How long should I keep credit statements, collections letters, etc.?

[bluemartini]

I am in the middle of a Chapter 7. The 341 was today, everything went smoothly.

However I have a ton of papers that I would really like to get rid of. My lawyer's paralegal told me the other day that I can have a shredding party if I want to, once I get my discharge papers.

Is that true? Obviously I would keep the bankruptcy discharge papers forever. But I'm talking about the credit card statements, collections letters, the copies of the mortgage and home equity loans I signed on the house that was foreclosed last year. Can I get rid of them once I'm discharged?

[brokejoker]

My hubby and I sat outside around a borrowed chimenea and burned allllllll the stacks of collection letters and old credit card bills. We toasted to our new life post BK and basked in the glow of discharged debt. It was nice.

[bluemartini]

LOL, I'm loving that image. A nice little bonfire would be more symbolic than going to Office Max and buying a shredder, which is what I was thinking. Now considering the chiminea instead of the shredder.

[moneyblues]

That does sounds beautiful and romantic The past up in flames I'm basking just thinking about it.

[tcreegan]

Hi all,

My wife has kept anything and everything since we got married, I used to tease her about it....until it saved my heiny a half dozen times...and a couple more.....I don't tease anymore, burn some old pieces of fence in the firepit and roast marshmellows...

Tom in Colo