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Review ::

Tax season means sorting through the past year’s jumble of papers that never got filed and mail that is still sitting on your counter, looking for everything that you need to file on time. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could be ready for tax season with everything organized and in one place where you can find it all? It’s simple, and all it takes is some office supplies.

I am naturally an OCD organizer. I love all things office supplies. I actually buy way too much really. When there’s a good deal on something (like 75% off or more), I can’t help but buy. I know I’ll use it because I organize everything. So let me help you.

Carolina Pad is a company that offers a wide variety of all sorts of office supplies. The best part about their products is that they’re very attractive. No more plain manila folders and envelopes. Think stripes, circles, and dots…in bright colors!

I was sent 6 items from Carolina Pad to help me organize for tax season. I received (pictured above) a 13 pocket expandable file, 12 file folders, a 26 pocket expandable file, an 8 pocket organizational folder, 6 large binder clips, and 10 paper clips. These items are all from the 2009 Hot Chocolate collection. Let me tell you how I use mine.

26 Pocket Expandable File — This file is huge, and I love it! I organized all of my financial paperwork in this portable file (love the handle). The sections I have labeled are banks, credit cards, jobs, and blog. I have each company in their own file, so it’s a lot easier for me to search through and file quickly. I also used my label maker to label each pocket.

13 Pocket Expandable File — I designated this file for current taxes (meaning 2010). Each pocket is labeled accordingly — receipts from Chris’ freelance job, pay stubs from affiliates for the blog, Chris’ pay stubs from his freelance job, my scholarship information, etc. (anything that we’ll need when we file our taxes next year). I love this file because it’s not too big and can be conveniently stored somewhere that you can file into often, such as your desk, in the kitchen, etc. We have ours on our desk. When it’s visible, it’s easier to remember to file. Especially since the file is so bright and beautiful!

12 File Folders — I have a small paper inbox (a rectangle with a hole in it) that I stood up and stuck the file folders in. I labeled them for bills and we stick the bills, as they come in from the mailbox, in each folder and once a week sit down and sort through them and pay them. Thursday is bill day!

8 Pocket Organizational Folder — This folder is awesome! The pages are durable-double sided pockets…that won’t tear out! I set up my folder for school. On Sunday’s I go through each of my syllabuses and see what’s up for the week (what to read, write, create, etc.) and file any notes, assignments, etc. in each folder, which I labeled by day. It helps me not forget what I need to do. If you’re not going to school you can use it for your weekly to do folder. Anything that you need to do for yourself (maybe you need to remember to send in that mail-in-rebate), your kids (field trip forms, calendars, etc.), or even menu planning (if you use a system that designates each day to a specific meal — meaning Monday’s are always pasta, Tuesday’s are always skillet meals, etc., — you could keep recipes that you’d like to try out in each of the designated days folders).

6 Large Binder Clips & 10 Paper Clips — I used these items with each of the items above. It’s nice to be able to fold together all of my papers that are filed in the expandable files so that I can just reach in and pull out the stack to go through, rather than pulling out paper, after paper.

I really like Carolina Pad products. They make organizing easier and catch your eye to remind you to keep up with it! All of these products appear to be very durable (I did some testing).

Carolina Pad items are available in their online store (you can save 10% on your order with code Tax_Relief), at Wal-Mart, Target, Staples, and many other locations.

Giveaway ::

Carolina Pad wanted to help me celebrate my one year blogoversary, so they offered to give (1) lucky reader the same pack of office supplies that I received for the review! You’ll get a 13 pocket expandable file, 12 file folders, a 26 pocket expandable file, an 8 pocket organizational folder, 6 large binder clips, and 10 paper clips (all pictured above). This is all a total value of $44.44! The giveaway will end on March 15 @ 9 PM MT. Please read all rules below before entering!

How To Win?

Easy & Mandatory Entry: Visit Carolina Pad and tell me which collection you love the most.

Additional Entries (Up to 5 additional) Please leave a separate comment for each addition entry!:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email.
2. Follow me AND Carolina Pad on Twitter AND tweet (click here to tweet) about this giveaway. (MUST DO ALL 3 to qualify!)
3. Become a fan of Real Simple Saving Methods AND Carolina Pad on Facebook. (This also automatically enters you to win 1 of 3 awesome *mystery prizes* when you follow RSSM! More info here.)
4. Blog about this giveaway.
5. Add my button to your blog. (It’s on my sidebar to the right.)

Rules: Enter by commenting below. If you already subscribe, have my button on your blog, and/or follow on Twitter/Facebook, thanks! It still counts as an extra entry. You may only enter ONCE for each of the 6 total entries. The 5 additional entries can be left on the same day or different day, but must also be left under this post as separate comments for each one that you qualify for. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be chosen by random.org. You must follow all instructions on how to enter. A valid email address must be used. This giveaway ends on March 15 2010 @ 9:00 PM MT. (As long as the commenting is still turned on, you can still enter.) If you are the winner and I cannot contact you via email and receive a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be picked. Sorry, anyone who has won a prize package from Carolina Pad in the last 90 days is not eligible to win.

Real Simple Saving Methods Review & Giveaway Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Carolina Pad. I was sent the 6 items listed above to write an honest review on. I have given my honest opinion when writing this post & it has in no way been written by anyone but myself. The views & opinions expressed in this post are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party in question.

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