You really should keep things like titles, deeds, mortgage statements and even insurance policies for as long as you own your property (or the life of the loan). Just in case you were wondering: those warranty records, receipts for big-ticket items (like that new TV), and even proof of home repairs? Yup-you should keep those around until the warranty expires, you sell that TV, or move out of your house. So go ahead and take that pile of receipts you’ve been collecting from your weekly grocery runs and shred them. Shred those suckers now! Unless you’re working from your home office, doing home improvements, or anything else you might get a tax credit on, you really don’t need them. You never know, so it’s best to keep anything tax-related around. Maybe you’ll be buying a new house and need to prove you’ve been a responsible human in the finance department. Yup-seven! You never know when you might need them. How Long Should I Keep My Tax Statements? Otherwise, have fun making your own paper confetti with the shredder. In cases like those, you’ll want to have last month’s utility bills with your name and address front and center. Not long-unless you know you’ve got a trip to the DMV coming up and need to prove your identity. And if you haven’t paid or are disputing the bill, you’ll want to keep them until the dust settles and everything is resolved. Your medical bills are a record of what you’ve paid and will come in handy when you call and kindly let them know you’ve already paid them. That intern at the hospital’s billing department probably hasn’t learned the ins and outs of the details, so you may or may not receive the same bill twice. The Federal Trade Commission suggests keeping your paid (and undisputed) medical bills for at least one year. How Long Should I Keep My Medical Records? You might need these to provide proof of income for when you need to make a big purchase or to dispute any suspicious behavior (like identity theft). Then file it in a fireproof safe and keep it for at least one year. So the next time you get one of these bad boys in the mail, take a few minutes and look for anything out of the ordinary. But not so fast! They’re actually really great for seeing all of your monthly transactions in one tidy place. How Long Should I Keep My Bank Statements?īank statements: What are they even good for? It’s tempting to chuck them right in the nearest trash can as soon as you get them.
How to organize your bills and mail how to#
So now that you know how to tell the important documents from the not-so-important documents, you need to know how long you’re supposed to keep them around. Invest in some folders and labels so you can keep things tidy and readable. You’ll want it categorized clearly so you can easily find it. It’s also smart to keep them all organized. We’re talking about a fireproof document safe, lockbox or cabinet. And no, we aren’t talking about that “safe place” that’s so safe you can never remember where it is. So when you’re doing your spring cleaning, make sure to file these in a safe place. Save 10% on your will with the RAMSEY10 promo code. When in doubt, print it out (and keep it filed in a safe place).
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And the next time you move, you might accidentally forget where you packed it. hard drives fail or get lost and computers crash.
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But it’s always a good idea to have a hard copy on hand, filed safely away just in case. Filing all the important documents away on that hard drive may seem like the best option-no loose papers, no mess, and no worries.
How to organize your bills and mail license#
But you never really think about the not-so-fun parts-like paying taxes, having a tooth pulled, or getting your driver’s license renewed. When you’re little, you dream about the day you get to drive your own car, have your own house, and stay up as late as you want.