<prompt> Human: Hey personalfinance!! Im trying to get some things cleaned up in my life, messy finances included. Maybe you can help by answering a question for me?I feel bogged down by all the paper I have in relation to my finances. I have files upon files of statements from my various credit accounts. Credit cards, student loans, store cards, taxes, etc. of course minimizing the number of accounts I have and eliminating the debt associated with them is a goal I have, and something I am actively working on. My question for you right now though is how much of this paper do I need to keep!!?? Its too much, part of me wants to throw it all in the shredder and be done with it, but Im concerned I will toss something essential. Here is a basic breakdown of the files I have compulsively kept for years. Would you please tell me what I can toss and what I absolutely should keep:Taxes for all years since I started filing 2002Student loan statements since their beginning around 2004, including a couple that are paid offMonthly utility bills: water, electricity, phone, internet, gas etcCredit card statements for all of my cardsStore card statements for all of my cards, including closed accountsPaychecks for jobs for the last 3 years, all of which I no longer holdWhat of all of this can I get rid of?Im embarking on a journey, rpersonalfinance, and its hard and its scary. Yet, it is not unique. This is a path many have taken and successfully completed. I am a 30 year old woman, likely divorced soon, and I have a terrible history with money. Our relationship has never been good, but I want that to change. I want my relationship with finances and money to be successful. I am trying. I have already gleaned much information from this subreddit, and I will continue to turn to you for support. I want to stand solidly on my own two feet from here forward. This is going to be hard for a while, but I am confident with your support I will be able to do it.Thank you for listening. Thank you for your advice, any that you can offer.  <response>: This article on LifeHacker helped me go almost paperless.Theres also this Infographic that they featured. 