Tell me about your paperwork filing - I need help please!

[mummybookworm]

I have been slowly declutting the house (3 bed) over the last few months and have most things sorted, with the exception of household paperwork. I have been averse to throw any paperwork out. My excuse is that I work in admin 4 days per week so don't want to do any when I come home. I know I need to cull stuff that is irrelevant and v old. How do you all file paperwork like council tax, gas/elec, water etc? I want to keep things as streamlined and basic as possible. I have folders and boxes galore but currently they are full of really old stuff! Thanks for reading, and any advice.

for old stuff - I would collect everything in one big box then divide up into
bills - eg gas electric credit cards etc - over 1 year approx chuck - keep up to 1 year in box files
bank statments, and anything related to tax keep approx 7 years -older than that chuck - in box file saying up to what date
folder for important docs -eg passports etc
then a few boxes for stuff which is memeries

for new stuff have new system that they go into a couple of ring binder, just in order they come into - have money, bills and kids ones

I've thrown ALL paperwork!!!!
It was getting ridiculous - so it's all gone!!!
I now have a 'home log folder (which does need organising a little), but it's one folder that has all the info in it - account numbers, telephone numbers etc).

Any post is looked at, then shredded!!!

I have a little 2 drawer filing cabinet and keep most things in there - Tax info, pay slips, pensions & employment info, utility bill info etc. Bank statements are kept in a lever arch file. I have a box file that all important paperwork is kept in - passports, birth certificates etc.

Lately I've moved house every few years so the "old house" stuff gets binned when we move!

As DH has just had a Self Assessment request arrive for the year 05/06 I hope I have kept the bank statements so that I can record the bank interest/charity payments correct on the forms!

I have one folder with plastic pouches for each account/bill. I was really organised but just went through it (bought new shredder) and found paperwork dating all the way back to 2006. Have kept anything from this year but shredded the rest.