How crazy am I?

[New England Eeyore]

I decided that it was finally time to conquer my file cabinet - it's getting so full the papers scream whenever I shut it. So I'm following all the guidelines about how long to keep stuff, but I'm having the hardest time throwing out my old credit card statements. Most of my file cabinet stuff doesn't go back before 2002 when we got married, but I have credit cards statements going back to my very first credit card in college! It's like walking down memory lane looking at them! I told DH it's the scrapbooker in me - I just can't throw these out! Totally bringing back things I forgot. Like the time I went to a business meeting at a casino, DH tagged along and used his credit card to get 3 cash advances (at a $10 fee each time!) once he ran out of the money he came with. He loved being reminded of that. Then of course there are the Disney trip related statements - I just can't throw those away!

So I did remove the old stuff from the file cabinet and moved it into a separate box to look through later. I have to go through them anyway to make sure there are no important charges I have to save, so I figure along the way I'll have some fun. Who knows - I just might end up doing a credit-card inspired scrapbook!

 

[patchchild]

I've laughed at my DH because he has every statement as well. Now, about once a year, I clean out files. I pull everything more than a year old and put it into manilla mailing envelopes. They all sit in a box in the attic. That way, my DH can continue to keep every scrap of paper, and I can still fit things in the cabinet.

 

[hopemax]

I had everything until the beginning of this year. Most of it, I was tough and ran it through the shredder. I kept a couple things, like the one with my engagement ring on it. I kept the receipt to my first rent payment. But I had two tubs worth of stuff, and I cut it down to one shoebox.

 

[lewdyan1]

Very crazy!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

TOSS TOSS TOSS!!!!

My whole family is made up of pack rats!!! If I don't need it or use it in 6 months out it goes.
Credit statements, monthly bills, etc... get moved from the current year cabinet to the previous year and the next year they get tossed.

 

[New England Eeyore]

Well, I'm exhausted but I'm pretty much done. I just have to make files for DH's new job/benefits/etc but I have to go through those papers with him to see what's important.

I have 2 grocery bags full of recycling, 1 grocery bag full of stuff to shred and a file box of credit card and bank statements to go through before shredding. That'll take awhile, but I can do a little at a time. And the cabinet looks terrific!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

We kept everything when we first got married...but we know only keep things on file for a year.. unless it's something to do w/ medical benefits (I keep that for 5 years)....We do keep our tax records though forever.. I have them in an according style file system... I shredd junk mail every 2 weeks... well actually that is DS6's chore..

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

YES very crazy!!! hahah!!

DH is a saver, I just go behind his back twice a year and clear it all out!!

 

[jennyL]

I can feel for you. We started cleaning out the nursery closet and I have boxes of old statements. I think the earliest they go back is 1995 at least thats all I've seen so far. They are done by year though so I just grab a folder and get to sorting into trash and shred. The problem is I still have all my same accounts with the same numbers so I have to shred almost everything. I even have the receipts for all credit card purchases and they mostly have the card number on them too. I got one whole box down and only three more to go. LOL