topic Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies in Community Chat

? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

akaburtonfan — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 15:58:08 GMT

We still get paper statements from our gas, electric and cable companies. If you do, how long do you keep the statements after you’ve paid them?

I have been shredding old statements and have started to think that there’s really no reason to keep the past month once I receive the new month and it shows that the balance has been paid. It would be much easier to shred them every month instead of a year at a time.

What do you do?

edited to add I do recycle the shredded paper

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

NicksmomESQ — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:00:50 GMT

I recycle my bill statements every 6 months.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

just bee — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:02:27 GMT

Refer to the 1975 thread.

Like I said, I kept every scrap of paper and when my house burned in May I had to get rid of it all. Start shredding your unnecessary paperwork now.

Once in a blue moon you have to produce a utility bill to prove you exist. Hang on to them and when you get the new ones, shred the previous month's.

Better yet, just skip the paper and get your bill online.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

beckyb1012 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:03:35 GMT

I shred every quarter for utilities.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

sashamatthews — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:03:35 GMT

Ask your accountant. Our company was told to maintain financial records for seven years. We were then also told to keep our personal financial records for seven years.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

Kachina624 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:05:56 GMT

I destroy them immediately after receiving. Why would I need them? You can always get a copy from the utility company.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

kaydee50 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:12:24 GMT

I receive all my statements by email. Much safer than snail mail. Why would you keep any utility bills for more than a month???

Also pay all my bills by email. Why not??

I believe the "7 year rule" is for income tax purposes, not everyday bills.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

DJs mom — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:14:06 GMT

There is no need to keep old utility statements. Should you ever need them you can go online and get a copy. Everything is digital.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

Bri369 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:21:00 GMT

I have never needed a utility bill after it's been paid.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:23:50 GMT

I keep them till the next bill comes.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

sunshine45 — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:25:21 GMT

i keep them in a folder for one year, then begin a new year.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

J Town Girl — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:31:54 GMT

@NicksmomESQ wrote:
I recycle my bill statements every 6 months.

That's exactly what I do. Every 6 months I go through my file cabinet and shred anything that isn't necessary to keep.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

x Hedge — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:37:51 GMT

I keep them a year, but I do shred monthly.

I keep one folder for each month.

When paying July 2019 bills I pulled out the file containing July 2018 bills and shred them.

Then 2019's July bills go in that file and stay there until next July.

More than once I've needed to go back and read a notation I made at the time on a monthly bill.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

SeaMaiden — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:39:34 GMT

@akaburtonfan wrote:
We still get paper statements from our gas, electric and cable companies. If you do, how long do you keep the statements after you’ve paid them?
I have been shredding old statements and have started to think that there’s really no reason to keep the past month once I receive the new month and it shows that the balance has been paid. It would be much easier to shred them every month instead of a year at a time.
What do you do?

edited to add I do recycle the shredded paper

I save all utility bill statements for one year... then I go to the shredder place and shred anything including those that I no longer need.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

Carmie — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:40:21 GMT

We keep them for one year then shred.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

Allegheny — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:47:11 GMT

Anymore, I discard the previous bill when the new one comes in. This is because I can access all my utility bills on line when needed.

However, the issue with above for me is I am a paper person. If I want to do a usage comparison over a period of time it has always been easier and quicker for me to have the old bills in hand then having to look each one up on the computer. Sometime its enlightening to look back at old bills.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

shaggygirl — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:53:39 GMT

Same as indoor kitty, when the new one comes out goes the previous one. Except for my Frontier (cable/internet/phone) bill which I keep for a few months to go over it line by line to see what the **&%$ they managed to increase from bill to bill. They're sneaky, a little each month but it adds up.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:54:33 GMT

I don't have a system. I keep some for awhile, and when the spirit moves me, I shred a "bunch". I just grab, look at the date, and shred. Shredding is very satisfying.

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

SilleeMee — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 17:02:52 GMT

As with all the other accounts I have, they are digitally stored either on my personal devices or at the website. No need for paper at all for me. Why??

Re: ? For those who still get paper statements from utility companies

redwingsgal — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 17:02:57 GMT

Agree with others here, I actually throw mine in the regular recycle trash without shredding them!!! I used to keep them for years, but now they are available at any time online, also at my age, I not longer have to use them in order to establish myself with creditors etc.