I have at least ten years worth of the things; Im trying to throw them away but cant. Is there a reason I should save them?

Talk to an accountant.

How far back can your tax man audit you??

Inst the midst of moving, I ran across something very odd indeed...an
uncashed check from my early years. About 160 dollars worth.
Sons of Bitches got work done for free that week!

luv4u said:

Well you don't show your pays stubs during an audit you show your W2. There is no reason to save them whatsoever unless you like to go back and see what you used to make. I don't even save mine for a day. Once the money is in the account and there aren't any errors on it there isn't any reason to save it. I can also view my online if the need were ever to arrise but it never has.

I don't get a stub anymore, it's all online. I can access them there if I like, but I've never found a need.

CarrieMpls said:

Yep- no pay stubs OR pay checks! And I never check my check online either.

Why is it that America still uses checks to such a great extent? I guess it's nice to have a paper trail, but surely the hassle and cost of sending and cashing these things outweighs the advantages?

I think it's still theoretically possible to pay with checks in Sweden, but the last time it was a normal thing to do was sometime back in the 60s.

StDrew said:

the legal requirement for storage of records in the USA is six years, for business records, tax records, etc.

10 years? lol I would keep MAYBE the last 3 years. Hun throw the rest out

retina said:

i only use checks to pay rent, but that's only because my landlord gives no other option. i guess i could pay with cash or money order, but what's the point of that if i have checks? though seriously, if not for that, i wouldn't need checks at all.

my mom still uses them like crazy. she still writes checks at the grocery and everything. i've tried to demonstrate the magic of the debit card, but she's not having it.

Anx said:

You just don't get it, do you? There's no need for cash or money orders either, you can simply pay online. But obviously it's so ingrained in the American culture to sign a piece of paper that neither you or your landlord have even thought of the possibility of paperless payment. I just find that strange, that's all.

retina said:

of course i get it, you superior being. if i had my druthers, i'd pay my rent online. convincing my landlord to accept my rent the way i want to pay it is another story. do YOU get it?

Anx said:

Yes I know you can't force your landlord to do anything. That's why I said neither you nor your landlord have thought of the posssibility of paperless payment. Which is ridiculous.

retina said:

Many older, independent businesses still don't get the online thing. I use checks for my rent, my car insurance and when I shop at target.

Rent is cause there is no paperless way and my landlords aren't apt to do it any other way any time soon, just like Anx. I've thought about asking, but they are just a nice old couple who own 4 buildings with only 2-3 units each. It's not their primary business, just some extra money on the side for them. I actually drop my check off at their house and leave it on their front porch every month. For them, that's easier than setting up a paypal account.

My insurance company is old old old and fairly small. My father has been using the same company since he got his first car at age 16. They have not changed with the times. They don't even have a website.

I use them at target cause the only payment they'll accept for me to get my emplyoee discount is cash, check or their own credit card. Which, I have the credit card, but am trying to learn not to use it and I don't carry around that kind of cash.



~Anx's biggest fan edit~
[Edited 2/25/07 9:59am]

retina said:

but i pay every other bill i have online. of COURSE i've considered the possibility of paying my rent online. but i can't do more than consider it when it's not an available option, now can i?

I save mine for about three years after that I shred them it's too much paper and clutter.

XxAxX said:

W2's will suffice.

lovemachine said:

I'm so bad. I never save my W2s. I mean, I do, but they always get misplaced. I was keeping them in a shoebox and my cat decided she likes to get into that cupboard and rip things up.
I should really get a file cabinet. I'll never really be an adult, I swear.

I let my pimp handle all that stuff.

My illiteracy tends to bogs down my ability to be good at numbers, taxes & what-not.

As a free-spririt, my strengths tend to lean more towards the empathetic realm of this existance.

retina said:

Lots of Americans use online/paperless payment. I use them for everything except rent. Like Anx & Carrie, I have a landlord who doesn't accept anything but checks. Everything else is totally automatic. Otherwise, I'd never pay my bills on time.

And I've never saved paystubs, and never needed them. Check that the info is correct, and then toss it. Your employer saves all of that stuff should you ever need it for some weird reason.

CarrieMpls said:

I'm so right there with you.

I have, literally, a shoebox. It's a CUTE shoebox.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I have a shoe horn in mine.
It came with the box.

Illustrator said: