how long to hold old bills
Ongoing Bills. 1  Utility Bills: Hold on to these for one yearâjust in case there are any billing issues. If you claim a home-office deduction, keep statements for three years because that's how long the IRS generally has to challenge tax returns. 2  Pay Stubs: Save one year's worth.
I shred them once the file gets full. It is handy to keep bills for at least 1 year. I do an annual review of past year's utility bills so I know how much dh and I need to budget over the year for household bills and adjust the monthly standing order payments to the joint household account accordingly.