Introducing the Portable File Cooler

I was conducting my personal weekly review yesterday, when I empty my inbox and organize all of my commitments and to-dos (GTD style).  I have twenty some manila file folders that I use for financial records, paystubs, bills, receipts, and credit reports, among other things.  I quickly became frustrated after filing a few papers because the folders were just laying in a stack on top of my desk.  Filing just a few documents seemed like a chore because I couldn’t quickly find the folder I needed, and when I did find it, I had to separate the stack of folders, completely open the folder, insert the paper, rinse, and repeat.

Am I complaining?  Maybe a bit.  But I have enough problems with procrastinating during my specified weekly review time, and I don’t need an inefficient filing system holding me back anymore.  I thought to myself, “There must be a better way!”  You’re probably thinking, “Ian, how about a file cabinet or a portable filing system?”  Yes, that would solve my problem, but

a.) I would be spending money that I’d rather spend on things more important to me, and

b.) I wouldn’t get the satisfaction of repurposing something that’s already lying around the house!

So I grabbed an empty manila folder, left my desk, and began looking around the house for some sort of box that would be just the right size to hold the small but growing amount of files I have.  I couldn’t seem to find a cardboard box that would fit, and I was just about to give up when I saw it - the empty Igloo Playmate cooler that has just been sitting around in the house!  I put a single manila folder in there, and it couldn’t have fit any better!

I filed the rest of my papers in a breeze, smiling through the rest of my review because I hadn’t spent a dime and I’d put something to use that had been laying around!

Pack it up to go for a file picnic!

Oh and don’t forget that the cooler is completely portable - if you need to take your files on the go, then just slide the top over the files, grab it and go!

P.S.: Mom and dad, let me know if you need the cooler back anytime soon…