I'm unusual these days Hetty, I still keep a lot of paperwork. I've got various categories. I know lots will think I'm mad but I'm happy doing this.
Bank statements I keep for a year. I don't know why really, someone told me I should once, something to do with tax I think, it seems sensible so I do it. Every quarter at the start of the season I get out the oldest few that's more than a year old and they go into the shredding pile.
Savings accounts I keep the annual statement for the last few years. So now and then when I think of it, I'll go through and get rid of anything really old. I always keep the first opening paperwork and the last closing paperwork so there's a paper trail of where things came from and went to. But once an account is closed I shred all the annual statements.
Utility bills I only keep the last one, just to prove I'm paid up-to-date and so I have the account number and their phone number handy should I happen to need those. So every time a new one comes the old one goes into the shredding pile.
Paperwork from closed accounts or paperwork from living at previous addresses go into a different file than the still-current ones.
Cars I keep the repair receipts and servicing receipts in one section, the log book and MOT and current insurance certificate next to it. It's all shredded when I sell the car or given to the new owner as appropriate.
Manuals from anything electronic goes into a small box and whenever I get rid of something I go find the manual straight away and recycle that too.
I've never needed them but any exams, from school GCSEs to professional qualifications, the certificates are all in one file.
Pet paperwork is in its own file, one section per pet. Shredded when one dies.
Whenever the shredding pile looks big enough to bother, I get out the shredder.
Today's outs-
Shoes too small
Pyjamas top shrunk
Pyjamas trousers worn out
Face serum used up
Total is 4530