DEAR HARRY: Since last spring, two of my friends' identities were almost stolen. Fortunately, both were able to stop it from happening, and neither was hurt. However, they have been urging me to be more cautious. As a result, I went out and bought a shredder. The directions in the manufacturer's literature would have me shred everything short of our paper napkins. I figure that they exaggerate in order to get me and others to overuse the shredders. What's the real deal here, Harry?
Harry Gross: When is shredding necessary?
WHAT HARRY SAYS: First and foremost are financial records that have your name, address, or account numbers. It's a good idea to keep these for six years. This includes broker statements. Shred anything with your SS number or date of birth and anything from a company you've recently patronized other than those you do business with regularly. You only have to keep your 1040s for three years, but they should go into the shredder after that. Often community groups have a huge truck available with strong shredders. These are OK as long as you stay to make sure your stuff gets shredded. Many things don't need shredding. Junk mail leads that list. Many documents contain only your name and address. You can just toss them in the regular trash. And, when in doubt - shred.
Write Harry Gross at the Daily News, 801 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107.
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