Associated’s Shredding Cancer event benefitting this year’s Dolphins Challenge Cancer drive is happening this Saturday, April 17th, from 9-11 AM, at 618 Breakers Avenue, steps away from beautiful Fort Lauderdale Beach.
In addition to supporting an incredible cause, shredding events are, in general, calendar-marking worthy.
So...Why a Shredding Event?
For many years, shredding events or “shred parties,” where a business or organization hosts clients or the public to the use of giant paper shredders, have presented a fun and easy way for folks to rid themselves of paper clutter.
Protection from Identity Theft. Old bills and financial documents are just the sorts of things that scammers and identity thieves want to get their hands on. The only way to be totally certain that you are safe is the total destruction of those documents and devices once their practical use has come to an end.
A shred party can also be a nice day out. It is not unusual for the big shredding trucks to be parked outside on a pleasant spring or summer day. Depending on the hosting organization, the shred party might be attached to some other activity, like a potluck, barbecue, or community celebration. COVID may limit part of the celebration this year, but the opportunity to shred documents may still present itself.
What Do You Bring? The better question may be: when is it wise to let go of the documents that you have been storing? It is important to be sure because they certainly aren’t something you can get back from the shredder once they’re gone!
A recent article from I.R.S. suggests the following guidelines:1
*For your tax returns, hold on to those for up to seven years.
*Purchase and sale statements for your house, for your entire ownership of the house.
*Utility bills, at least one year.
*Statements from your investment or brokerage account, at least one year.
*Purchase and sales confirmations related to your investment or brokerage account, at least one year.
*Statements from your bank account, at least one year.
*Statements from your credit card provider, at least one year.
It is important to remember, also, that the above represents a general guideline; different sources offer different suggestions. The I.R.S. acknowledges that, in some cases, it is okay to shred your tax returns after three years. Your financial professional may have a different prescription for you, however, based on their close understanding of your financial life.
Come join the entire Associated family as we shred cancer together! You can donate directly to the cause HERE! #OneTeamOneFight