Does EVERYONE on here have a shredder? What do you do if you don't?

[mrsbabookaloo]

Hi,

Ttying to clear out paperwork drawers and did a search on here for advice re how long to keep stuff. I know you shouldn't put stuff from bank/inland revenue etc in the recycling because of identity fraud, but everybody talks nonchalantly about shredding as if a shredder is a household item that everyone has.

What do I do with this stuff? Shred it with scissors? Keep it in the garage? Just rip it up a bit and chuck in recycling? (it would have to be a lucky opportunist to look thru my recycling the same week I'm doing a clear out..?)

We use a shredder, couldn't cope without it really. We have such alot of paperwork (who doesn't!) most of it personal so it needs to be shredded. Used to hate having to tear by hand, never used to get round to it!!

ooh, this has moved on in my absence.
It's not just spending the money on a shredder that I object to, it's having to have one at all: another piece of equipment, no space in our tiny flat, another thing with a lead and a plug and such a boring ugly thing at that and for such a depressing purpose...preventing identity fraud...god, take my identity!..I just got charged 98 pounds by the bank for going overdrawn!

I would just like to announce that thanks to this thread I am now the proud owner of a fantastic (but lethal looking) pair of shredding scissors all for the princely sum of £2.99 - just snipped address off letter and recycled rest, in 2 easy snips. Thanks! (Perma takes a bow)

Glad my thread inspired you to action, perma...I haven't done anything yet!