Whether you work at home or in an office, there are plenty of documents that you don’t shred on a regular basis. These documents include tax returns, junk mail, and credit card receipts. While they aren’t particularly harmful to the environment, they may be a distraction to you if you don’t have the proper storage space.
Post-it notes
Using Post-it notes is a good way to capture important information when on the go. However, it’s important to dispose of the sticky stuff after it’s no longer useful. There are many ways to do this. You can compost your Post-it notes, or simply recycle them. This is an eco-friendly option that also benefits the environment. The most effective way to dispose of Post-it notes is to build a compost bin using wooden planks in well-drained soil. The bin should be big enough to hold six inches of brown matter, such as used sticky notes, sawdust, cardboard, and feathers.
The most obvious way to dispose of Post-it Notes is to shred them. A simple shredder can be a lifesaver in a pinch, and the process is a lot less messy than chucking them into a recycling bin.
Credit card receipts
Whether you use an ATM or not, you need to pay attention to the receipts you are receiving. They can contain private information that a crook can use for a fraudulent return or store credit. It is important to shred any receipts you get before discarding them. Unlike cash receipts, credit card receipts will include your card number, signature, and the last four digits of the card you used. This information can be used by a thief to hack your bank account. It is best to shred receipts immediately.
Another important thing to remember about receipts is to never write your PIN on anything. If you do, the fraudsters can enter your account. If you are using an ATM, be careful when entering your PIN.
Tax returns
During the tax season, you are bound to come across tax returns. Although they do not take up much room, they do contain some sensitive information.
There are several reasons why you should retain your tax records. Aside from providing proof of your filings, your records are also useful for reporting expenses and projecting your tax liability. Keeping good records can be a real-time saver when you need to file your taxes next year.
You’ll want to keep your tax documents for at least six years. If you’re not sure how long to keep them, check with your tax advisor. You can also keep them electronically. Digital copies will make it easier for you to organize and retrieve them. It’s a good idea to keep a record of your transactions for at least four years, especially if you are planning to sell your home in the near future. This includes your mortgage information and any insurance policies you have. You can store these documents in a fireproof safe.
Junk mail
Getting rid of junk mail is a simple step that everyone can take to protect themselves from identity theft. It can help to take the time to go through all of the documents in your home. Identifying and destroying the most sensitive documents will provide you with peace of mind.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you shred personal information. This includes account numbers, social security numbers, and medical records. If you don’t shred this information, you run the risk of fraud and identity theft.
You may also have receipts from companies that you do business with. These receipts can be used by identity thieves to open credit cards in your name. You should also shred any offers for financial services or products.
Hard drives
Using a hard drive to store important documents is more popular than ever. The last thing a business needs is a lapse in data security. The best way to ensure your information is safe is to create a retention policy for your hard drives. Some companies provide a certificate of destruction when you destroy a hard drive.
While a hard drive is not the best place to store important documents, you do not want to rely on them to get you through a crisis. In fact, it’s a good idea to create an emergency backup of important documents. One way to accomplish this is to create a hard drive on a cloud server, and then copy all of your files to it. This is the only sane way to do it, and you don’t have to worry about hackers accessing the drive. T help you shred your documents in Lowell MA, please call (978)636-0301 or Online here: https://mydocumentshredding.com