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I was reading some different articles about shredding paper while I was doing research into the type of paper shredder I had wanted to buy. It seems that the range in percentage of people who use a paper shredder are between 18% - 51%. That’s a lot of people who don’t shred paper and are susceptible to identity fraud.
I haven’t had that happen yet, thankfully. But reading the stories in the paper or seeing news on TV definitely makes me aware that I don’t want to be part of that club.
Since dumpster diving is perfectly legal in most areas of the country, you don’t want your information floating around that is easily read. I will qualify this by saying that the majority of dumpster divers (like myself) are honest people and wouldn’t even consider a crime of that nature. However it is the small percentage that always seems to ruin things for everyone and make life difficult.
In my search I have found that cross-cutter paper shredders are better than the the strip cutters, that have been around longer. Strip cutter shredders still allow the criminal to reassemble the document so that it can be used. Where as cross cutters make the process MUCH more difficult if not impossible.
What does this information have to do with frugal living?
1. Shredding documents helps maintain a good credit score(interest rates) without criminal intrusion
2. Shredded documents make great stuffing for packages, without adding weight.
Additonal article to read: Identity theft, new law about to send shredding on a tear
Popularity: 13% [?]
I use the shredded paper as bedding in my worm bin! Just getting one more use out of the paper.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:59 ami use shredded paper in the compost pile and as mulch in the garden and flowerbeds. it decomposes pretty fast when mixed with other vegetatation and does a good job keeping grass out of the garden. holds moisture well too. what is leftover from these jobs gets used for packaging, and for burning those late falling leaves.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 amHad to put in my two cents on this one: Just because one doesn’t own a shredder doesn’t mean documents are carelessly discarded in the trash. I’ve owned several shredders only to have them “crash and burn”. In my experience, a shredder is only one more piece of clutter to take up space and eventually to a landfill. Of course, it’s just ME in my household and I take care of all sensitive documents with a (space-saving) pair of scissors. For larger batches of items, I bring them into my work and use the shredder there (end of year pay-stubs, obsolete tax or mortgage documents, etc). So, a shredder isn’t always a necessity for everyone! Thanks as always for your great site.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 amAngie ~
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 amThis is true, as little as a shredder is used most times, if your job has an industrial shredder and approves of personal items being brought in (One job I worked for didn’t approve), then I see the advantage to saving the money and keeping things simple.
I think a shredder should be for everyone. I know several people who could have saved themselves from the pain of identity theft had they been more careful. It doesn’t take much for a trained criminal to get a hold of your unshredded mail. Just be sure to buy a shredder with a thermally protected motor and you won’t have to worry about it burning itself out like the cheap department shredders.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 amHere’s another use for your shreddings: Donate them to your local SPCA for bedding material. Most prefer the strip-cut to cross-cut.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 pmI couldn’t agree more. I am an honest dumpster diver. I have found everything from credit cards, birth certificates and SS# Cards. Not only do I shred everything, I burn it too.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:29 pmI recycle my shredded paper into new paper. Makes lovely stationary. Maybe someday I’ll even turn it to profit by selling it on Etsy.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:45 pmI can’t afford a shredder
I could always just buy those 10$ ones at wallmart, but they overheat and get clogged very easily. Not to mention, cross cuts are much more secure! I am accepting donations, hehe.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:52 amWe have just started to use a shredder for all our personal documents. It really does give us peice of mind and also i nebver run out of bedding for my hampster, he loves it.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:57 am@AJ-
Thank you for that tip. I will have to check with my local animal adoption center
@Sniffydogs-
Just don’t set fire to the whole dumpster!
@Jamie-
I think that is wonderful, I hope you do make a good profit selling them. Home-made paper is very pretty.(Almost to pretty to use)
@Kate-
February 25th, 2008 at 9:23 amSee, there you go, a double use for the shredder.
These days, I pretty much conduct all of my finances and business online without the use of paper. The only confidential paper docs that come in are those credit card pre-approval applications, which I usually just rip up with a vengeance. Other than that, I don’t see the need for a paper shredder machine. Maybe if I had more paper to shred…
February 25th, 2008 at 12:27 pm-Raymond
I use my “to destroy” piles for kindling. Much more efficient and one less thing to buy or throw away.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:02 pmI need to add this site to my rss, thanks for providing the link. Not only am I frugal ( a ladies dream) I also like things to be made easy. Here’s my public service, a great shredder
March 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pm