What to Shred

The short and simple answer is just about everything; especially if it includes a name, address, account number, social security number, or a signature.

Here's a list of items that should always be shredded:

• Address labels from junk mail and magazines
• ATM receipts
• Bank statements
• Birth certificate copies
• Canceled and voided checks
• Credit and charge card bills, carbon copies, summaries and receipts
• Credit reports and histories
• Documents containing names, addresses, phone numbers or e-mail addresses
• Brokerage statements
• Documents containing passwords or PIN numbers
• Driver's licenses or items with a driver's license number
• Employee pay stubs
• Employment records
• Expired passports and visas
• Identification cards
  • College IDs
  • State IDs
  • Employee ID badges
  • Military IDs
• Legal documents
• Property transaction documents
• Items with a signature
  • Leases
  • Contracts
  • Letters
• Medical and dental records
• Papers with a Social Security number
• Pre-approved credit card applications
• Receipts with checking account numbers
• Report cards
• Resumés or curriculum vitae
• Tax forms
• Transcripts
• Travel itineraries
• Used airline tickets
• Utility bills (telephone, gas, electric, water, cable TV, Internet)
• Business documents
  • Invoices
  • Sales receipts
  • Credit card receipts
  • Credit cart statements