Paperwork, how long should you keep bills, bank statements etc?

[Linnet]

I'm trying to work my way through the huge pile of paperwork that has been building up in my bedroom for oh at least the last year I used to be good at filing away the paperwork every 2-3 months but have fallen by the wayside.

So tonight I've been making a concentrated effort but have realised that I have phone bills going back to my previous house which we moved from 6 years ago and credit card statements going back, wait for it...13 years!

Surely I don't need to keep these? I think I know that I don't but I need someone to tell me it's ok to throw them out.

So come on tell me, how far back should I keep my

bank statements- is it 7 years?
phone bills
credit card bills
gas bills
electric bills

thank you for your wisdom

come on someone has to know the answer, please

I think that legally, 7 years is the limit for mundane stuff (but that could just be for businesses).

Anything to do with your mortgage/insurances should be forever really until you pay it off. Also anything that you have disputed keep.

I keep everything else for a year. Not much help am I.

i was told a year. ive just shredded all mine over a year so hope thats correct. oohh shit if its not!!!

I keep my bank/credit card statements for a year, then shred. All house stuff etc I keep forever, well for 17 more years til the mortgage is paid off.
bfb

I keep ours for a year then shred every thing.

13yrs isn't that bad, when we moved my grandparents my grandad had every bill he had paid starting in 1948.

DP is self employed and for this reason, we have to keep everything for 7 years, just incase mr. Taxman would like a nosey through our books. Im not sure how it works if you arent self employed, though, so may not be much help either. Sorry.