BEFORE Virtual Bookkeeping

This was actually me, Jennifer the owner of IGF, before I started using my own company's virtual bookkeeping service.  I literally cried a few nights when trying to figure out what to do with all the receipts.  What to file? What to keep? What to document and where?  What was the best filing system?  Hanging folders? Envelopes?  A Binder? By Month? By Category? I kept going in circles and would end up in piles of paper and notes.