|
|
What is included in the 2009 release of the Deluxe Home Filing Kit and Premium Set?
SUMMARY • Improved Colors • More Write-In Labels • More Pre-Printed Label Choices • New EVEN/ODD YEAR Labels • New Tax Labels • New Archive Labels • New Permanent Labels • New Remove/Replace Labels • New Resource Labels • New Active/Supplies Labels • Section Headers (Premium Set Only) • All-In-One Instruction Booklet • Four Key Questions Are Back! • Updated Package Cover • Premium Set With Extra 1/5 And 1/3 Size Labels
IMPROVED COLORS We’ve kept the same FreedomFiler classic label colors in the latest edition, although the hues are slightly brighter and generally warmer in tone. The new colors are adjusted slightly to complement each other when set up together in a filing system. The end result is an attractive and more easily readable filing system with the same FreedomFiler classic look.
MORE WRITE-IN LABELS Based on user feedback, we added more “write-in” labels to the customizable label sheets. For example, “Education___________”. (The user can handwrite family member names in the underlined space following the heading.) For each FreedomFiler color, there is now an entire bottom half of a label sheet dedicated to write-in labels. This decision was based on positive feedback on the write-in labels from general consumers and also because most customers were intimidated by having to print labels using a computer. The write-in labels provide an easy, attractive framework for personalizing the FreedomFiler without using a computer. Organizing professionals who are adept at printing labels on the computer may still use the write-in labels to get a system in place quickly, and then follow up with printed labels if necessary.
MORE PRE-PRINTED LABEL CHOICES By moving all write-in labels to a dedicated area on the second custom sheet, there is now more room on the first sheet for pre-printed label options! We have capitalized on this extra space and included further options on the label sheets based on customer requests.
NEW EVEN/ODD YEAR LABELS • New annual green rotating labels include more extensive and sensible options for utilities for those who do not use month files– e.g. “Utility-Electric & Fuel” and “Utility-Trash/Recycling”, and so on. There is now a general label “Utilities” for those who may prefer to use interior folders to subdivide specific utilities. • For simplicity, telephone statements are also now brought under a single alphabetic heading “Utilities” which can then be broken down e.g. “Utility-Phone” and “Utility-Phone Mobile” etc. • We’ve added “Retirement Account” specifically for retirement statements, for those who do not use month files. • Many more options for bank and credit card statements are now provided without limiting the user to “Checking/Savings”.
NEW TAX LABELS • Three tax label sheets are more clearly separated into personal, business, and rental/royalty (see below) • Sheet 2-1H now contains only itemized personal deductions, personal bank and credit card statements, and unreimbursed employee expenses (no business labels mixed onto this sheet) • "Income W2/1099 Misc." replaces "Income, W2, Misc." for those hunting where to file their 1099s. • "Charity Receipts/Miles" replaces "Charitable Donations" to satisfy tax preparers who are constantly reminding their clients that driving miles to volunteering for charities are deductible. • "Child Care Expenses" replaces "Child Support Costs" for more general use - e.g. working parents who place their child into day care may take deductions. • "Education (Tuition etc.)" replaces "Education Expenses" to clearly distinguish from the new "Educator Expenses" • "Educator Expenses" replaces "Teacher Expenses" to match the heading on the actual 1040 IRS form and to include many educators who do not teach directly. • "Health Care Expenses" replaces "Medical Expenses" for consistency with new wording for Permanent and Remove/Replace labels (see Permanent section) • "Tax Paid (Prop./Sales)" replaces "Taxes Paid" to suggest what types of taxes may be deductible in the label title. • More options for filing personal bank and credit card statements in the tax section are provided, with write-in options as well. • "Auto (Vehicle) Use" replaces "Car/Truck Use" to make all references to "Auto" consistent across all label colors. "Vehicle" indicated in parenthesis to match IRS forms heading. • Sheet 2-2H now contains only business(i.e. IRS schedule C) deductions and useful labels (no more having to share with schedule E) • "Auto (Car/Truck) Use" replaces "Car/Truck Use" to make all references to "Auto" consistent across all label colors. "Car/Truck" still indicated in parenthesis to match IRS schedule C heading. • "Cost of Resale Goods" replaces "Cost of Goods Sold" and has the exact same function (hold receipts for inventory/resale goods before being sold) • "Dep./Long-Term Asset" replaces "Depreciable Expense" because more people can relate to a long term asset than the abstract concept of depreciation. Also tax professionals like "Asset" to distinguish from supplies which are non-depreciable. • "Employee Payroll Etc." removed to make clear division for future business edition - i.e. (a business that has employees requires separate treatment than home-based consultants who use schedule C) • "Interest Paid" added per insistence of an enrolled agent. • "Office Expense/Post." replaces "Office Expense" - after all, what is an office expense as opposed to supplies, repairs etc? Answer: postage. • "Supplies, Consumable" now replaces "Supplies" to distinguish from long-term depreciable assets, resale goods, or office expenses in aforementioned labels. • "Travel-Meals/Entertain." replaces "Meals/Entertainment" to match actual IRS schedule C headings. • A general label “Utilities” is provided for those who may prefer to use interior folders to subdivide specific utilities. • More extensive and sensible options for utilities have been added – e.g. “Utility-Electric & Fuel” and “Utility-Trash/Recycling”, and so on. • In accordance with IRS schedule C, telephone statements are also now brought under a single alphabetic heading “Utilities” which can then be broken down e.g. “Utility-Phone” and “Utility-Phone Mobile” etc. • Sheet 2-3H now contains a dedicated sheet for rental or royalty income (i.e. IRS schedule E deductions) with extra blank labels at the top. • "Rental Banking" and "Rental Credit Card" have been added for those who use dedicated accounts to manage a rental property income and expenses.
NEW ARCHIVE LABELS • "Archive" replaces "Tax Archive" for more general applications - i.e. filing of expired policies and agreements into a ten-year rotating archive. • Blank "Archive" labels are moved to the top for easier printing on computer templates (without having to count rows)
NEW PERMANENT LABELS • “Auto #2” can now be added without having to customize any labels, for the typical US family. Subdivisions such as “Auto #2 Oil/Lube” etc. are also provided. • “Career History” is provided for those who prefer to keep historical resumes on file and other past employment records etc. Tip: place a red “Send To” dot on the “Career/Resume” REMOVE/REPLACE file. • “Collectibles” label has been introduced to support collectors of stamps etc., including receipts & appraisals for antique valuables. • “Dental Records” – we’ve had plenty of demand for this! • “Family History” now replaces “Genealogy” by vote. Reasons given are that “Family History” is easier for all users to understand and relate to for personal information such as family trees and biographies, and has a less scientific connotation which was alienating some users. • “Health Records” now replaces “Medical Records” by vote. Reasons given are that “Health” is more positive language and considered a more modern term. • “Military Service” records will help military families and veterans organize much of the paperwork associated with the service. Subdivisions are provided for “Military Certifications”, “Military Evaluations” etc… • “Vital Records” has replaced the former “Certificates, Birth Etc.” This label provides more flexibility and a central place for including items such as passports, ID, passwords and account access hints, safe deposit contents, and can optionally be used to keep copies of FEMA recommended emergency documentation, according to preference. • More options are now available for warranties such as “Warranties, Apparel” or “Warranties, Printer” etc…All of the various media devices can now be separated now that we have replaced ”TV/Media” with separate options for computers, network devices, phones & cameras, printers, and TV & stereos. • Numerous warranties for major items which are expected to be sold with the house (if a sale ever does occur) are now filed under “Home” or “Rental”. Examples include “Home AC/Heat/Wash”, “Home Entry/Security”, “Home Kitchen (Major)”, “Home Paint/Fabric etc.” and so on. These improvements are consistent with FreedomFiler’s goal of simplifying the paperwork transfer process when assets are sold to a new owner.
NEW REMOVE/REPLACE LABELS • “Alumni Association” handles former college and university newsletters, website info. phone lists etc… • "Child's Youth Club" supports Boys & Girl Scouts or other association info & rosters etc... • "Spiritual Association" replaces "Religious Association" for more general usage. • "Storage Contract/List" is now available for any storage facility agreement and list of contents stored there • "Utility Services" are now broken down into "Utility-Internet/TV Info." and "Utility-Phone Info." for storing current rates, contracts, schedules and tips. Or simply use "Utility Schedules/Tips". • "Dining/Take Out" provides a place for frequently use and updated take out menus or most recent coupons. • "Household Chores" is a place to make checklists or cleaning schedules for family, also info on cleaning supplies or cleaning tips. • A general heading "Insurance" is now provided for those who prefer to subdivide insurance categories using interior folders. • New insurance policy headings include "Insurance, Dental", "Insurance, Life", "Insurance, Rental", and "Insurance, Renter's" • More supporting labels for loan & lease policies are provided such as "Loan/Lease, Auto", "Loan, Business", "Loan Educational", "Loan, Rental Property" • For consistency and by popular demand, the subject “Retirement” is now a leading word in label titles in the Remove/Replace section. "Retirement Plan" can now be used for retirement plan contracts or use "Retirement-Annuity" for specific retirement annuities. • "Shopping/Supply List" is for keeping shopping checklists and supplies reorder info - what stores to buy supplies at. • "Social Security" holds the most current statements. • "Transit/Maps" replaces "Transit Schedules" for more general use. • "Travel-Packing List" holds any travel checklists/notes. • Note that several Remove/Replace labels have been eliminated from the pre-printed sheet for simplicity because the related documents can now can be filed into the general "Vital Records". These consolidated labels include "911 Emergency List", "Home Inventory" (for insurance in evacuation), "Passwords/Codes", "Wallet Contents". It is noted that FreedomFiler purists may still prefer to separate these items into Remove/Replace files and establish a disaster-resistant filing box containing them.
NEW RESOURCE LABELS • Resource labels added: "Collecting", "Computer Notes", "Event Planning", "Hobbies & Crafts", "Home Improvement", "Organizing", "Recipes, Cooking", "Rental Resources" • Labels removed: "Astrology", "Entertaining/Parties" (use "Event Planning"), "Food/Wine" (use "Recipes, Cooking"), "Games & Puzzles", "Household Hints" (use "Household Chores" R/R), "Maps & Directions" (use "Transit/Maps" R/R), "Music/Songs".
NEW ACTIVE & SUPPLIES LABELS • Several additional options are added to the pre-printed "Active" label sheets to meet the wide range in usage patterns amongst customers, each with fairly obvious applications: "ASAP", "Bills Paid (Last Month)" (for those who choose no green section!), "Coupons/Gift Voucher", "Child Follow Up", "Entry/Scan/Copy", "Events/Calendar", "Health Bills/Benefits" (for pending insurance EOB reconciliations), "Pending", "Projects", "Reimbursements", "To-Do" • The long-form tickler has been let go for the shortened version to allow for other options on the page. A new shortened division of the month is now provided - i.e. "Days 1-15 of Month" and "Days 16-31". Also we have added "1st Quarter", "2nd Quarter", "3rd Quarter", and "4th Quarter" to the tickler options. • Supplies labels have been added at the bottom of the sheet to stow various stationery, forms etc...
SECTION HEADERS • blank section headers are included in the Premium Set only (see below for explanation of the difference between the Premium Set and the Deluxe Edition)
ALL-IN-ONE INSTRUCTION BOOKLET The previous Quick Start Guide, Label Index, and Questions & Answers have been combined into a single convenient booklet. The guide includes updated photographs and layout. The Questions and Answers section contains new information on topics such as filing investment papers and emergency preparedness.
THE FOUR KEY QUESTIONS ARE BACK! Many of our veteran FreedomFiler organizers will remember the original flowchart “Four questions to ask yourself when filing any document”, which we refer to repeatedly in the certification trainings. We’ve brought back this beautiful color diagram in the reprint, now located on the new “How To File” instruction card!
UPDATED PACKAGE COVER We’ve replaced all of the photographs with new images on the packaging, for a more attractive look, and we’ve simplified the front cover.
PREMIUM SET WITH EXTRA 1/3 AND 1/5 SIZE LABELS The Premium Set is exactly the same kit as the new Deluxe Edition except that extra blank labels are added. The Premium Set includes blank 1/3 size labels for use with interior folders (1 sheet per color), which can be used to subdivide hanging folders according to preference. Note that the Deluxe Edition is designed to function efficiently without needing interior folders but some users may prefer this capability. The Premium Set also includes an additional blank 1/5 size label sheet in each of the FreedomFiler colors.
Comments
You must be logged in to post comments. Register or Sign In here.
|