Yes, I have files and paperwork over sixty years old. Why do I keep this stuff? I have tax returns back to 1995. Isn’t the statute of limitations five or seven years? I have cancelled checks and bank statements back to 1977. Files on previously own cars. Who cares when the oil was changed on my 1973 Vega Chevrolet. I have about two drawers full of credit card statements and purchase receipts. Many of the credit cards have been closed long ago. I could go on and on with examples of more than likely useless files.

I also have files on homes I previously owned. I am hesitant to get rid of them. For example, some years ago I received a letter from a utility company saying that I owed back money because the renter stopped paying. These bills were after the time the house was sold. I had to verify that I sold the house before the bills were dated. I am glad that I never destroyed that information.

Files and records are a necessary evil. The hard part is to decide what should be kept and what is unnecessary to save. Paperless records have helped since saving an electronic statement is much easier than filing a paper document. Seven years ago, when we moved into our new home, I had the ambition to clean out my file cabinets. How boring! That did not last long, maybe two hours. Yes, it is on my list of things to do, but I kind of doubt if it will ever happen. My family can do that after I leave.

Daily writing prompt

Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

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