I'm Such a Hoarder, But When to Let Go?

SueC_2

Having effectively sold everything I had but didn't want that was saleable, and ruthlessly dumped what wasn't saleable, I figure it's finally time I decluttered my paperwork.

In the name of efficiency I think I have kept every darn bill and statement I have ever received. But now I am not quite as young as I once was, there are quite a lot of them and I'm in danger of having to move house so they have a room of their own.

But I'm just so nervous of shredding something that may, one day (although lawd alone knows how or when) be needed.

It would be a cold day in hell before I got rid of a payslip, P60 or other tax-related document, but what about the rest? Are there any guidelines for how long a person (ie. not a company - I know they have their own rules) should keep things like bank statements, utility bills, mobile phone bills, council tax statements, credit card bills etc etc etc?

All advice / opinions gratefully received.

docmatt

Tbh, if you're not self employed (IE: been paying tax properly ) then just shred the lot

You could always keep summary pages or why not scan stuff to your PC keep in a file?

phill99

the Inland Revenue have the right to claim go back 6 years. So anything tax related stuff older than 6 tax years is not needed.

Bank statements etc are now computerised so its quite easy to get copies from your bank if the worst comes to the worst. Thats also the case for insurance, council tax, CC bills etc.

For peace of mind, keep say 2 or 3 years and dump the rest.

SueC_2

docmatt wrote: »

You could always keep summary pages or why not scan stuff to your PC keep in a file?

Nice idea, but it'd be a bit of a waste of the rest of my life to spend it sitting at a scanner.... yes, the problem is really that bad!

SueC_2

phill99 wrote: »

For peace of mind, keep say 2 or 3 years and dump the rest.

The irony of it is, for many of the services / accounts, because of electronic billing I don't have the most recent years as they are all done by access to an online account!

phill99

SueC wrote: »

The irony of it is, for many of the services / accounts, because of electronic billing I don't have the most recent years as they are all done by access to an online account!

Well if you have 2 - 3 years on online accounts, then get rid of stuff older than that.