How long do you keep old paperwork for?

[Servalan]

OK, it's high time I had a massive de-clutter. I have bank statements and payslips in my filing cabinet going back years and years and I want to destroy some of these to make some space.

How long is it a good idea to keep hold of:

1. Old bank statements

1. Old payslips (bearing in mind lots of these are for bits and bobs of temping I did all around the place rather than for a fixed employer)

1. Old bills?

Thank you

I keep mine for eight years as that is as far back as the taxman can go.

They are all in boxes labelled 2001/02 etc in the attic.

p.s. You can't be as bad at 'cluttering' as my husband. I was tidying a box I found in the garage and it had petrol receipts from 1994!

Thanks Elk. Actually I think I've got things from the 90s gathering dust too .

Good idea about a box in the attic. Perhaps I'll pop some stuff up there too

I kept all my old payslips - yes every single one since 1983 - but got rid of some about a year ago - just kept the P60s.

Think I have heard that you should keep bank statements for 2 years, although bank will give copies. We use online banking and have cancelled paper statements. Gas and electric also online.

I probably have every till receipt from about 6 years. Ridiculous.