How long do you save your paid bill statements such as phone, gas,electric? All this paper is overwhelming!?

Answer 1

I only keep mine until the next billing cycle. On the next months bill it lists the last payment made and date and also any outstanding balances. There is no need to keep them all. If there is a dispute, you can take in your current month and show that it was paid the last month with no outstanding balance listed.

Answer 2

I have heard 3 months. I however keep all bills and receipts a year. I have set of 12 monthly folders I just drop all receipts and paid bills into. When the month comes around again I simply pull the previous years items out and shred them.

Answer 3

It depends - for example, the phone company has been illegally collecting taxes on phone bills, if you have the last 3 years of phone bills you can get the exact amount back from the government, otherwise you get $40 - in my case, I am getting over $300 back because I kept them.

also, check to see that the meter matches your bill before you toss the bill.

In general, I keep detailed records for 1 year, and purge year 2, except for tax records and business records, which I keep for 7 years (which is why I have 3 years of phone bills - business phone).

Answer 4

Hi, you don't need to save them at all. After you have paid, your check is your receipt, or your bank statement if you pay using a debit card.

If you don't get your checks back with your bank statement, the bank still has copies of the check if you ever need to prove that you paid the bill.

Take care. :-)

Answer 5

My personal statements I save for one year... but as far as my business goes I save them FOREVER !... If the IRS ever comes calling I will plop everything in their lap and say "have fun digging through it" I keep perfect records and want my receipts to back me up. Thats what my attic is for ! : )

Answer 6

The BOSS (wife) keeps those things for about 2 years, then we shred them.

My mother died recently and I've been going thru her stuff. Some of it went back to the 1970's.

Answer 7

You should not need them once they are paid if the bills are for household expenses. If the bills are legitimate business expenses, you should keep them for the time frame your accountant suggests.

Answer 8

Unless you can write off part of your utilities for taxes (ie. you have a home based business) I only keep proof of payment until I get the next invoice that shows payment was received. Otherwise keep it for a full tax year.

Answer 9

Scan all your bills/statements into your computer, and occasionally make back-up CDs for storage in your safe/safe deposit box, etc. Then you can basically shred everything...

Answer 10

90 days