Organise all your correspondence and important documents
Narrow down paperwork to the essentials that must be kept and sort into relevant categories.
- Bin all old leaflets, catalogues and junk mail that isn’t of interest.
- Check shopping receipts and cash machine slips against your bank/credit card statements, and shred any that you don’t need to keep.
What to keep in your files
Have a file for each of the following – some may need to be sub-divided into plastic sleeves
- Statements from banks and building societies, credit-card bills
- Car – MOT certificates, registration and insurance documents (separate files for each vehicle)
- Employment records, payslips, pension information and tax returns
- Family – one file for each child with health and school records, etc
- Property – mortgage papers, building warranties
- Instruction manuals and warranties for appliances (bin any for items you no longer own)
- Insurance policies – separate into buildings, contents, health, travel
- Medical cards
- Bills – separate into gas, electricity, water, telephone and broadband, council tax, TV licence, etc
- Miscellaneous correspondence – keep an extra A-Z file for this
What to keep in a fireproof box or cabinet
Hard-to-replace documents should be stored securely, such as:
- Certificates of birth, marriage, divorce, custody/adoption and death
- Diplomas, qualifications and examination certificates
- House insurance policy details – key information in case of emergency
- Your will – keep a copy at home
- Passports and visas
- Share certificates and savings books
What to keep at your solicitor’s office
- House deeds
- Original copies of your current will
