We’ve been using shredders for about 15 years now. First there was the strip cutter, then the shredder that could chew up credit cards and CDs, then there was the crosscut shredder, and finally we have the shredder that totally pulverizes documents, leaving them looking much like the takings from the dryer’s lint filter.
But all those improvements don’t matter if you’re not shredding the right stuff, and the idea of what we need to shred has been through several permutations, too. So whether you’ve been shredding for years or you’re new to the practice, here’s the latest on what you need to shred.
There’s the usual:
- Credit card statements and bank or investment statements
- Canceled checks
- Anything with your Social Security or driver’s license number on it
- Copies of birth certificates, expired passports or visas
- Credit histories
- Tax forms
- Pre-approved credit card offers
But there are a slew of other documents you might not think of as being especially sensitive that should also be shredded. The idea is that you don’t want to give ID thieves anything to work with.
- Address labels from junk mail or magazines
- Anything with maiden name on it
- Anything with name, address, phone number or email address on it
- Anything with passwords or PINs on it
- Pay stubs
- Employment records, resumes or curriculum vitae
- Medical, dental records
- Anything with your signature on it
ID theft prevention might be your primary reason for shredding, but there are other benefits. Shredded documents make excellent and free packing material, they’re a great addition to a compost pile, and they can be worked into hard-packed soil to improve its texture.
Tags: crosscut, LifeLock promo code, shredder, shredding
