I have this roll top wood desk. Not a huge one, but it does take out quite a bit of space in my house and more specifically in my dining room, the only place I could really put it. I got it at a garage sale so I dont have any real attachments too it, and I think I bought it because I thought every home needs a desk, right?

Now Im beginning to wonder if that is really true. I get that you need a place to put your important paper work, bills and so forth, but does it have to be a big desk?

I feel like the desk is just one big clutter holder. In the spring I actually started cleaning it out and found things in it that were put in it I moved in almost 6 years ago, and never touched again. So I feel like it is just a dumping ground for crap and a holding place for stuff that I really dont need. Of course now it is piled with junk again.

Im thinking I could easily tuck a filling cabinet into the cake room to hold the important stuff. I could find a nice cubby spot for my bills, which I end up actually paying while I am at work. And then also find some way to neatly condense and organize the other little stuff you have on a desk. I do have a lap top, but no internet, so I dont really do much with the computer at home. And if I do, Im usually sitting on the couch. Plus I have two tables and a bar top area I could always work on.

Do you think a desk is a must have in house? If no, what are some ways you keep all of those things organized?

We own three desks, and every single one of them is home to ridiculous amounts of clutter. The important stuff, like bills, either ends up on the counter or a drawer in the kitchen; eventually it might find its way to the filing cabinet.

Get rid of the desk. It obviously isn't something you need. Love the space.

We bought a proper 4 drawer filing cabinet a few years ago and it's fantastic. It means that piece of paper that comes into the house has somewhere to go. Even if I only end up filing every 6 months, it really does keep us organized. We have sections for finances, family stuff like school report cards and medical stuff and passports, sections for home improvements, pets, cars etc etc.

I still have a desk, because I like somewhere to sit and work, but it doesn't get sky-high with bits of paper.

My problem is that my desk gets over run with items that don't have a proper home or needs me to make it a home and I just haven't. The actual stuff that should be on/in my desk is actually in plastic containers beside the desk stacked in the chair.

There is a part of me that says pull everything off and start over, but I sorta did that in the spring and it is just full again with stuff that doesn't really belong. I'm still debating completely getting rid of it. As I told my brother, if I don't have it in the house, I can't put stuff on it. Maybe if I get rid of enough furniture I will quit piling stuff up since I won't have places to put it? It's a thought atleast.

Since you pay most of your bills at work anyway, something small and portable is what would really serve you. This is an example:

http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_OIB.asp

Then after you use your "portable desk" you can go home and put things away in your filing cabinet. Get rid of the desk.