How long do you keep bank statements and other junk?

Thanks Luckygirl. I'd forgotten about that.

I wonder if you can view online as the history can indeed be interesting. Our last house in Surrey certainly did.

I was a book-keeper who also does tax returns for self-employed folk and HMRC state that you should keep records for 6 yrs BUT if they ever need to query anything they can go back 25 yrs. If you have been employed paying PAYE deducted by your employer, and have never needed to complete a self assessment tax return, I can't see why you would need to keep utility bills. You might want to keep bank statements if you get them sent to you as your bank may charge for copies. But I would only keep them for 6yrs. Hope this helps.

The legally required period for keeping any financial information that can be demanded by HMR&C 6 years! If you can't produce these you can be in serious trouble.
After that, if HMRC find any suspicion of a problem they can then go back further!

I'm glad I read this as I am clearing out old paperwork so will keep hold of anything going back 6 years.

My decree absolute is over 15 years old, and I have never needed it so that can be shredded now.

I only keep for 2 years then shred. Oh well!

Don't shred your divorce papers Ruby, we needed my aunt's when my cousin died and the estate was being wound up. It was to prove that the other side of the family had no claim on the house.