Here are guidelines for what to shred

Safely destroy personal documents such as: unused checks, unwanted credit card offers & junk mail.

Credit card receipts and statements: Keep receipts until your monthly statement arrives; if that's correct, shred the receipts. Exceptions: Keep a receipt if you're disputing a bill or to cover a warranty or return period. Keep the statements for seven years if they contain tax-related expenses.

Paycheck stubs: Make sure the information on your paycheck stubs matches your annual W-2 when you receive it, then shred the stubs. If your employer lists vacation/sick leave carryover on your paycheck stub, keep the last one of the year. Notify your employer if the information doesn't match.

Credit union records: At the end of each year, go through your share draft carbons or statements and only keep those related to taxes, business expenses, and housing or mortgage payments.

Tax records: The IRS has three years to audit your return, and you have three years to file an amended return to claim a refund if you made a mistake. If you made the mistake of under-reporting your gross income by 25% or more on a return, the IRS has six years to challenge it. If you filed a fraudulent return or didn't file one at all, the IRS can catch you on it at any time. Keep a copy of all 1040 tax forms permanently.

Miscellaneous: Keep these items permanently-social security documents, birth and death certificates, citizenship papers, adoption papers, marriage license, divorce papers, military records, insurance claims, accident reports and claims, proof of ownership and major debt repayment, IRA contribution records, legal correspondence, and updated household inventory.