Clean that office and clear your clutter!

Tips on What to Keep and What to Shred in Your Office

Nebraska in January by Cass Grange

January 2026

Greetings!

I inspired myself by writing this article on cleaning your desk!

Perhaps you didn't know that National Clean your Desk Day was Monday, January 12th. Don't worry about having missed it. January is also clean your desk MONTH!

Need a bigger push? Consider this horrifying fact:

A work desk is 400 times less hygienic than a toilet seat!! Most germs thrive on keyboards. Today is a good day to give your laptop a thorough cleaning. To clean a monitor screen, use a microfiber cloth for dust, and for tougher smudges, dampen the cloth with distilled water or a 50/50 mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Always turn off and unplug the monitor first and never spray liquid directly onto the screen. Avoid using harsh chemicals, paper towels, or abrasive cloths, as they can cause damage. Or you can order on Amazon: Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit for ~$20. This is what I did after finding out that computers have over 40,000 different germs on them!

Need more inspiration? This is a life hack...

Remember, a messy desk is an invitation to chaos! A clean desk, on the other hand, helps you focus, be more productive, and generally makes you feel good about your workspace. And when we say clean we don’t just mean physical clutter. Your computer desktop counts too. Drag those files into nice, neat folders!

Click here for a handy guide, from the Suzy Orman website about what records to keep, where to store them, and for how long.

We’ve moved just down the hall. We have a new office in our same building. We needed a bit more space for our growing company.

Once your office is decluttered, keep it that way. After using your desk each day, put items back in their designated spots. Put pens in holders, file papers and return binders to bookshelves. Then, wipe down your desk with a disinfectant wipe to help keep germs at bay. By tidying up every day, you can help keep your space organized for longer.

Here is an idea: Involve your colleagues. Have a "cleanest desk" competition.

Please send pictures of your newly organized office and the winner will receive a Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit packet from Watercolor. Send photo of your office space to cass@watercolorfinancial.com. As someone enjoying a clean desk and office, I'll be the judge!

Sincerely,

Cass, Megan, and Bleckley

Watercolor Wins!

Megan Poore and her tennis partner, Patty Bloom, won the Balcones Country Club Doubles Tournament on December 14^th. Congrats ladies!

New Charitable Deduction Opportunities for Taxpayers Who Take the Standard Deduction

Single filers may deduct up to $1,000, and married couples filing jointly may deduct up to $2,000.
This deduction is available in addition to the standard deduction, benefiting non-itemizers.
It generally applies to cash donations made to qualified public charities.
The change creates a simple way for more taxpayers to receive a tax benefit for charitable giving. Please call us for more information.

Access your reports - Visit our web page for links to Fidelity (for access to statements and tax documents) and to the Orion portal (for access to performance reports and billing statements): Watercolor Financial website.

Q1 2026: Quarterly Market Guide

Please review this quarter's market guide by clicking on the painting. We encourage all of our clients to review the market guide written by Rafael Villagran, CIO of Genesia Investments and investment consultant for Watercolor Financial.

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