I use the letter-size file folders that are more like pockets - don't open to a flat position because their sides are closed, just the top is open, so stuff won't drop out. Couldn't quickly find a good URL as example, but I hope you know what I'm trying to describe.

In terms of a tickler system, I don't have much that I track either. I never let bills accumulate - just like Inbox Zero, I process them as they come in, and almost everything else I have is electronic, not paper.

So, when I do find something that I need to temporarily file, I use my one-folder tickler system. That's right, just one folder. I wrote the word "Tickler" on the tab. I throw stuff in here that I'll need to access soon (invitation and map to a social event)/remember where I put it (tickets to concerts)/work on soon (quotes for getting our roof replaced). This might sound disorganized to many here, but again, for those of us with not much stuff to file in this kind of a system, I think a single folder (or binder!) suffices.

For reference material (esp. assembly instructions for furniture I bought at Ikea and might want to disassemble/reassemble someday, software manuals, warranties, instruction manuals, etc.), I keep a banker box with file folders in labeled by topic/room of our house. "Garage", "Kitchen", "Electronics", "Software", "Nursery", and so forth. It works great when I need to find something; the only trick to keeping it organized is to go through it every once in a while to make sure you're not holding onto materials that go with items you've gotten rid of.