Power bills, a notice from your health insurance company, bank statements, and a letter from your landlord are all strewn across your desk. "What kind of 'Zettelwirtschaft' is that?" your German friend would ask.

A "Zettel" is a sheet of paper, while "Wirtschaft" has many meanings in German. Here it comes from the verb "wirtschaften" and refers to taking care of chores at home. Or in the case of Zettelwirtschaft, not taking care of them.

Some people find chaos at home rather cozy, or even conducive to creativity. Others feel the immediate urge to grab the broom and sweep everything into the trash (or at least under the bed). So having a Zettelwirtschaft at home isn't necessarily a bad thing - as long as your spouse can deal with it.