Community Chat

[FlowerBear]

I get bills in the mail still. I keep for a couple months then shred.  I need to catch up on shredding! I have a trash bag full of stuff to shred!

[ALRATIBA]

All mine are on auto-pay - paperless billing.  Charged to my credit card.  The statements can be accessed online if needed.

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ETA:  I've never once needed a copy of any statement, and I gain credit card points.

[Catiele]

My husband kept everything for years and years.  I finally got him to shred them. There gone and I am happy. Him not so much.

PS He is like this about everything. 

[jannabelle1]

I still receive a few paper utility bills, but pay them using online banking. Once I make the payment, I shred or trash the bill. There's no reason for me to keep them since all of the information can be retrieved online.

[jackthebear]

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@DJs mom wrote:

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@jackthebear wrote:

the other thing is here in NJ  they want  proof of stuff when you go to renew your license, even tho you have shown it before and utility bills can be one of those,

and I am not sure if a copy printed from your computer will be good enough 

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@jackthebear  Not everyone gets a paper bill mailedout to them, a lot of people go paperless and get ebills. If you have to show proof of residency with a utility bill, printing a copy from online is just as good as the one that comes in the mail. Not sureif you have ever seen an ebill or one printed from online, but they look exactly the same as what you are mailed.

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good to know, 

[jackthebear]

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@akaburtonfan wrote:

Thank you for all the responses. It’s interesting to get other people’s opinions. I am really trying to get a handle on paperwork this year. When my mom passed, I had to go through the piles of paperwork that she saved — I had many large garbage bags of shredded paper by the time I was done. I don’t want my son to have the same situation when my husband and I pass.

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I hear you on that,  

[ahoymate]

Why keep paper statements after you pay? I pay & shred. The next month's billing has the history of spend on gas & electric.

[BirkiLady]

All my utilities are paid automatically through my checking account. However, each utility does send a paper copy (a postcard) showing the homeowner the usage, taxes and totals each month.

I look them over and shred them immediately once sure that useage is correct for the past month. If there appears to be a discrepancy, I call that utility and ask my question(s). Then, that postcard is immediately shredded. Years ago, I kept all that paperwork and never referred back to it.

If I have questions later, it would be available through the utility company! 

[CalminHeart]

Every statement is online so I see no need to keep them.  

[DAD]

If you ever sell your house you will need to know how much utilities cost. For the buyer & for a new mortgage. People buying a house like to know what to expect.