How can I digitize all my paper build up?

For the things you already have, scan them in. You can sort them by what they are, or simply save them in one big SCAN folder. For everything new, try finding the articles online instead of ripping out the page of the magazine/newspaper, and then saving it to an Evernote account.

I am particularly interested in the type of scanner, but methods of organizing also help

@Ltryptophan Any scanner, really. If you have an all-in-one printer, you can use that.

what about something like this

@Ltryptophan They’re a lot more expensive than I care for with no real added bonus (all the other scanners can scan receipts, business cards, etc as well), but it definitely would work.

@papayalily thanks for your answers! :)

There are a number of very good programs that will enable you to scan and code into a database all your paper; receipts, bills, financial documents, paper records, magazine articles, etc. but they require that you actually scan the stuff, page by stinking page, and code the stuff, page by stinking page, into a database and when you do, all your papers, etc. will be digitized, coded and organized for instant access. If fairies and elves were willing to do it for me I would be all over it, but it’s a lot less work, and I am nothing if not lazy to the bone, to simply let all that stuff pile up and deal with it the old fashioned way, which is by simply letting it all pile up. If you’re into the organizing, scanning, coding into the database thing, go for it, but it’s not for me. I know that now. Good luck!

@lillycoyote I am considering taking photographs of all but the most important stuff. That should make it a snap.

While the software there is neat (no pun intended) I think that that setup costs about double what I would pay. I have an HP all-in-one printer/scanner/copier that cost far less than that. I think it was only ~$80 on sale…

Yeah, sure, I can’t turn the text into a database entry automatically, but OCR software is fallible and inaccurate enough that I don’t think that really does either. One thing I can do with nothing except what came in the HP C4750’s box is to scan in stuff in such a way as to automatically make a multi-page PDF file; the software included with my HP is pretty decent.

I like PDFs. I have quite a few e-books in PDF format. PDF files can be read on a Mac, PC, iPod, Android, and many e-readers. I have PDF copies of many of my gaming books. Just my GURPS collection alone takes up about a foot of shelf space and weighs about twenty pounds. My laptop is considerably smaller and lighter, and holds all of them plus shitloads more, all in PDF format.

If you an use a photocopier, you have about 75% of the skill required to do the same as I do with an HP all-in-one. Can you follow simple on-screen instructions? That is most of the rest of it. And doing it that way will keep the pictures as is; it will look just the same as it does now, only it will be on your screen.

I almost forgot to mention one other thing I have needed to do a few times. Sometimes I need to send a multi-page physical document (or a copy of it) somewhere fast. Here in Seattle, there are not many fax machines; those kind of died out last century, so that isn’t really an option. And regular mail takes a week to go cross-country, and sometimes that is far too slow.

No problem. If they have e-mail, I can tell my HP “Scan document”, scan each page in, tell it that I am finished after I scan the last page, save the PDF to my hard drive, and send that PDF as an e-mail attachment. Better yet, unlike postage stamps and faxes, it’s free!

BTW, I have an old Canon scanner that I no longer use than I picked up for $15. It doesn’t have the cool HP software, but it’s only $15, leving you plenty of money to find your own software.

If you have an iPhone there are numerous applications which can accomplish this. I think the best one is Jot Not.

For the enormous sum of .99 cents (it’s currently on sale and there’s also a free version) combined with the previously mentioned Evernote (free) it can be a total solution.

Evernote is fabulous because everything can be kept in the cloud for access by multiple devices (various computers as well as mobile devices) all for free.

You can also go to YouTube to see numerous video demos to see how simple it all really is. Just put jot not into the search and follow the breadcrumbs.

This will give you a clearer idea of how it works.

There are other scanner apps in the App Store as well, many of them free or reasonably priced.

@Buttonstc One thing about cloud storage; don’t put anything there that you don’t mind sharing. My rule of thumb is that if I would not print it on a T-shirt, it stays on my local storage.

I understand your point and I agree for things of a confidential nature. But I was under the impression from the OP that this was not confidential stuff.

As for myself, if someone wants to go through the trouble of hacking into my Evernote acct. just so they can peruse my saved computer and cooking mag. articles and my old grocery receipts, they’re perfectly welcome to it.

Who knows—they just might learn something from the articles :)

I do what @jerv said. The thing about hardware solutions is that for a surprisingly good price you can get something that you can essentially “set and forget.” I put a pile of around 20 pages in there and just let it run.

There’s one thing I would note – double sided documents are a doozy.

@iamthemob I prefer flatbed scanners for a few reasons. Sure, it is slightly more labor intensive, but usually easier, more flexible, and p often cheaper. Auto-feeders are pricier, not as reliable, quirky, and somewhat limited, especially if you don’t want to (or can’t bend the original.

@jerv – The HP Officejet 6500 I have has both options – and it was not much more than the cost you’re mentioning.

@iamthemob I think we can both agree that there are many options out there for cheap though; no need to spend $200 or more.

@jerv – for sure.

I wouldn’t also be afraid to suggest going all-out if you want convenience. There’s nothing wrong with going with more than you need if it does what you need really, really well, and you do your research.

This type of task is one we say we’ll keep up on…but then shit happens. It’s nice to have something that you can through a pile in and run.

@iamthemob Much of the stuff I scan wouldn’t go unless I cut the bindings off. If I scanned more loose, normal-sized pages then my opinion would be different.
Also bear in mind that you are talking with someone who has never paid more than $1375 for a car, and even that one was on installments _by necessity. If you have the money to spare then you are entirely correct, but for some of us, frugality isn’t an option; it’s mandatory.