I no longer have money to purchase new expandable file pockets so I took a tip from a Web site page somewhere and have been using it ever since. It’s great for recycling.

This tip is just for dry cereal eaters and only those that buy cereal in the 12 oz. Boxes. LOL

After you finish eating the cereal inside the box cut one side of the spine off, then tape the top part of the cereal box shut. Turn the box on its side and you have a single file pocket. If you want to decorate it for subject identifying or just aesthetic purposes you can use contact paper that you already have or even existing gift wrapping paper to cover it (maybe, you have other ideas as to what to use) or, maybe, you prefer to use it without covering it with anything.

The height of the file pocket will be somewhat shorter than your papers that you file but it’s not a big deal . . . at least not for me as I use them at home.

These file pockets hold A LOT of papers. They can be used to store other items as well.

I found some more pictures of the expandable file pockets. There are two kinds that are very unusual. One type has a form on the front of it to record different index information regarding the contents of the expandable file pocket and another type has a shape that conforms to a filing cabinet without being a hanging folder. The last type just shows that you can get bright assorted colors – not just the kind that were shown in my previous post. It, also, emphasizes that the front is somewhat shorter than the back for more easy access to the contents of the file pocket. Oh, and if you prefer to use a *particular* color, you can buy it, you aren’t limited to just the assorted colors. These expandable pockets are available in letter or legal size . . . your choice. Please see the links below:

http://snurl.com/uaro3

http://snurl.com/uaron

http://snurl.com/uarp5

I was surprised that the file pockets and expanding file pockets that I was talking about are, in fact, made by Pendaflex.

Not only that but I noticed that Pendaflex has, also, incorporated their expanding file pockets into their hanging files. It’s, basically, expanding file pockets with hooks.

Anyway, I still prefer the ones without the hooks (the ones that don’t hang) by Pendaflex.

Here are pictues of both kinds (the expanded file pockets and the hanging expanded file pockets). (See the links to the Web sites below):

http://snurl.com/u9wnv [www_staples_com]

http://snurl.com/u9wwb [www_staples_com]

Once I got introduced to single file pockets I was a believer.

You can buy them in various widths and colors or plain.

I wait until they’re on sale – sometimes even when they’re not.

You can buy and put on removable colored sticky tags until you’re ready to make permanent ones.

There are permanent colored plastic divider tabs that you can put on the top vertical edge of the file pocket (either the front edge or back edge).

Like the hanging folder permanent divider tabs, you can use the inserts provided or just stick labels that you print or write on, onto the plastic tab.

For me, hanging folders stay neater in my filing cabinet, and it’s easier to file things in them without getting paper cuts.

I’ve color coded my files

Green = financial
Blue = reference
Yellow = tax related

I keep a few of each color in the back of the drawer. When I need a new folder, I just write the subject on a post-it note, then update my index spreadsheet with the date the folder was created.

When I get several folders that have sticky-note labels, I print up labels from my index spreadsheet.

I don’t use inserts on the plastic tags, instead opting to put the labels directly on the tag.

It’s very tidy and easy to use.

Oh, and a bit of whimsy – the blue folders are all different shades – and I have one orange folder that holds all my season ticket info for my favorite hockey team.