“Extremely organized” is probably not the first way someone would describe me. However, several years ago, I had a moment of organizational clarity.
I decided to purchase a fireproof, waterproof, lockable file box for three reasons:
- Living in a hurricane-prone area, I wanted something we could easily throw in the car in the event of an evacuation with all our important documents.
- As our family grew, we accumulated more “important documents” and needed a central place to keep everything.
- Lastly, as a financial planner, I’ve seen firsthand the additional stress a family experiences when these documents are difficult to locate during a health emergency, natural disaster, or death.
What goes inside?
- Insurance policies
- Wills/trust documents
- Passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates
- Sentimental letters
- Appraisals for a few valuables
- Car titles
- Important tax documents
- Annual brokerage and retirement account statements
- Any other important or legal documents that you may need or want to hold onto for peace of mind
Any big box or home improvement store will have them; the cost ranges from $60 to $100, depending on how large you want it. I wanted ours to be small enough to carry and easily fit in the car.
No matter where you live, this is a good idea—let me know what you put in your box!