated by several people who've read this mission and think writing down your passwords is just plain dumb. I thought about this carefully before I made this suggestion, and I stand by it, but you don't have to do it by writing them down if you don't want. The point of this mission is really to make sure you somehow don't forget your passwords, and that a trusted loved one could get into your accounts and not be locked out if something were to happen to you.
If you want to do that in another way beside writing them down on paper, go for it! I've got no problem with it! Just make sure you do something, and have some type of thought out system in place. That's why I'm mentioning a couple more options below as well.
What To Choose: Organize Passwords With Paper, Software, Or Apps?
Above I've already given you a free form you can use when you organize passwords. However, there are also other options you can consider, including more formal notebooks which are already created for you (see below), as well as software applications, and apps for your smart phones or tablets.
Click here for password organizer books on AmazonFurther, there are various password manager software and apps available which will manage and organize passwords for you on your computer, smart phones or tablets themselves. Many of these also have autofill capabilities, so you don't have to retype the same information over and over into various forms.
I don't personally use one of these software or app systems, but I've heard positive reviews of the following (if you've got a review of an app, please share your app review here):
- LastPass (for desktop or laptop, has a free and premium version)
- 1Password (for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)
Please feel free to share your additional recommendations for a password manager below, in the comments.
Step 2: Organize Warranties & Manuals For Easy Access
The next part in this challenge is to organize your warranties and owner's manuals for appliances, electronics or other equipment you purchase for your home.
The first step in any organization project is to declutter the things you don't need first. Therefore, before you begin organizing take the time to get rid of outdated or no longer needed manuals and warranties. I've written a Declutter 365 mission about this topic at the link, which you can read for more instructions on decluttering these items.
Then, once you only have warranties and manuals left that you actually need to keep, it will be time to organize them. There are three main ways to organize these types of documents, including the following:
- In your home filing system;
- In binders; or
- Digitally
I've written an article on how to organize warranties and manuals in your home giving instructions for how to do it in all three ways I've mentioned above. Check out the article for more details, plus photos from readers who've done the mission to see their results.
The key to organizing these warranties and manuals is to make sure they get filed (or placed into your organizational system) immediately after receiving the product, so you can access the manuals again when needed. In addition, the other key is to get rid of the paperwork for the item when you get rid of the item itself so you don't have manuals laying around for things you've already decluttered from your home.
Listen To Taylor's Video Tips For This Week's Organized Home Challenge & Declutter 365 Missions
Do you want more in-depth tips and instructions for how to do this week's missions and challenge all about decluttering and organizing passwords, manuals and warranties? If so, I've got recorded video tips from me, Taylor, from the video archives in the Declutter 365 Premium group, all about this week's challenge and missions.
These video tips are available on demand in the archives, once you're a member of the group.
In Week #22's video I discussed the following topics, among others:
- What to do with other people's stuff stored in your home, when they don't live there anymore
- Tips for organizing passwords, warranties and owner's manuals
- Declutter 365 missions for week
I suggest watching the video archive for the week, perhaps while you're doing some decluttering or cleaning around your home, before starting the week's missions and Challenge, and then you'll be able to breeze through this week's worth of decluttering missions, as well as organize what's necessary for the 52 Week Organized Home Challenge, based on the advice and instructions within those videos.
It really is like having me, Taylor, available, 24-7, as your decluttering and organizing coach, for every area of your home!
Plus, once you're a member of Declutter 365 Premium you get access to not only this video, but all the videos for the 52 weeks of the year, for 6 years (that's over 270 videos available in the archives!)
Get This Paper & Filing Decluttering Checklist + 32 Other Decluttering Checklists For Your Home
Right now you're decluttering your papers and files, and there's a lot of types and varieties of these around your home.
I've done the hard work of breaking down these tasks into smaller more manageable steps for you, so you don't get overwhelmed or worry you're forgetting a task, and you can go at the pace you want, whether that's fast or slow.
In addition, you can tackle these decluttering tasks in whatever order you want when you use these checklists!
Tell Me How The Organize Passwords, Warranties & Manuals Challenge Is Going For You
I would love to know how this week's Organize Passwords, Warranties & Manuals Challenge is going. You can tell me your progress or give me more ideas for how you've organized these items in your home in the comments.
I also love before and after pictures of organizational systems, and would love to see some of yours. Submit your pictures (up to four per submission) and get featured in the Creative Storage Solutions Hall of Fame. You've worked hard to get organized, so now here's your chance to show off!
Here's the Password Organization Hall of Fame showing how other readers who've already taken on this challenge how done it, to get you inspired!
Sneak Peek For Next Week's Challenge
We're working on our homes slowly, one area at a time, so don't get too distracted from the Organize Passwords, Warranties & Manuals Challenge this week.
However, I want you to know that next week will be the culmination of the paper organization section of the Challenges, when we put all the pieces of the puzzle together and organize our home offices.
Make Sure You Make The Most Of These 52 Organizing Challenges
Get your copy of the printable one page 52 Week Organized Home Challenge schedule for the year here, so you can see all the challenges we're working on.
Further, if you'd like to join a community of others who are all commmitted to these organizing challenges and corresponding decluttering missions, and want more interaction with me, Taylor, video archives of Taylor providing more tips for each of these challenges and missions, as well as live monthly group coaching sessions focusing on the skills and habits necessary to maintain your home from now on, I'd urge you to join the private and exclusive Declutter 365 Premium Facebook group (you can learn more about it at the link).
In addition, have you gotten your Declutter 365 Products yet, to make sure you can get even more assistance with decluttering and organizing your home this year? There are both free products (like the Declutter 365 calendar, a $20 value), as well as add-ons, such as daily text messages, planner stickers, and a Premium Facebook group, as well as a pack of printabe decluttering checklists.
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Share Your Comments, Tips & Ideas
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