Simplify!

My desk never looked like this, but I love the hair!

Not only does the PCT require planning for a successful hike, it also requires planning to be away from home. I am taking the opportunity to simplify some areas of our finances and make it easier for Eva while I am gone and for me when I return. Before the end of this year, I am selling some of our stock portfolio, donating some to the church, and keeping just two stocks that I think might be winners... if I hold on to them long enough, lol! I am tired of playing the stock market and plan to use mutual funds and ETFs for retirement savings from this point forward.

In January of 2013, I went paperless which has worked out amazing! Any financial accounts that offered the option of paperless statements, I signed up. I began scanning and shredding all paper documents and eliminated most of my paper filling system. It's one year later and I can happily report that the desk drawer that used to be exploding with statements, invoices, notices, policy documents, and receipts is empty! I also went back for three years and scanned my tax documents and receipts. These are now on CD for easy access!

I set up all our bills, utilities, and payments for monthly auto-pay. One local utility didn't seem to offer auto-pay, but when I made a friendly stop at the office, they gladly took my credit card info and promised to pay the bill in full each month...now that's customer service. There is only one store credit card we have that does not have an auto pay feature....Kohl's.

I know that after the hike, there will be a pile of mail on my desk, but I'm guessing that 90% of it will be junk mail! Keep calm and hike on!