www.rd.com Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700:4400::ac40:9573  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

POST https://www.rd.com/newsletter/?posturl=https://www.rd.com/article/mail-you-can-throw-away

<form action="https://www.rd.com/newsletter/?posturl=https://www.rd.com/article/mail-you-can-throw-away" method="post" data-name="newslettersignup" data-module="newslettersignup" data-position="footer">
  <label class="hidden" for="email-footer">Enter email address</label>
  <input type="text" id="email-footer" name="email" placeholder="Email Address" aria-label="Add email address" class=" js-bound">
  <button type="submit" id="subscribe-footer">Sign Up</button>
</form>

GET https://www.rd.com

<form class="pure-form" id="hamburger-searchform" role="search" method="get" action="https://www.rd.com">
  <div class="hamburger-search-form-wrapper">
    <label class="hidden" for="s"> Search terms </label>
    <input class="hamburger-searchbar js-bound" type="text" value="" name="s" id="s" placeholder="Search">
    <input type="submit" class="hamburger-searchsubmit search-button" aria-label="Search">
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

Skip to main content

A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Sign Up for Newsletters
Subscribe Now
Give a Gift


SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

1 Year for Only $10!

Give a gift SUBSCRIBE


RD LARGE PRINT

1 Year for Only $18!

Give a gift SUBSCRIBE

Sign Up for Newsletters

Subscribe
Subscribe

1 Year for Only $10!


RD Large Print

1 Year for Only $18!


Sign Up for Newsletters



 * The Healthy
   
 * Food
   
 * Home
   
 * Humor
   
 * Knowledge
   
 * Holidays
   
 * Subscribe
   

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

RD.COM Home


5 TYPES OF MAIL YOU CAN SAFELY THROW AWAY (AND 4 YOU CAN’T)


Michelle L. BlackUpdated: Apr. 26, 2021
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock


NO ONE LIKES FOR THEIR HOME TO BE TAKEN OVER BY PILES OF PAPERWORK. BUT WHEN
YOU'RE STARING AT A FRESH STACK OF INCOMING MAIL, IT CAN BE TOUGH TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH ENVELOPES YOU NEED TO KEEP AND WHICH ONES YOU CAN SAFELY TOSS STRAIGHT
INTO THE RECYCLING BIN.

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

Do you hate clutter? If so, you’ll be happy to learn that you don’t need to hang
onto every letter or document that finds its way into your mailbox. Eric Nisall,
personal finance and tax expert, weighs in with some advice on five types of
mail that you don’t need to keep.

Before you toss out any mail or documents containing your personal information
(name, address, account numbers, etc.), run those papers through a paper
shredder first. Add these revealing everyday documents you never knew you should
shred to that list while you’re at it.


TYPES OF MAIL YOU CAN SAFELY THROW AWAY:


BANK STATEMENTS

When it comes to your bank statements, the good news is that you can probably
opt to have them delivered to you electronically. In fact, depending upon your
bank or credit union, switching over to electronic statements might even reduce
your monthly fees.

If you prefer having physical banks statements delivered, Nisall says it’s fine
to discard them immediately after you’ve reviewed them since you will most
likely have access to at least a year’s worth online.




MONTHLY BILLS

Have you been hanging on to monthly bills, like utilities or credit card
statements, after they’ve been paid? There’s no need to do so, once you’ve
reviewed the bill for accuracy.

Nisall says, “Once you’re satisfied that the bill is for the correct amount, you
can shred it immediately since it serves no purpose going forward. If you ever
need to show a utility bill for proof of residency, you can go online and print
off the last statement and not waste your space with useless paper.”


CREDIT CARD OFFERS

The pre-approved credit card offer is another culprit that commonly clogs up
mailboxes. And while you can potentially access some great reward-earning
opportunities this way, if you’re not currently in the market for a credit card,
Nisall says there’s no need to hang on to them. “Most [pre-approved credit card
offers] are time-sensitive anyway,” Nisall points out, “so there is no benefit
to saving these documents.” These should definitely be shredded before being
tossed.



If you want to stop receiving pre-approved offers of credit in the mail, the
Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to do this—visit
OptOutPrescreen.com to learn how.


NEIGHBORHOOD COUPONS AND JUNK MAIL

If you’re like most people, your mailbox is probably filled with neighborhood
shopping coupons and other types of junk mail. Whether you’re receiving vacation
offers, insurance solicitations, or anything similar, there’s no reason to keep
you from tossing those papers directly into your recycling bin—unless you plan
to use a coupon or sales paper to save on an upcoming purchase.
Keep in mind, if a piece of junk mail contains any of your personal information
(such as your name, address, etc.), a number of experts advocate for shredding
those documents first. Even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that
“Destroying documents with your personal information reduces the likelihood of
becoming an identity theft victim.” Here’s how to stop getting so much junk mail
in the first place.


INVITATIONS AND THANK YOU NOTES

These days, it’s common to receive an invitation to your friend’s birthday party
on Facebook. Your niece might send you an email invite to a Christmas party
online. But sometimes you’ll still receive a good old fashioned thank you note
or invitation in your mailbox. Should you keep it or toss it in the trash after
the event has come and gone? The answer to that question depends entirely upon
how you feel about clutter (and probably how you feel about the person who sent
the invite or thank you note in the first place).



The good news is, there’s really no right or wrong answer here. Plus, you can
always scan the note or invitation and save the memory without taking up any
physical space in your home.


TYPES OF MAIL YOU NEED TO KEEP

Here’s a look at some of the documents you should probably hold onto—at least
for a while.


W–2S AND 1099S

Your W-2s and 1099s need to be saved for seven years. If you’re wondering why,
Nisall explains that it’s an IRS requirement as they support your tax returns.
In addition, you may need up to two year’s worth when trying to get a mortgage
or student loan. After the seven-year period is up, you can shred, then toss.


PAY STUBS

Your pay stubs represent another type of document that you shouldn’t be so quick
to throw away. Why? You might need them to prove your income if you are you are
looking to rent/lease a home or a car, or get a loan, Nisall explains. However,
you probably don’t need to hang on to every pay stub you’ve ever received; just
the most recent three or four.




INSURANCE POLICIES

When you take out insurance coverage, the insurance company will often send you
a copy of the full policy in the mail. (If they fail to do so, you should
request a copy.)

Of course, you need to keep copies of any active policies, but Nisall says you
only need to “keep your insurance policy until the new period takes over. Once
you sign and pay for a new policy, the old one ceases to be valid, so unless you
are interested in comparing the rates/coverages over time, [copies of old
insurance policies] will provide very little value.” While you can toss old
insurance policies, you’ll want to keep these financial documents forever.


MEDICAL BILLS

When it comes to any medical bills you receive in the mail, hold onto medical
bills for one year before you discard them, recommends the FTC. However, if
you’re in the middle of an insurance dispute over any medical charge, you may
need to hold onto those bills for a longer period of time. Read on to find out
what happens to undeliverable mail with no return address.






POPULAR VIDEOS

ⓘ








More From Reader's Digest


0 seconds of 2 minutes, 30 secondsVolume 0%

Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard ShortcutsEnabledDisabled
Play/PauseSPACE
Increase Volume↑
Decrease Volume↓
Seek Forward→
Seek Backward←
Captions On/Offc
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf
Mute/Unmutem
Seek %0-9

Next Up
Cat Breed Jokes
01:07
0.5x1x1.25x1.5x2x
facebook twitter Email
Linkhttps://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/wYVLwyRG
Copied
Embed<iframe src="//cdn.jwplayer.com/players/wYVLwyRG-wjcpcdaI.html" width="640"
height="360" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto"></iframe>
Copied
Live
00:00
02:30
02:30








 




Originally Published: August 07, 2019




Michelle L. Black
Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert, finance writer, and travel writer
with nearly 20 years of experience. She's also the founder of CreditWriter.com,
a judgement-free personal finance community for busy moms like herself. When
she's not writing about credit and money, Michelle loves to travel with her
family of 5 — usually to somewhere sunny and warm.




Now Trending

The Nectar Mattress Solved All of My Side Sleeper Problems

10 Best Bed Quilts for Cozier Nights

10 Best Cordless Vacuums You Can Buy Right Now






 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

 * The Healthy
 * Food
 * Home
 * Humor

 * Knowledge
 * Travel
 * Videos
 * Subscribe

Our Brands

 * Taste of Home
 * Family Handyman
 * Birds & Blooms
 * The Healthy

 * LifeRich Publishing
 * Advertise with Us
 * About Us
 * Contact Us
 * Customer Service
 * Terms of Use
 * Privacy Policy
 * Your CA Privacy Rights
 * Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents
 * Accessibility Statement
 * About Ads
 * Affiliate Program

© 2022 Trusted Media Brands, Inc.


SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS

Enter email address Sign Up
Enjoy the BEST stories, advice & jokes!

Search terms


We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site
experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices.

We recommend our users to update the browser.

 * Google Chrome
 * Apple Safari
 * Mozilla Firefox
 * Microsoft Edge

 * Arts & EntertainmentMore Items
   * Books
   * Personality Type
   * Quotes
   * Royal Family
   * Zodiac
   * ALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
 * Beauty & FashionMore Items
   * Clothing
   * Hair Care
   * Hair Styles
   * Makeup
   * Shoes & Accessories
   * Skincare
   * ALL BEAUTY & FASHION
 * FoodMore Items
   * Healthy Eating
   * News & Advice
   * Recipes
   * ALL FOOD
 * Holidays & Observances
 * HomeMore Items
   * Cleaning
   * Decor
   * DIY
   * Gardening
   * Organizing
   * Pest Control
   * Repair
   * ALL HOME
 * HumorMore Items
   * Cartoons
   * Funny Stories & Photos
   * Jokes
   * ALL HUMOR
 * JokesMore Items
   * Submit Your Joke
   * Submit Your Cartoon
   * Corny Jokes
   * Funny One-Liners
   * Knock-Knock Jokes
   * Riddles
   * ALL JOKES
 * KnowledgeMore Items
   * Brain Games
   * Etiquette
   * Facts
   * Grammar & Spelling
   * Psychology
   * ALL KNOWLEDGE
 * MoneyMore Items
   * Budgeting
   * Deals
   * Retirement
   * Scams
   * Spending
   * Taxes
   * ALL MONEY
 * Pets & AnimalsMore Items
   * Cats
   * Dogs
   * ALL PETS & ANIMALS
 * RelationshipsMore Items
   * Dating
   * Friendships
   * Marriage
   * Parenting
   * ALL RELATIONSHIPS
 * TechMore Items
   * Internet
   * Personal Tech
   * ALL TECH
 * TravelMore Items
   * Airlines
   * Airport Security
   * Packing & Accessories
   * Vacations
   * ALL TRAVEL
 * True StoriesMore Items
   * Holiday Stories
   * Inspiring Stories
   * Love Stories
   * Nicest Places
   * Survival Stories
   * ALL TRUE STORIES
 * Work & CareerMore Items
   * Career Planning
   * Succeeding at Work
   * ALL WORK & CAREER
 * Videos
 * Contests
 * Shop
 * Subscribe
 * Newsletters
 * About Us
 * Follow UsMore Items
   * Facebook
   * Pinterest
   * Instagram
   * Twitter