burning those papers today in big bonfire, was great, not so much while doing it, memories flooded in, now a sense of peace

Forget "old". I have found that it is difficult to do much of anything in recent years without birth certificate and soc sec card.

WAY TO GO! Diane :D

Way back in 1986 I was in a major flood.
Lost a LOT of papers.
Said "OH WELL" shrug
I will replace than if or when I may need them.
I contacted the DMV for replacement tags for my license plates on a car that spent two months under water. Had just received the new tags and had not yet stuck them on the license plate & they washed away. Waste of my time doing that since the car was trashed, but "OH WELL".
Haven't needed to replace anything really.

All these years later and I am just now sending off to get a copy of my birth certificate.
Might need that to apply for something now that I am old. lol ;D

cleaning out file cabinet today, found lots of papers over 10 years old, as well as my moms old checks, she has been dead over 10 years, good to burn them.

In regard to cost basis, I think you would also add to that things like records for stocks, mutual funds, iras, etc. You have to document cost and gains at time of sale of stocks, and sometimes your ira contributions are not fully deductible. Information you will need after you retire and start selling these items.

Some few items, mostly related to home improvement, do need to be saved to establish cost basis for real estate sales or insurance. Also any blueprints and info on appliances, roofing, are helpful for resale or warranty work. That small bit can fit in an accordian file.

Oh, to have such a problem!

Thank you Cory. You have me worried when you said I have the "Hoarders Mentality." I think most of my 30 years of collecting paperwork is from when I was in the Navy for 20 years... Heard of the saying "If it is not in writing it did not happen"? Well I guess the military kind of put that "saving things" in me. I can go to a box from 25 years ago and locate anything. There is no need for it and with that I see your point and will start getting rid of all my files prior to 2004. I appreciate you getting back with me.

If that's the only thing you hoard, you are lucky. If you are able to realize that you have an excess of them AND you are able to get rid of some, then it doesn't sound like you have much of a hoarding problem (at least, not compared to me!)

I do not think that the boxes by themselves would be considered true hoarding. I do think that the fact you have kept them 30 years are showing hoarding mentality though. The irrational fear of getting a call from a payment you made 30 years ago is an issue. The recommended period for keeping paperwork is 7 years. Nobody can in most cases are going to search or request anything from beyond that point. With that being said, are you a hoarder...no, should you work on letting go of the paperwork from the point of before 2004..most definitely :)

If you save old files (from 1977-present) which are in boxes organized is that considered hoarding or can it lead to hoarding? I am a well organized person whose home stays clean things are in place. I keep old paperwork (receipts, invoices, paid bills etc) in boxes in the garage. The reason I keep these files in case someone ever calls and says "you did not pay this" or do "you have a copy of that". I hear you should keep at least current and 3 years back of files.. Basically I want to know is this considered hoarding? Thank you