What files do I need to keep?
At year end (and year beginnings) sometimes we get to organizing ourselves and the question comes up "which statements are required to maintain files and which can I shred?". Here are some helpful tips from Consumer Reports: Keep for a year or less Begin your organizing by setting up a place you can keep your bills until you pay them. As soon as a bill comes in, for example, put it in a folder labeled "bills to pay." Then set an electronic calendar reminder for a time when you're going to sit down and pay them. Store the documents listed below in a file cabinet. You don't need to keep other bills. If you don't pay your bills electronically, now may be a good time to set up online banking. "That way you can schedule your payments in advance, and even set up monthly bill payments for amounts that don't change, like your mortgage, so you won't be late," Denton says. To help avoid identity theft, shred anything you plan to throw away that