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Warranties and User Manuals

  • Save active warranties; equally important is letting go of expired ones.
  • Although the 100-page tomes covering operating details of shiny new gadgets are not financial documents, I've included them here because they go hand-in-hand with warranties and contribute to so much clutter. If you find yourself staring at a user manual for the cell phone you lost in a cab last month, trash it right now! And if you're comfortable Web surfing, get rid of all user manuals: Manufacturers have downloadable versions on their Web sites, and plenty of third-party sites amalgamate manuals from different companies (try UsersManualGuide.com and ManualNGuide.com).

Forever Docs

  • Some stuff should never, ever be tossed: birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, will, trust, estate planning documents, and death certificates. Make sure your family can access these important records if you die.
  • I'd also suggest keeping a permanent file of all loans you have paid off (mortgage, car, school, and so on) because if you later find a mistake with how the data was reported to credit bureaus—or if an identity thief complicates your life—having those docs handy will save you much grief.

Keep It or Not?

Get Rid Of... ATM slips more than a month old. Toss them after checking them against your monthly statement.

Be Sure to Save... Receipts for big-ticket purchases that might be included in an insurance claim. And photograph the possessions; the more documentation you have, the easier the claims process will be.

More Advice From Suze
From the March 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Please note: This is general information and is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult with your own financial advisor before making any major financial decisions, including investments or changes to your portfolio, and a qualified legal professional before executing any legal documents or taking any legal action. Harpo Productions, Inc., OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Discovery Communications LLC and their affiliated companies and entities are not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your financial or legal decisions.

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