Getting rid of old paperwork

[AngieM2]

I know this seems a strange topic for this forum - but then, maybe not....

I am overcome with all those bank receipts, old tax papers, etc - stuff that a smart person could take out of trash and use to demolish your electronic being by stealing your identity.

I have a shredder that takes awhile to go through that stuff.

I have an unused table top basic bbq grill.

I am considering checking out the possibility of setting the grill on the legs and just the fire area bowl on the stove top, under the exhaust fan to outside - and a few at a time just burn the papers as I go through them.

How do you get rid of those papers that cannot safely just be tossed in the trash?

[mpillow]

The wood stove...
Do you know anyone near you that uses one?...the BBQ thing is a little risky w/o a screen covering...

[chickenslayer]

We use the woodstove also

[beaglebiz]

I burn mine either in the wood stove or in our outside firepit. if you decide to try the grill, please do it outside.
When my dad died, I had to clean his place out, and we had case after case of papers. I brought them all home, stacked them upstairs in the hall (out of sight from the first floor, our house is small, and even a box laying around makes it look cluttered). I went through piece by piece, one big box at a time. That was awful

[jwal10]

I shred all junk mail and uneeded paperwork and compost it along with newspaper and paper towels. The worms love it and makes the soil so nice and loose....James

[Cyngbaeld]

Use the shredder, it is safer.

[Trixters_muse]

I used to burn mine in the outside fire pit until my mom upgraded her shredder and gave me her other one. Now I shred and compost.

[Ohiogal]

Take the whole bunch of bags and whatever you have, to a local shredding center. In my area, there are companies that do that for a small fee. There is also the county which does it for free, if you live in the geographic confines of the county.

If you elect the burn method, do it outside. The risk of smoke/fire is too great.

Some of those receipts might not burn too great - clay coated paper is hard to ignite.

[Gary in ohio]

shred or burn...

[Ohio dreamer]

Depends on the season. Wood stove in the cold weather, shredded and compost pile in the summer (or as mulch around the tomatoes). When our shredded was getting slow we gave in and bought a new one. It's a prep item for us as important as other "equipment"...keeping us safe until the collapse of electronics (if it comes in our life time).

Know anyone that has a fire pit? Offer to bring a package of hot dogs and fire starter. That BBQ inside seems too unsafe.

[TNHermit]

I was under the impression that if you were a self employed type you had to keep papers that relate forever. If not point me in the right direction. I won't need to cut wood this winter

[chickenman]

I shred mine and use it in the chicken coop.

I was always told to retain records for 7 years and then discard. Is that not correct?

[AngieM2]

I always thought IRS stuff for 7 years, but last year when cousins were going through Uncle David's stuff - they found out it was only needed to be kept 3 years. I do need to double check that,
And will most likely continue the shredding, or take a few at a time to the large shred can at work, virtually all our trash papers are shredded and they've employed a service once a week to empty and shred in their mobile big shredding truck.

It's just a chore that would not be necessary if people were honest.
But we have to protect ourselves these days too.

[JuliaAnn]

Woodstove or shred and compost/mulch/let the chickens poop on it.

[farmerpat]

Angie -- if you find out about the 7 yrs vs 3 yrs, please let us know. I thought it was 7 yrs too, and since we have a small business and are self-employed, my attic is bursting with stuff I'm too scared to burn/shred/toss!

I do all of my junk mail/credit card offers/etc burning in the winter in the wood stove. It is double duty - gets rid of the stuff and keeps the house warm! In the summer, I either use the burn bin by the hen house or the bbq grill, depending on how much I have to burn at once.

[Bluesgal]

If you burn the paper in the house... bad. the little pieces will fly over, dangerous. I admit I do take some stuff to the office and shred it there, those big shredders do quick work and hidden in all the office stuff I'm too worried about it being rooted through. Most of it I shred at home. When i moved a year ago I took the boxes that needed to be shredded to a local "shredathon".

I've also been "blacking out" shipping labels on boxes, magaiznes, perscription bottles, etc.. I wish I had a way to burn, but no fireplace and too much of a risk for brush fires..

[TNHermit]

I want to ask this nicely.

Is there any REAL reason you can't use the stuff for mulch. It all breaks down. I've read the scare stuff and I garden organically as much as possible but there is a point. If ink off some papers that is water based is going to upset the global environment then I will go along. I highly doubt it.

[farmerpat]

I don't mulch as I don't have a shredder. I burn mine and then I'm sure it won't blow away in our high winds we get much of the year

[ghmerrill]

Like most of you self employed, I have tons too! Some of it are old credit card authorization slips.... From back in the bad ol days when your FULL card number was printed! I have ben scared to do anything with them like recycling, because I could imagine a big stink if someone wanted to cause a sensation.... That leaves shredding or burning.... And its a huge box!
On top of that I have stacks of other boxes of invoices and stuff.

With the multitude of regulating authorities now, each having the power to lock you in a dark hole with little "due process", and the way the media gets a hold of things and blows molehills into everest size crisis, getting rid of important papers can be a concern!

[AngieM2]

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/...=98513,00.html

from the IRS site, seems different scenes, different time frames.