Community Chat

[Spurt]

There are certain situations that require several types of documents for identification purposes to confrm your identity.  They now want more than just a driver's license, and a current utility bill is one of those documents you can use---Example

Some states--driver license renewal for proof of residency

Some states--voter ID

If you dont need the utility bill for documentation throw them away, go the email route

[kaydee50]

For identification purposes you can always print out the lastest statement.  

And we always shred anything that has our name and/or address on it.

[geezerette]

I keep the current year and the previous year, along with all my other statements, in my office.  When the new year roles around, the previous year’s records go into my attic, and at that point I shred that year’s utility bills.

I have often needed to check a statement from the previous year, but not longer than that.  And I don’t need the utility records for taxes.

[Nightowlz]

I'm on paperless. A lot less mess to shred. LOL!!!

Before I was on paperless I would shred utility bills as soon as I received the next one. No reason to keep those things.

[jellyBEAN]

For me it varies.  I used to keep all statements for 1 year and then shred.  I do keep my ongoing credit card bills for one year (one main card I use), if I use other store credit cards for say J Crew or Nordstrom, I shred if bill is paid in full and balance is 0.

Some bills I pay online now - electric, water, cable/internet/phone but I still get the paper statements too.  The only one I keep is the cable bill because like another poster wrote, they are always sneaking new taxes and fees onto it to pad their bill - suddenly $99.99 month becomes $134.95 per month - talk about magic in the air.  So I often compare when I notice the prices go up.

As far as keeping a paper trail for 7 years, I know you're supposed to hold onto your tax returns that long and maybe some other major financial transactions such as buying or selling a home, stock trades, that type of thing, but I don't think you need to hold onto your household monthly bills that long.  I had to clean out my parents home and still have a plastic bin of stuff I'm afraid to get rid of - old hospital records, sale of home, etc... as its not been 7 years yet.

[jackthebear]

I get all my bills mailed,  it's easier for . me 

[shoptilyadropagain]

Generally, it's one month.  I shred them when the next month's bill has arrived and it's been paid.

[jackthebear]

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 

[sunshine45]

i personally would rather have THEM send me the document than me using my printer ink. have needed my utility bills several times this year for ID purposes. it was easy to grab my folder and go.

[Eager2Learn]

For bills, bank statements, etc. I keep a rolling 2 year file. For tax returns and back up records, I keep a rolling 10 year file.